Welcome to San Isidro

San Isidro Lodge is surrounded by a large cloud forest reserve in the mountains on the east slope of the Andes, and is a one-of-a-kind experience that blends our own brand of comfort and relaxation, and fabulous food, combined with a magnificent and genuine forest experience. Guided hikes through primary forest, canoeing along forested streams, bird watching and wildlife observation, archaeology and kid-friendly activities are all part of what guests can enjoy at the lodge during a stay here. Outstanding cuisine served in a beautiful historic dining room, the heated pool (complete with a fireplace) and the comfortable, modern-style rooms with views of the reserve are some of the experiences that our guests make return visits in order to recapture. The lodge and reserve lie right between two large national parks on the Amazonian slope near the town of Cosanga at about 2,000 meters elevation, and can be reached by paved road from Quito’s international airport in only about 2 hours, so getting here is easy.

Something for

EVERYONE!

San Isidro Lodge offers full-board programs for all ability, age and interest-levels. Some of the lodge’s popular activities include guided walks and hikes through our primary forest reserve, paddling canoes through the reserve, visits to waterfalls and rivers, archaeological sites, and birding and nature observation.

Discover

protecting wildlife

Since 1959

Founded in 1959, San Isidro is part of a large network of reserves and national parks that extends from the paramo highlands through to the eastern lowlands. The lodge and its reserve form a 2,000 hectare forest corridor that helps bridge the gap from the Antisana highlands to the Sumaco foothills.

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A perfect place

for kids

Waterfalls, sandy beaches along rushing rivers, night walks, canoeing, handicrafts, bow-and-arrow and blowgun target practice, fishing and kid-friendly cooking classes are some of the stimulating activities that our younger guests love.

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Taste the

Amazon!

If you are looking to depart from the lodge’s scheduled lunches and dinners and to try something different, we recommend our 7-course Amazonian tasting menu that will take you on an adventure through the culinary history and traditions of the cultures of this region

Taste

Why us?

Pioneers in ecotourism and conservation

San Isidro is one of the first ecotourism operations in Ecuador. Our true conservation ethic translates to a real primary forest experience for the lodge’s guests.

Personalized
service

We want your visit to be the most memorable possible. Enjoy comfort in our spacious and beautiful rooms, in a smaller-scale, more intimate lodge environment, where guests are the priority.

Close to
Quito

Take part in engaging, educational and fun activities for all ages, while immersed in a beautiful forest reserve, only two hours from Ecuador’s capitol city.

Direct community
contact

It is a point of pride that lodge’s staff are all locals that have been trained on-site. The surrounding community has always been at the heart of our operation, and you will see for yourself what they have achieved when it comes to guiding, cooking and hospitality.

Experiences from

our guests

Wonderful experience in the eastern Andes cloud forest. The lodge is nestled on a hillside overlooking the valley and forest. There are marked trails around the reserve to hike on. The diversity of plants was truly eye-opening. The lodge is very well-maintained and comfortable. The food was great and very creative. The staff was helpful and endearing. I would highly recommend a stay.

Robin Stever

San Isidro is our favourite nature lodge in Ecuador! This was our fifth visit. The accommodations are great. The food is fantastic , fresh local , gourmet! Good trails. Excellent service.

Hugh & Helen Penwarden

San Isidro Lodge is a beautiful place and accommodations, especially suited for a quiet retreat and bird watching. The place is easily accessible from Quito (a two-hour drive). The room are excellent, large and comfortable, impeccably clean. I enjoyed the food, especially the trial menu of Amazonian delicacies. The personnel very nice, helpful and kind. A very good cost/experience ratio. I highly recommend it.

Alexander Satyrka

My daughter and I travelled around Ecuador for a month. San Isidro Lodge was one of the places we stayed. It was an amazing place, perhaps my favourite lodge of the trip. The rooms were great and I loved the hammock on my front porch. The grounds were wonderful with lots of birds and wildlife around day and night! The food was probably the best on our trip! We are vegan and they did a great job with creative and tasty dishes for us. The staff were all very kind and helpful as well. Would highly recommend!!

Maureen Kemp

San Isidro is a truly wonderful place to visit. I have stayed there many time over the years, with tourists, but never with my family. I must say that the family experience was excellent… there are activities and experiences for every age. Obviously, this is a place to enjoy nature in all its glory. The bird-watching is what has made this site famous, but the cuisine is great to say the very least, and the forest trail experience, the boat ride, and the heated pools were truly enjoyed by all; taking in the general environment is a must for any traveler. The rooms were spacious and inviting and just hanging around the dining-room deck was a treat and a highlight! Seeing the spectacular ‘Mystery Owl’ was memorable for everybody.

Paul Greenfield

Wonderful lodge and great hosts. Loads of birds at the feeders right off the deck. The rooms were fabulous. They have a large pool that is heated to hot tub temperatures- definitely worth a soak! All the food here was like fine dining and breakfast buffet was great. I would gladly stay here again for a few days!

Lori Carlisle