Welcome to Guango Lodge

Wilson

Tour Guide, Quito, Ecuador

09 Feb 2016 | 2 mins read

Welcome to Guango Lodge

Guango Lodge, located near the paramo and hot springs of Papallacta, is a paradise for hummingbird lovers and photographers. Seeing 14 species of hummingbirds within an hour is not uncommon, and the Sword-billed hummingbird with it's unique, long bill is sure to amaze you. Our scenic vistas and a variety of trails offer the visitor great opportunities to hike in a beautiful setting surrounded by forest-covered mountains. This small, cozy lodge is right in the middle of it all.

Guango Lodge is located on private property surrounded by temperate forest teeming with flocks of birds. "Guango" in the Quichua language means "a place of great mountains that crisscross, whose waters concur to form mighty rivers in deep valleys covered by the cloud forest of the Andean slopes, under an ever-changing climate and a typical drizzle". This combination of geographic and climatic factors makes Guango a true gateway to the rainforests to the east or west. Guango has always been a necessary stop along the traditional route from Quito to the Napo River and remains one to this day. As part of the Papallacta region, Guango is the central point between the cold forest and Andean highlands and also between the Amazonian ethnic groups and Quito.

This regular stop for travelers and transport carriers for years was transformed in the mid-twentieth century into a cattle farm. Today, it is a hostel specializing in nature tourism located between the Antisana Reserve and Cayambe-Coca National Park. Over the years, the majority of the property has remained untouched.