Welcome to Our Bird Watching
Guestbook!

Name: Jeanie Boyton
Country-City: Utah, USA
Sent: 6/10/05
I have enjoyed the Magic Birding Circuit Tour during two days and the Otavalo cultural tour.In San Jorge de Milpe Reserve, the tropical rain forest birds, the vegetation and a Sloth that was watching me from a tree!!In San Jorge de Tandayapa Reserve, the magic cloud forest. In Hosteria San Jorge the paramo, highland rain forest and gorgeous lodge area.Beautiful mountains and volcanoes . Fabulous birds!! WONDERFUL ,FRIENDLY, TRUSTWORTHY STAFF
THANK YOU!!

Name: Mr. & Mrs. Craig Walker
Country-City: Ohio , USA Journeys International
Sent: 4/19/05
Wonderful place - A REAL SHANGRI LA !!! -
Fabulous birdwatching trips in San Jorge Ecolodge and San Jorge de Tandayapa!!

ABA members

Connecticut Audubon Society Birding Tour
March 17 - 21, 2005

Name: Diana Whitelaw
Your mountain surroundings are indescribably beautiful. George, Hugo and Giorgio all shared their deep love of natural environment
in general, and birds in particular, in a genuine, knowledgeable and caring fashion. Your lodge is charming, and the dining room delightful. I fully enjoyed every meal. The staff is kind, personal and very helpful. Thank you so much for a visit of a life time.

Name: Joan McQuire
Excellent food and accommodations.

Name: Milan Bull
The food was excellent

Name: Jeb Brown and Catherine Ciric
The food was delicious, the evening fires delightful. Wonderful blankets and decor . The night tea on arrival we really appreciated.

Name: Joyce Banta
The staff was very polite and helpful. The rooms clean . All were willing to help us and keep us comfortable . They were neat, clean and always smiled.

Name: Kim and Peter Torop
Yes, San Jorge is charming, friendly, beautiful. We hope to come back!! The room was lovely and the fireplace welcoming. Also, the food, wine and beer were excellent. The gardens are beautiful.

Name: Sally Leighton
A very comfortable and hospitable lodge.

White Mountain Audubon Society
Arizona, USA
Birding tour: January 15 - 26, 2005

Name: Mary Ellen Bittorf, Tour Leader
San Jorge is a beautiful place to stay. From the moment we arrived at the airport until we departed, the service was excellent. The food was also outstanding. We were promised the opportunity to see many beautiful birds, and we certainly did.
The guides were amazing. They knew the birds and where to find them. George was most gracious and accommodating. The grounds at San Jorge are inviting and beautiful. The tours exposed us to a wide variety of trails and breathtaking scenery. All is all this has been an unforgettable trip. Thank you!!


Name: Nancy and Ed Buell
It was a beautiful setting . The history of Ecuador also made it more interesting to stay here.
The Galàpagos tour also was very good. Jorge the owner and our guide were very knowledgeable and helpful. Mindo area is a nice contrast from mountains to jungle. The San Jorge staff is exceptionally nice. Food was delicious and beautifully prepared.

Name: John Faust and Tricia Gerrodette
We went birding to San Jorge, Tandayapa, Yanacocha , Mindo , Milpe, and Pedro Vicente Maldonado with San Jorge Ecotours.
The food and the hospitality were outstanding. The location of Hosterìa San Jorge provides excellent access to birds. The tours are supported by professional guides who work well with the group and among themselves. The narrations that accompanied the bus rides are informative and provide a good contest for understanding this beautiful country.

Name: Emilita McDonald
The comfort and the interest of the hotel - visually, sensivity, gastronomically - I could imagine this as a setting for families for generations. Every enjoyment can be met. Thick towels and sauna.
Thank you for the memories.

Name: Don and Karen Stewart
A wonderful place filled with natural beauty. Even more wonderful were the people, helpful and with a friendly smile.
Thank you for your hospitality!!

Name: Bob and Loreta Peña
The stay at San Jorge was comfortable, the food was excellent and the hospitality outstanding. Everyone here worked hard to make us welcome and meet all our needs. I loved the bird outings and thank George, Bessie, Diana, Santos, Irman and Hugolino for their efforts to find the birds and help everyone to see them. Many thanks!!

Name: Karen and Jim O`Neil
San Jorge Eco-lodge steeps its guests in the culture of Ecuador. The owners and the staff are friendly, caring and helpful. We felt truly care for. The guides for our birding trips to San Jorge Reserve, Yanacocha, Tandayapa, Mindo, and Milpe are extremly knowledgeable about the birds. They work hard to "get" everyone on as many birds as possible .
George Cruz, owner of San Jorge Ecolodge is a man in love with his native Ecuador, its people, its history , its culture and its birds. He is thrilled to share his love with others.
We had an excellent food at both San Jorge and at the Floreana boat.

Name: Irving Himel
BIRDER
Country-City: Toronto Canada
Sent: 1/15/05
After this magic visit I will return to Ecuador and Galàpagos .
I went 4 days birding with San Jorge EcoLodge Adventures. The place is great, your hospitality is perfect, the food copious and delicious.
Tours well executed with good guides. Great trip.

I stayed at the SAN JORGE ECO-LODGE run by Dr. George Cruz, a true renaissance man. I had my own native guide for birding, and the pleasure of Georges company for most of the trips taken. The lodge is at 10000 ft. weather is cool and pleasant, even though we were on the Equator. We hiked for 7 hours, probably climbing 3500 ft. we were rewarded by good long looks at an Andean Condor. (first sighting around Quito). We birded 5 zones. The highland forest and plains. The rain forest. A stop at Tony’s hummingbird station. (17 new hummer species) and the Mindo Rain forest. We stayed in Mindo were we were living the way the indigenous lived. At 4am we hiked in the dark through farm fields and climbed a cliff to await dawn and the COCKS ON THE ROCK a bird hidden in the deep forest, which appears only at dawn to impress his females. In Ecuador I was shown 147 species, having missed a whole bunch because of my colour blindness.

HIGHLIGHTS: COCK ON THE ROCK, ANDEAN CONDOR, TONS OF HUMMERS 30 of the 150 species, WHITE CAPPED, DIPPER BLACK CHESTED BUZZARD-EAGLE, HORNEO, ANDIAN GUAN, SUPERCILLARIEDMHEMISPINCLUS, SUNBITTERN, TOO MANY TANAGERS AND OTHER LEAF HIDDEN BIRDS, CHOCO TOUCAN.

Sometimes in the next 24 months, when I get the listing urge again, I we return to Ecuador and go to the Galapogas, Mindo and south to the tropical forest, with a few days at the lodge overlooking Quito.

Might I suggest that you visit their web site www.eco-lodgesanjorge.com. And soon let them plan at trip to Ecuador.

Happy birding,
Irving Himel
Toronoto, Ontario
Canada
January, 2005

Name: Dennis and Carol Wysong.
President Buena Vista Audubon Society
Country-City: California USA
Sent: 12/18/04
We really enjoyed the wonderful hospitality, the graciousness and helpfulness of our hosts.
The room was very comfortable and the views spectacular . Since we are birders, the best part was the birding. We logged over 200 birds in 3 days of birding. Jorge knows the best spots around here and took us to them and helped us identify them and also provided other bird guides including his son, Jorge, Jr., who where very helpful. We loved our stay and highly recommend San Jorge Botanical Reserve.
We birded in San Jorge Botanical Reserve, Yanacocha, Tandayapa, Mindo and Milipe.

Ecuador -A Land of Hummingbirds and Warm Hospitality
By Mary Ellen Sargent
Denver Audubon Society
Tour date: October 29 - November 8, 2004

We arrived in Quito in the evening of Oct. 29th and immediately traveled to the San Jorge Eco-Lodge – a 200 acre ranch located high above the city with gorgeous views. The next day started with a delightful gourmet breakfast, followed by birding around the eco lodge (the Black-tailed Trainbearer Hummingbird being the most magnificent). We then traveled to the Yanacocha Preserve, a protected cloud forest west of Quito, (approx. 10,000 ft in altitude) where many hummingbirds and tanagers were sighted. In the afternoon, we descended to the Trucha/Bella Vista area, where we birded at a unique preserve owned by a conservation minded American couple. In the short time of 1/2 hour, we saw at least 20 species of hummingbirds (the most outstanding being the Violet-tailed Sylph).

Imagine an early morning walk, (in pitch dark) up a steep mountain. We were on our way to see the Cock-of-the-Rock at their lek. Noisy bright red-orange males displayed their mating ritual whenever a female flew in or wandered by. After the spectacular display at the lek, we trekked down the mountain, to enjoy 40 more bird species in a farmer’s field. That afternoon, we visited wildlife and birding sites in the famous Mindo area where at one point the elusive cougar was sighted. Life lists kept growing.....

We returned from Napo on Nov 5th and we took the afternoon off from birding to visit the Andes Indian market and weavers in Otavalo, 2 hours north of Quito. On Saturday, during a 1000 ft vertical hike above San Jorge Lodge, we experienced more birding and an excellent lesson in the medicinal plants of the Andes from our host and lodge proprietor Dr. Jorge Cruz. During our leisure time, several members took advantage of the pool, hot tub and sauna. Sunday, we toured the Papallacta area east of Quito looking for high altitude raptors and were thrilled to see the Carunculated Caracara and the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. After birding in the misty coolness of the cloud forest, we relaxed in the multiple pools at a local hot springs.

We left Ecuador on Nov. 8th, filled with the warmth and hospitality of both the Napo and San Jorge lodges. We took home many memories of our diverse, fun-filled trip and delighted in the fact that we saw over 300 bird species.

Name: Toni Rautus
President, Denver Field Ornithologists
Country-City: Denver Colorado USA
Tour Date: October 31 - November 8, 2004
A belated thank your for a wonderful stay at your lodge. What a
beautiful introduction to Ecuador. You, your family and the wonderful
staff made us feel at home and like part of a family. I have told all
my friends about your beautiful lodge, what a hard working and
delightful host you and young Jorge are how special your parents were to
our fellow travelers, Gale and Jim. Your success is well deserved.

All of our excursions to look for birds or plants were spectacular. The
Cock of the Rock hike was well worth getting up at 4:00 am and the hike
up the hill. Unfortunately we did not get to see the Condor but our soak
at the hot springs was a nice way to soothe the loss. Your roadside
picnic lunches were the best. We all want the salad dressing recipe as
well as the cerveche and quinoa soup.

Jorge Jr. is a doll and will be a super bird guide. His ability to
locate and identify the birds quickly is truly a gift. Both he and you
have such wonderful enthusiasm for what you are doing. Your pride and
respect for your country and its natural resources and history are
evident in everything you do.

I hope all is well at the lodge and your baby llama is growing up
strong. Many thanks again for my wonderful oasis in Quito.

Name: Dr. Lu Picher
DENVER AUDUBON SOCIETY BIRDER
Country-City: Denver Colorado USA
October 31 - November 8, 2004

While any good birding trip needs to have a good variety of birds in several different habitats, it goes best with good, knowledgeable guides who are pleasant ,easy to get along with and helpful. The San Jorge Eco-lodge in the hills overlooking Quito has just that, with the very accommodating, aggreable and helpful guides like the owner Jorge Cruz and his oldest son, Jorge, Jr., as well as other guides. They know where to find the birds and what they are when they "just fly by" suddenly. They make themselves available from sun up till long after sundown (since they also run the lodge with good food and other great services, like horsebackriding, shamanic plants hiking, real shamanic cleansings and mountain biking in the cloud forest!).
Our birding experience was terrific-ranging from sunrise in the jungle at the cock of the rock lek, (beautiful but certainly noisy), to seeing a golden headed Quetzal on the way back to the van, 23 hummingbirds in the first day and 14 lovely tanagers the second day. In addition, Jorge`s training as a vet and life long interest in Ecuador`s archeology as well as his knowledge of medicinal uses for native plant makes for a well rounded ecological understanding. The family and staff make you feel right at home.

DENVER AUDUBON SOCITIEY
Denver, Colorado, USA
Tour date: October 29 - November 9, 2004

Name: Becky Beckers
DENVER AUDUBON SOCIETY BIRDING TOUR LEADER
DENVER , COLORADO USA

The most delightful, charming lodge that I have ever stayed in. Rustically luxurious, old style hacienda, combined with modern convenience. George, Irina and Georgy are more like family, than proprietors and cater to your desires before you have time to develop them.
Georgy,Jr. is a delight and extraordinary bright birding guide. He relates well to the group with very good people and social skills.
He will make world renowned guide. I love his birding enthusiasm.
Vicente is a blessing and magician. With his multi-tasking skills at the resort and always with a smile!!
And Jorge, what can I say!!? We love you Jorge , thank you!! for taking such good care of us!!

Name: James Dunan
As an english only speaking indiviual, I found the management very understandable . The food was outstanding
and so well prepared, and the rooms are cozy, clean and very comfortable. We were met at the airport promptly and transported
in good comfort to the lodge. While in our various birding trips the guides were very good, and I was especially impressed with the young lad, Jorge Jr. ( Dr Cruz's youngest son). If he keeps the interest up,he is bound to have a very bright future.

Name: Frank Witebsky
Country-City: Bozeman , Montana
Sent: 7/04
Dear Jorge, I just wanted to thank you again for providing me with a wonderful day¹s birding while I was at San Jorge. Even if you were at least 10 years older
I would consider you an extremely talented and skilled birding guide, and I
could not believe it when your father told me your actual age. I hope your
interest in and enthusiasm for birds continues, and that you will continue
to share the delights of the birds in the San Jorge area with other visitors
in the years ahead.

Name: Laurie Kleen
Country-City: Saint Louis, MO USA
Sent:7/04
San Jorge location is spectacular with a view of the mountains, volcanoes and Quito. Staying up in the higher rooms gives you a bird-eye
view of it all and marvellous birdsightings too. Good meals, pleasent service, and the trip to Otavalo were great, but best of all was following young Jorge up the steps and cutting in the mountain side to see the scarlet bellied mountain tanager and many other great birds

Name: Denise and Raimond Morin
Country-City: Toronto Canada
Sent: 5/31/04

ABA members/17 years of birdwatching

Thank you for the wonderful time we had at Eco-lodge San Jorge. We were very impressed with the natural environment at San Jorge .It was our first experience with a Highland Rain Forest. The diversity of vegetation and birds was astounding
Your birdwatching tour was fantastic!!

The highlights were the hummingbirds and the tanagers .The Cock of the rock excursion was spectacular. Your birdwatching guide was very good in helping us discover some beautiful birds of Ecuador.

Name: Sharon and Ted Kirsten
Country-City: Johanesburg South Africa
Sent: 5/4//04
Thanks to all San Jorge
We had a lovely service and good food and company.
Young George was an excellent birdwatching guide in San Jorge highland rain forest.We saw great birds.