Letters from Guests
Dear Sergio,
Although my husband and I anticipated an enjoyable vacation at Tinalandia, our stay with you well exceeded our expectations. Tinalandia is truly a paradise - every moment was a new adventure full of pleasant surprises including birds and butterflies as colorful as the flowers and nearly as plentiful. Most birds are additions to our "life lists" with much sought-after birds such as the Lyre-tailed Nightjar, the Andean Cock-of-the-rock and Torrent Duck, to name just a few. And the variety of hummingbirds at the feeders outside your dining area was amazing. The butterflies are fascinating - so beautiful, yet so evasive, usually avoiding my overworked camera! We also were fascinated by the frogs, smaller than half my pinky finger nail, fireflies whose eyes glowed intermittently, and other diverse insects, reptiles, and lush flora of the rainforest. My attempts to describe what we have seen at Tinalandia do not sufficiently describe its beauty.
Your accommodations were also impressive. Lodging is rustic and romantic with bedroom views of humming birds and exotic flowers. Not to mention your superb culinary delights that we looked forward to every lunchtime and dinner after our hikes. At home now, we long to taste again the wonderful meals that your friendly staff prepared for us. Thank you and your staff for all of your hospitality. And please thank Antonio, your naturalist guide, who helped make our visit even more enjoyable with his in depth knowledge of the flora and fauna at Tinalandia.
Last, but certainly not least, we must commend you on your efforts to preserve additional rainforest land with proceeds from our stay. We wish you many successes with your program and look forward to return soon to enjoy your company and Tinalandia again. We also hope that others shall have the opportunity to visit your Garden of Eden.
Joan Olawski-Stiener and Joseph Stiener
p.s. Your guide dog is marvelous!
Dear Sergio,
Thank you for an unforgettable stay at Tinalandia. We came for the unparalleled birding offered on your grounds, and we left not only with 100+ species on our list, half of them life birds, but also with warm memories of your gracious hospitality and the undivided attention we received from you and your wife Marta - not to mention your delightful dog Rufa - through our entire four-day stay.
What a joy to wake up in our comfortable lodging to the dawn chorus, and be able to step outside on our terrace to observe feeding flocks, or take an easy walk on the grounds to see and hear the multitudes of birds attracted to the varied habitats of open short grassland, stream, pond, and of course the rainforest preserve on your property. And the birding does not stop at mealtimes: breakfast, lunch and dinner on the verandah afforded us close-up views of the exquisitely beautiful birds that visit your feeding station. Who can forget the emerald green plumage of the Crimson-Rumped Toucanet, or the iridescent turquoise of the Blue Dacnis, or the multi-colored Red-Headed and Orange-Fronted Barbets? Not to mention the "winged jewels," the Hummingbirds!
Highlights for us were many. There was our late afternoon drive to the Old Chiriboga Road, where an hour-and-a-half wait on the bridge over the river rewarded us with tantalizing glimpses of the Cock-of-the-rocks returning to their roost under the bridge, and good views of a pair of Torrent Ducks riding the rapids. This was topped off as darkness fell, by a view of a Lyre-tailed Nightjar, her eyes reflecting our flashlights, flying out to feed on insects and returning to her cliffside perch. On our last day, we were unexpectedly treated to an astonishing view of a juvenile Spectacled Owl where he perched in the bamboo next to the pond.
We also wish to thank your talented cook for preparing us such delicious and beautifully presented meals, made with fresh and organic ingredients.
Finally, we wish to convey to you our deep appreciation for Tinalandia: as harried New Yorkers, we were grateful for a place without TV. and newspapers, where for a few precious days we could find peace and renewal.
Joe Giunta and Betsy McCully, New York City
Hacienda Tinalandia:
tele/fax: (593-2) 2449-028
cells: 099467741 / 099494727
Urbanizacion El Bosque 2da. Etapa Av. del Parque
Calle 3era. Lote 98 #43-78
Quito, Ecuador