Cloud forest retreat

Our stay at Nanegal exceed all expectations. We visited primarily for birding and during our four night stay I was able to photograph 60 new species. Many more were observed and heard. For such a short visit. The number of birds we encountered was remarkable. Loved the night walk!I cannot say enough positive things about Mauricio. His English was excellent, especially helpful, given our limited Spanish, and he proved to be an outstanding birding guide. He was able to call in every bird I had hoped to see, and his knowledge, patience, and kindness made the experience exceptional. He provided service far beyond guiding, and my sisters, and I truly enjoyed spending time with him. We were generally sad to leave what felt like a new friend. Mirma was equally extraordinary. Every meal she prepared was outstanding, beautifully planned, full of local flavor, & absolutely delicious. She is a gifted chef, and we felt genuinely cared for with each dish. We even hope to bring some of her culinary customs into our own cooking. She was also incredibly kind and assisted us with some laundry, which would greatly appreciated. Mauricio supported with cooking & serving as well, creating a thoughtful and memorable dining experience each day. David, the owner, provided excellent communication before, and during our stay. The detailed directions, suggestions on what to bring, and guidance for planning. We’re extremely helpful.We highly recommend visiting! This place is a dream come true!

We are visiting the cloud forest of Ecuador for three weeks, This is our first visit to Ecuador. We stayed at Cerro Campana for 6 nights, our second longest stay during our first trip to Ecuador. We wish we had stayed longer. Next time we will know better…The location is beautiful, The lodge is perched high on a hill with views all around. A four-wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended for the last stretch up to the lodge. The entrance road is directly across from the entrance to Maquipucuna Reserve.Birding is great right from the restaurant area with multiple hummingbird feeders and a large banana feeder just a few feet from the building. All of the feeders are well-maintained. You can literally be a foot or two from some of the most beautiful hummingbirds imaginable. The lodge is run by Mirma Nieto and Mauricio Flores. Mirma is an unbelievable chef (three meals daily are included in the daily rate). We are both vegetarians and Mirma’s cooking more than accommodated our diets. And every meal each date was unique with a lot of local and traditional foods. It was all so good and plentiful. On top of that Mauricio is also a great guide and naturalist and his services are also included in the daily rate.The lodge is rented to only one group at a time. It was just myself and my wife our whole time there. At night we were completely alone. The location is not only beautiful but also quiet with the exception of bird songs, There are three bedrooms on the second

The property owner (Daniel) is in constant communication with you. From the beginning to the last minute, Mirma and Mauricio treat you like family! When it came time to leave we didn't want to leave. Mirma is an amazing cook and she was able to accommodate all of our daughter's food allergies without any trouble AND not sacrificing flavors. Our daughter didn't have any episodes of getting sick which is a huge deal for us. Mauricio is very knowledgeable about the birds, other species, and flora around the property. On our last day, he even took us on a hike that brought us to a trail that is over 400 years old! You will not regret staying here! There is nothing better than waking up in the morning and seeing Cloud Forest, having a cup of GREAT local Ecuadorian Coffee, resting in the multiple hammocks, hiking, learning Cuarenta, having a cerveza(s), going to bed, and seeing a blanket of stars in the sky.

Daniels place was absolutely amazing! Everything from when we arrived to when we left was taken care of. There is a guide on site that takes you exploring all over the area and is an expert in all the wild life. All meals are also taken care of, home cooked and absolutely delicious. The house is very charming and you can tell a lot of work has been put in it to making it feel like home. We cannot wait to stay at Daniels place next time we're in Ecuador!