CABAÑAS TAMIAJU
Unplug and birdwatch at an affordable East Slope Birding Lodge
A Family-Owned Hideout for Nature Nerds
Tons of birds, so green, and no one asking you to join a Zoom meeting (but yes, we somehow have fiber optic if you must).
Cabañas Tamiaju is a family-run, affordable eco lodge in Ecuador’s Eastern cloud forest, perched just outside of Cosanga between mountain peaks and nature reserves. We’re not a big resort. Just comfy cabins, local charm, and access to one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.
We’ve got:
A few hectares of cloud-forest right out the door, and a few more pretty close by
Hundreds of bird species (including the celebrity ones/ likely not including your nemesis bird)
Local food, hot showers, and cozy beds that don’t cost a small fortune
Good vibes, great bean water
Birds, Boots & Cloud Forest Routes
We live here, we know people, we have the connections, why not leave the planning to us?
Cabañas Tamiaju offers guided birdwatching tours and multi-day cloud forest adventures that take you beyond the cabins and into the heart of the Eastern Andes of Ecuador. Whether you’re here for the birds, the landscapes, the camera roll, or just to breathe again, we’ve got a trip for that — at a price that won’t break your bank.
Explore a few of our packages below, or get in touch to build something custom. We’ll take care of the logistics. You just bring your sense of adventure and curiosity.
Birding Weekend
3 days
Spot dozens of species with a local guide. Early mornings, private trails, and a front-row seat to Eastern Ecuador’s feathered celebrities.
Cloud Forest Explorer
5 days
Hike, birdwatch, and unplug in the Eastern Andes. Includes transport, stays at our Ecuadorian Birdwatching Lodge, and visits to sites all over the Quijos Valley.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Flexible itinerary
Got something special in mind? We’ll help design a trip around your dates, interests, and hiking stamina (or lack thereof).
Photo intermission
Things to do (besides nap in a hammock)
Tamiaju Birds
You want birds? We’ve got birds. Our Cosanga birdwatching lodge is home to the LBJs, the big flashy show-offs, and everything in between. Can’t find them? We’ve got friends who can whistle them in. Or just sit on the platform; they’ll come to you.
Not Tamiaju Birds
Once your Tamiaju checklist is nice and warm, there are hotspots everywhere. The beauty of being in the middle of the Andes is… you’re in the middle of the Andes. From páramo to lowland jungle, you can bird across habitats in just a few hours. Your eBird won’t know what hit it.
Not Birds
We get it sometimes you need a break from staring into the canopy. You’re in luck. From soaking in Papallacta hot springs to chocolate workshops (science, obviously), there’s more than birdwatching here. Brave enough? Try a chontacuro grub. Tastier than it looks.
Conservation/ Why we exist
More than a cabin in the woods: Why we built Cabañas Tamiaju
Cabañas Tamiaju is more than a place to rest. It’s part of a growing conservation effort to protect Ecuador’s cloud forests and support the people who live here. We believe tourism, especially affordable lodges like ours; can fuel meaningful, sustainable income for locals while keeping forests standing.
When you stay with us, you’re directly supporting livelihoods built on an intact, living forest.
Cabañas Tamiaju is also part of a bigger vision. Toni and Eladio are both active contributors to Fundación Sembrando Esperanza, registered as Reforest Ecuador in the U.S. The organization has planted over 30,000 native trees since 2014, established a 180 hectare forest reserve in the Choco Andino, restored wildlife habitat, and built lasting partnerships with farmers, local families, and leaders. This work goes beyond reforestation: it’s about growing a movement where ecosystems and communities flourish together.
