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About Us

25 Mar,2013

About Us
History
Country Information

Cabañas San Isidro is the ideal mountain get away for anyone looking to disconnect from civilization and surround themselves by gorgeous forest, unparalleled scenery and sensational food in a comfortable lodge atmosphere - peace and tranquillity at its best. The reserve offers kilometers of well marked and maintained forest trails that will lead you through a variety of habitat zones typical of the region, including some of the most beautiful, accessible, and well preserved montane humid forest to be found anywhere on the east slope of the Andes; you wouldn't want to miss a stroll down the trails below the cabins that teem with wildlife.

Our guests run the entire interest spectrum, from serious birders and researchers, to casual nature lovers, and even first-timers to the cloud forest who are just as likely to indulge in one of the lodge’s cooking clases. There is a niche for everybody, and we’ll see to it that you find yours!

San Isidro’s cabins and reserve are nestled in the picturesque Quijos Valley, one of the westernmost headwaters of the Amazon basin - in Napo province and only 2 about hours from the airport - at an elevation of about 2,050m (6,800 ft.) above sea level in a zone still mostly blanketed by extensive humid forest.

This combination of factors means agreeable temperaturas, exciting birds, and a diversity of other wildlife, including the potential for large mammals.
Cabañas San Isidro was founded over fifty years ago by the Bustamante family of Quito, Ecuador, when the uncharted lands of eastern Ecuador where first made available to the public by a government campaign to convert unclaimed lands into productive farms.

With a deep concern for proper natural resource management, as well as for the urgent need to protect the unique flora and fauna of the zone, Simón Bustamante (one of the pioneer modern-day explorers of the Ecuadorian Amazon) left the majority of his vast (now privately owned 1,100 hectares, plus 800 bought with our local foundation) property untouched despite the pressure from many levels to clear the forest for what was then considered land improvement.

Over the years, Cabañas San Isidro has matured into a comfortable lodge, surrounded by large and accessible tracts of primary cloud forest run by Simón's daughter, Carmen.

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Internation arrival into Quito

Upon arrival, you will need to pass through immigration, claim your bags and then clear customs, which is usually a very smooth affair. You will then exit out into the main reception lobby at the international arrival area where you will be received by your private transfer, or you can take a taxi or bus (Aeroservicios) if you have not arranged for a transfer to get to Quito (the new airport is outside Quito and can take up to 1 hour to get to the city, depending on the time of your arrival; the ride usually takes less than 30 minutes). There are official airport porters - licenses hanging from lanyards around their necks - with carts to help with bags.

Additional helpful general information:

General electricity in Ecuador is 110v; almost never do you find 220v, except in the larger hotels. You may find it helpful to bring along a 3-to-2 adaptor prong since some hotels might not have ground. Payment options for personal expenses at the lodge include cash, travelers check, and credit card. The currency in Ecuador is the US dollar.

Passports should be valid for more than 6 months after the end of your visit. Bottled or purified water will be supplied at no extra cost at San Isidro; other lodges may not provide this. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages will have an extra cost and should be paid for directly at the lodge. Smaller bill denominations ($1 to $20) are recommended as $50 dollar bills are not widely accepted in Ecuador. ATM machines are available only in big cities, so it is better to bring along all the cash that you think that you will need when traveling through the country-side.

We recommend having your passport in your carry-on while you are traveling from one place to another; never pack it away where it is inaccessible. You might also consider bringing along two extra copies of your passport (one in your bag, and one in the carry-on) for any potential inconvenience, such as a lost bag from the airline, etc. Biting insects are usually not a problem at the lodge as it is cool and well above the potential malarial zone, but please check with your doctor, or the CDC, for further professional advice. Poisonous snakes have never been found at San Isidro.

Name your delight, Ecuador has it all!! Two high and parallel ranges of the Andes traversing the country from north to south, topped by tall volcanic peaks, plus rich and varied cultures, all make our country one of the most diverse in the world.

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