If you’re a serious birder and you’re looking for the most unique bird watching experience available in Ecuador, you should mark the town of Tandayapa on your map. Although the town itself has little of interest, the outskirts and outer forest areas are a wondrous sight. You might see the Andean cock-of-the-rock, scaled fruit eater and crested quetzal, among thousands of other bird species. The only lodge in town offers gateways to day trails, bilingual guides, a canopy platform and sits in the middle of the cloud forest, giving you constant access to your birder’s paradise.