Our Story: A Family-Owned Eco Lodge in Ecuador’s Cloud Forest
What did we get ourselves into?
The romance
What happens when you put an Ecuadorian carpenter together with a biologist from the U.S.? Tamiaju, of course. Eladio and Toni met in Cosanga in 2014, and, being in our 30s, didn’t waste any time. Eleven months later, we were married in a small backyard ceremony, with Johnny (eventually on board) looking on. Tamiaju isn’t just a lodge. It’s a love story built into the Andes; a family-owned eco lodge in Ecuador with roots as deep as the cloud forest trees that surround us.
It All Started With a Chainsaw
Tamiaju began when Toni’s parents came to visit for a month. You see, even though they don’t speak the same language Toni’s dad, John, and Eladio have an intense bromance. Eladio, armed with nothing but a chainsaw, built the very first cabin: the MAD (Mom and Dad) House. When her parents weren’t using it, we listed it on Airbnb… and started dreaming bigger. That one cabin grew into a small, affordable lodge where birdwatchers and nature nerds could stay close to Ecuador’s cloud forests without luxury prices.
From Cosanga to Alaska (and back again, and again, and again…)
In 2017, Toni’s friend Zo offered her a summer job in Alaska. The idea was, go for one summer, build the empire, et voila! The goal was a forest-friendly business that supports us, and hopefully some of our neighbors too. Well, one summer turned into six, and three long, extra cold, extra dark winters.
But the goal never changed: to create a conservation lodge in Ecuador that supports our family and our neighbors while protecting the forest.
Buying Forest in a Pandemic (Because Why Not?)
In March 2020, (anyone remember what a weird time that was?), we bought five hectares of beautiful cloud forest right across the river from our property. We’re now conserving that land as part of our long-term commitment to forest conservation in Ecuador.
What’s next?
We built Cabañas Tamiaju from scratch with stubborn optimism, a whole lot of love, and a dash of humor. We’re not done yet.
Our dream is to keep the forest intact, to keep this lodge small, meaningful, and affordable, and to keep Cosanga on the map as a world-class birdwatching hub. We’re planting trees, opening doors, and welcoming anyone who wants to experience the weird magic of the cloud forest.Every day brings new adventures and every guest a new perspective we’d love for you to come be a part of this.
Meet the team!
Monica
Queen of the kitchen and greenhouse whisperer. Grows the food, cooks the food, and somehow makes both look effortless. In her spare time she is a mom of 5, and an avid fan of all Cosanga football as long as it involves her family.
Byron
Byron is the master of machetes, maintenance, and keeping Eladio on task. Here he’s helping build a new bird observation platform near our light trap. He makes the wild look a little more organized.
Jhonny
If you’re out with Johnny and want to see some good birds be sure he leaves his camara behind (you know how it is). He is our resident bird photographer, hummingbird bartender (yes, we go through 100lbs of sugar a month), and weed whacker.
Alison
Shy but mighty. You might not spot her, but you’ll feel her presence in the spotless rooms and thoughtful touches. If she disappears when you wave; don’t worry, she’s not ghosting you. She’s just really fast.
Eladio
Builder of bridges, fixer of pipes, welder of weird contraptions. If it exists at Tamiaju, chances are Eladio built it. If it’s broken, he’s already halfway through fixing it; with or without instructions.
Toni
That’s me! I answer your emails, occasionally show up in the kitchen, and pretend to know what I’m doing on this website. I speak, Spanish, English, and a bit of French. I’m here to make sure you get here, get fed, and maybe even get inspired.
We’d love to see you!
Whether you’re here for the birdwatching, the cloud forest views, or just want to see who’s hauling 100 pounds of sugar a month for hummingbirds (hi, Jhonny), we’d love to meet you. The coffee’s hot, the boots are muddy, and the weird forest magic is very real.
