Guaycapi Lodge

Northern Andean Montane Forests Ecoregion
Elevation 6,506' (1,982 m)

The forests surrounding Guaycapi Lodge sit in one of Ecuador’s most enchanting ecological crossroads, where the lush Chocó lowlands begin to rise toward the Andean foothills. The air is warm and heavy with the scent of orchids, and the canopy drips with bromeliads that collect rain from the region’s frequent mists. This landscape has been shaped by the slow uplift of the Andes and the persistent moisture carried inland from the Pacific, creating a corridor of life that supports both lowland and mid‑elevation species. Streams tumble through the forest on their way to the Río Blanco, feeding a mosaic of habitats that shift subtly with every change in slope and light.

Wildlife here is astonishingly rich. Colorful tanagers, manakins, and trogons move through the understory, while the forest edges and feeders attract an impressive array of hummingbirds, including the Velvet‑purple Coronet and the Empress Brilliant. Night brings out kinkajous, owls, and a chorus of frogs that thrive in the humid forest. A fun bit of trivia: this region lies within one of the world’s most important “endemism pockets,” meaning many species found here occur nowhere else on Earth—a reminder of how unique and irreplaceable this slice of Ecuador truly is.