pacha quindi nature refuge

We met Tony in Panama when he was leading a group of birders from the US. When he found out we were in Ecuador he invited us to come visit his bird reserve in the cloud forest.I recently spent a few days up at Tony and Barbara's place and throughly enjoyed the visit and the birds.ProsIf you like hummingbirds you can NOT beat this reserve. 25 species where counted while we were there. How about 2000-3000 hummingbirds per day!The work they have done to reforest the property and insure local fauna being replanted is an amazing tribute to both of them.They arranged for a taxi to pick us up at our hotel in Quito. This wonderful family took us to the store to provision first and then up to the guesthouse on Tony& Barbara's property. These folks were a delight to be with.The guesthouse was clean, had hot water, excellent spring water flowing from the tap and comfortable beds with bedding. Propane was used for cooking and hit water. It's rustic but that's one of the charms of the place.The wonderful bird life was terrific..... ok I mentioned that already.ConsIt is a bit difficult to get to and a 2 hour taxi ride.The guest house is a work in progress and more / better pots and pans were planned.Be sure to bring a headlamp with extra batteries, some candles and rain gear.I would highly recommend a visit especially if you enjoy birds and hummingbirds!

Pacha Quindi Nature Preserve is a great place. Tony and Barbara are so welcoming and provide so much information about the birds and the environment. If you are ever in Ecuador and near Pacha Quindi you must go visit. You will not be disappointed. And you will see a large variety of hummingbirds.

This is literally hidden gem. When our driver stopped and said "Here is Tony's garden" I really didn't see anything more than road curve in nowhere. After for about 50 steps, I stopped breathing for a while. What amazing place is there! Hundreds of hummingbirds buzzing ALL around and the view was breathtaking. We spent two nights there and will definitelly spend much more during my next visit. Is it worth of visit? 110%. Imagine the place where you meet Common potoo hunting daily from his perch, Sickle-winged Guan daily visiting the garden, rarely seen Wattled Guan eating the palm fruits, Crimson-rumped Toucanets dancing few meters of you, hundreds of hummingbirds everywhere or sloth hanging just 50 meters from the backyard. Tanagers and other birds periodically returning to the garden surroundings. Want to see Toucan Barbet? No problem, many times a day coming back and calling all the time from vicinity. As a wildlife photographer I had hundreds of opportunities to take pictures. But I didn't use it. Most of time I just sat looking ahead and wish I had to never leave. Tony and Barbara totally change the pasture (yes, it was pasture before) to very functional cloud forest. We spent several hours just talking about the beauty around. Their attitude, knowledge and patience are unmatched. I traveled to many beautiful places around the world tropics and this is really the place I will have in my heart forever. Your visit will support one of the most meaningful work on this planet. Just do it. As Tony said: "It's not bad backyard, isn't it?" :-)

I've been visiting the home of Tony and Barbara Nunnery for years now. It is always such a pleasure to come back! The hummingbird show around their house is unrivalled. The reforestation and habitat preservation that they have spent all their energy on over the past two decades is both impressive and inspirational. The birding and wildlife attractions here are not to be missed. No visit to the Tandayapa Valley is complete without a stop here.

My wife and I were blessed to spend an afternoon birding at Tony and Barbara's Pacha Quindi in August 2014. From the moment we arrived until we were dragged away by our tour guide, we were spoiled by the fantastic birding, the fabulous lunch, and the friendly hospitality of our hosts. There was a constant buzz of activity at the hummingbird feeders with Tony calling out the names in rapid fashion. Soon he was pointing out beautiful tanagers, woodpeckers, toucanets, and other great birds. Our cameras were clicking away (even as we ate our lunches) as we recorded memories to take home with us. This is a must see if you visit Ecuador.

I've had the privilege over the past couple of years of accompanying natural history groups to Ecuador and every hour of every day is a naturalist's delight. It's hard for any given wonder in the midst of such wonders to stand out, but Pacha Quindi, Tony and Barbara certainly do that. It's one of the places in Ecuador I most look forward to going back to each time, and one of the first places mentioned later by people I've travelled with when reminiscing. I can't add much about the particulars of the place to what other reviewers have done here, but I can certainly reinforce that your visit will be rich in the natural history of the area, as well as in wonder at the extraordinary achievements of Tony and Barbara on the slenderest of resources. Without in any way denigrating any of the wonderful lodges in the area, it is refreshing to be in a place whose sole purpose is to further the conservation and rehabilitation of this extraordinary part of the world. The risible $5 entry fee is entirely swallowed up by day to day running of the place for the benefit of the plants and animals. Please make time to visit, and please tell others. Ian Fraser, Canberra.

I've been guiding birding tours to Ecuador, at least annually, since 1979, and I've never known a better place for hummingbirds than Tony and Barbara's Pacha Quindi. Ecuador is indeed "the hummingbird country," with the greatest diversity of species in the smallest area. And Pacha Quindi probably holds the record for the biggest "yard list" of hummers in the world--with around 45 species! It's not unusual to see 15-20 species of hummers--even during light rain!--in a couple of hours of birding from their sheltered porch, all the while learning how to distinguish the wing sounds of one species from those of another as Tony points out the fine variations. 

After all Tony and Barbara have been living with these hummers since before 2000, when I first visited their feeders with a group. We saw 10 species of hummers in less than an hour, being lured away from the feeders and onto their forest trails by what would become my lifer Giant Antpitta! Since then they have continued to restore and improve the habitat around their home, which (incredibly!) was built in a cutover cow pasture some four to six years earlier. With great dedication and energy, they undertook to restore their clearing by nurturing a succession of native plants, resulting in what today would challenge an ecologist to distinguish from the original cloud forest. They continued to add new feeders, and the hummers just kept on coming! I've taken each of my tours that visits NW Ecuador to enjoy the hummingbirds, the cloud forest, and the wonderful hospitality of Tony and Barbara ever since. Their hospitality is considerable as well. For the low $10 entrance fee, you can enjoy not only the fabulous hummingbird show and a considerable network of well maintained trails (full of exciting bird possibilities!), but you can learn directly from Tony and Barbara some of their secrets for managing a lifestyle in this relatively remote location without electricity or a car, for growing much of their own food on site, and for restoring cutover habitat full of invasive plants to something very close to its original forested state. Their stories are truly inspirational!
For any birder going to NW Ecuador, a visit to Pacha Quindi is not to be missed. If you have time and go prepared with your own food, you can arrange to stay in their separate guesthouse for a couple of nights. It's simple but adequate, and you'll be right there at dawn, when the White-winged Brush-Finches start singing just outside the door, as they did in March 2008, when Richard and I stayed for a few days after a tour. Staying right there allows you to take advantage of the lovely forest trails before the rain clouds build up.
--Rose Ann Rowlett

Pacha Quindi has something of the Garden of Eden. The love, honesty and whole hearted commitment of Tony and Barbara to their cause of maintaining a pristine wildlife sanctuary is reflected in the richness and variety of the plants, insects and birds which grow and live in the reserve. The views are beautiful and there are a number of clear streams and waterfalls accessible from the trails, The bird life is plentiful and various and their garden is alive with hummingbirds. If you can you should try and stay there or at least visit. Pacha Quindi is a special place and by staying or visiting you will be contributing directly to the preservation of this wonderful part of the world. We wholeheartedly recommend it as an alternative to the luxury lodges in the area.We stayed in their cabin for five nights at the end of May 2014. It is self catering so we shopped in a Quito supermarket for groceries en route.There is no electricity, bring food which won't spoil without refrigeration, there are airy pantries to keep food fresh.It is an hour and a half to two hours from Quito by car. Illumination in the cabin is by candle and we found our head torches useful for reading, preparing food and getting up in the dark. There is gas for cooking and hot water, including the shower. The accommodation is rustic but very clean and the beds are comfortable. The water piped to the cabin is good for drinking.We recommend if you can that you engage Tony as a guide to his reserve and sites in the Mindo area. He is a very knowledgeable and accomplished guide and a great raconteur. He is also an enthusiastic and informed botanist and generally great company.Bring camera, binoculars and something to read.

I stayed here with two of my friends and none of us were disappointed! I got a lot more than I expected. At first I thought it would mostly be a place for seeing the hummingbirds and perhaps some other bird watching. It certainly had that, so many different birds, including toucans, woodpeckers, hawks, and many others. The diversity of the hummingbirds there was very impressive! Up close ecounters with countless different species. Additionally, there were also beautiful hiking trails for us to explore to my surprise! There were many waterfalls and breathtaking views that shouldn't be missed! From the guest cabin itself there are amazing views as well. The guest cabin also had hot water and a gas stove, just no electricity. It was very relaxing to disconnect for a few days, and at a fair price too! Highly recommended!

My husband and I spent a week and a half at the guest house of Pacha Quindi and were in complete awe for our entire stay. The time and attention Tony and Barbara have put into the refuge pays off in the beauty and attraction we experienced while hiking the trails, birding, and becoming enamored by the thousands of hummingbirds frequenting the garden. At any given time of day the hummingbirds swarm and some are docile enough to even land on your finger! At the same time, Plate-billed Mountain Toucans and Emerald Toucanets made frequent appearances throughout our time there. The guest house itself was a relaxing getaway from the cares of the rest of the world. With three bedrooms, a kitchen and common area, a bathroom, and an outdoor shower facing a waterfall across the valley, we were very comfortable and lacked nothing. Our overall experience will be treasured as one of our greatest trips. We recommend Pacha Quindi as a must see for birders and anyone passing through Ecuador!

Pacha Quindi reserve is a treat to any nature enthusiast. For the truly rugged hiker here is over 20km of well maintained cloud forest trails with beautiful vistas. Just as special is the easily reachable hummingbird garden what doesn't just have feeders, but is stocked with flowering trees and shrubs which attract birds which normally don't use feeders. There is also a feast of tanagers and other beautiful west slope Ecuadorian birds. Tony Nunnery is a birding guide without peer in Ecuador and Central and South America. Tony is also an encyclopedia of the flora and its place in the forest and interaction with the local fauna. No trip to the Tandayapa are would be complete without a visit to this special destination.

Tony and Barbara are truly accomplishing something amazing among the cloud forest outside Quito! At their place you can see wild hummingbirds in the hundreds upclose. Totally worth the trip and hope that more will visit and support their work!

I have been visiting "Tony and Barbara's" house for more than ten years, and it is always one of the highlights of any birding trip to Ecuador. If you like viewing hummingbirds in a hospitable environment, then a stop at Pacha Quindi is a must. During my best day there, I saw no fewer than 17 species of hummingbirds, and seeing 15 species in an hour is almost a daily event! Tony and Barbara are very friendly and welcoming, and they enjoy talking to the visitors, telling them all about their simple lifestyle, as well as the conservation efforts around Tandayapa and Mindo. Some of the fancy hummingbirds one can expect at their feeders include Violet-tailed Sylph, Brown and Collared Incas, loads of Booted Racket-tails, Purple-throated Woodstar, and Purple-bibbed Whitetip - just to name a few. The general birding in their yard is also excellent, and they have well-maintained forest trails if you are interested in a hike through beautiful cloud-forest. If you are birding the Tandayapa and Mindo areas, then the $5/person entrance fee to visit the feeders at Pacha Quindi is more than worthwhile.

I visited Pacha Quindi a week ago for the first time. It will not, I am sure, be the last time. What I found there was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Singular beauty in a country that isn't short of outstanding wildlife.Appearances can be deceiving. At first, as one drives along the Eco-Route off which Pacha Quindi is to be found, one could be forgiven for missing it altogether. A small pathway leads down from the road. Is this just a small animal trail, or...?Yes! Through an iron gate, and a short walk takes one into a paradise for hummingbirds set on the sides of the valley. Feeders abound around the owners' garden, and they are buzzing with activity as hummingbirds of many species dart back and forth and find sustenance. The views, for a birder or a photographer, are unparalleled. The owners' welcome is warm and genuine - these are enthusiasts, kindred spirits who are as passionate about wildlife as anyone I've ever met.And they've put their money where their mouth is, quite literally. Not so many years ago, when they bought what has become, through their hard work, Pacha Quindi, it was desolate ravaged cattle pasture. They have set about turning it back into cloud forest habitat of the highest order. The diversity of birds to be seen there are testament to their hard work and how well it's progressed. I've been working myself the last 10 years on restoring degraded habitat elsewhere in the world, and I know how hard it can be to do - and Pacha Quindi is incredible.There's a lovely cabin in their grounds for guests. I can't recommend the accommodation, the welcome, the people involved and their work highly enough. Visit! You won't be disappointed.I found great beauty there. Perhaps you will too!

Pacha Quindi (Quechua for “land of hummingbirds”) is one of the most spectacular places I have ever visited and when I say it has changed my life I´m not exaggerating. Pacha Quindi is set deep in a beautiful cloud forest and holds the record in number of hummingbird species recorded. It is also a home to many other fascinating birds such as mountain toucans, toucanets or various tanagers. It is a true bird watching paradise which should not be missed by any bird or nature conservation enthusiast visiting Ecuador.Pacha Quindi was found by two amazing and inspiring people Tony and Barbara. While Tony is a renowned bird-guide with many years of experience and profound knowledge - not only when it comes to birds, Barbara is a talented artist and they are both incredible musicians, deeply ecologically conscious and a in short a wonderful company. Pacha Quindi was the first and so far the only place I could get acquainted with hummingbirds on really intimate level. Prior to my visit, I knew literally nothing about hummingbirds apart from the fact they exist and are cute, and I did not particularly cared for birds in general. The place is virtually swarming with hummingbirds and the experience of having a booted racket-tail landing on my finger or stroking the long tail of a violet tailed sylph combined with Tony’s ability to inspire, broad knowledge, stories and interesting facts, in no time I was fully converted into a true bird watching enthusiast. Since then I have been a regular visitor, "discovering" new species each and every time.As a keen hiker I also particularly enjoyed the magnificent nature trails, with a beautiful waterfall and vast number of various plants and trees. If you are lucky you might spot a sloth there too.It should be noted and appreciated that Tony and Barbara have through many years of hard work, profound knowledge and elaborate reforestation planning created this rich paradise from a bare desolated pasture which it used to be.WARNING: Pacha Quindi might take quite an effort to find, as are all things and places worth finding. This is a however fact which unfortunately some of the more conspicuous neighbouring resorts in Tandayapa Valley take advantage off, claiming they “do not know the place” or there “they moved away”. That is not true so do not get deceived!!!