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Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps)

Birdwatching Basecamp in Ecuador’s Chocó Andino

Stay in complete privacy inside an 80-hectare reserve near Nanegalito—then day-trip to some of the most famous birding hotspots in the Tandayapa–Mindo corridor.

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Best for experienced birders who want freedom, flexibility, and a quiet place to “live in the cloud forest” between birding sessions.

Why the Chocó Andino

The Chocó Andino is much more than a forest; it is the 7th UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve in Ecuador and one of the world’s most critical biodiversity hotspots. Here, the unique convergence of elevation, high humidity, and cloud forest habitat creates an extraordinary density of bird species across remarkably short distances.

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Chocó 701 is strategically positioned at the heart of this ecological marvel. Our reserve serves as the perfect self-guided birding base, designed for those who value privacy and independence over the crowded, rigid schedules of a traditional lodge.

 

From our doorstep, you are within 1 hour of multiple world-class reserves and famous feeder sites. Whether you are tracking the Andean Cock-of-the-rock or the Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, you can explore at your own pace and return to a peaceful sanctuary that is actively being reforested with every stay.

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Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens)

Birding on our reserve (self-guided)

Our property spans 80 hectares and features a single, easy-to-follow trail that crosses a diverse mix of habitats: recovering pastures (productive edge  habitat), a small creek and healthy cloud forest sections.

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The recovering pastures are a real advantage for birding: the more open terrain creates clear sightlines for scanning treetops, tracking flyovers, and spotting birds moving between forest edges and regenerating areas. As you get closer to the water, the trail enters a notably healthy stretch of cloud forest alongside the creek—cooler, denser, and full of activity—often rewarding patient observers with calls, mixed flocks, and more secretive species.

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Birding on-site is good and improving as restoration continues.

The real advantage: world-class birding nearby

From Chocó 701 you can reach iconic birding sites such as:
 

  • Refugio Paz de las Aves (Angel Paz): famous for the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek and close encounters with secretive species at established sites. (7 km/ 4.3 mi - 15 min)

  • San Tadeo / Tandayapa Valley cluster: multiple feeders and forest roads in one of Ecuador’s best-known cloud forest birding corridors. (15 km/ 9.3 mi - 20 min)

  • Milpe Bird Sanctuary: lower-elevation birding with very different species composition than the higher cloud forest. (30 km/ 18.6 mi - 30 min)

  • Río Silanche: lowland Chocó forest with a canopy tower experience. (70 km/ 43.5 mi - 90 min)

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What we provide (optional)

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You choose your rhythm. We support the logistics.

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  • Daily transport from Chocó 701 to nearby birding reserves (and return)

  • Private transfers to/from Quito

  • Local guide contacts (independent guides; booked directly with them)

Stay details (designed for birders)

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  • Private loft-style stays with full kitchens (self-catering)

  • Quiet, isolated setting inside the reserve—no crowds, no shared lodge scene

  • Best accessed with a high-clearance vehicle or 4x4 (especially in rain)

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