What it’s Like Staying at El Nido Del Condor Ecolodge

Up in the Andean mountain range on route to the Santa Isabel mountain top, El Nido del Condor Ecolodge is located on a plateau that appears as an island in the middle of the mountains surrounded by two rivers. They are known for their birdwatching, specifically Andean condors that nest directly on the plateau – one of only three known Andean condor nests in the entire country! (Hence the name El Nido del Condor – or in English, The Condor’s Nest).

El Nido del Condor is easily one of the most unique and beautiful nature-based destinations I’ve ever been to, with sustainability initiatives that make supporting this Colombian, family-owned, boutique glamping hotel that much sweeter. From their solar energy system, sustainable on-premise farming, and harvesting and usage of rainwater, they have created a pretty self-sustaining property that works with the environment to operate.

FUN FACT: Besides its stunning grounds, jaw-dropping views, and cozy glamping accommodations, El Nido del Condor will always have an extremely special place in my heart because of personal significance – the love of my life asked me to marry him here!!!

Pin it: What it’s like Glamping at El Nido del Condor Ecolodge

The Grounds at El Nido del Condor:

Welcome to El Nido del Condor Ecolodge, or what I like to call it: an eco-fairytale land! From the sweeping mountain views to the unique landscaping featuring native Colombian flowers and plants and grass-covered rooftops to make everything blend in with nature as much as possible (can you spot them in the photo below?), the natural beauty of this place had my jaw on the floor the entire time I was there.

DETAILS are the name of the game at El Nido del Condor. Unlike other eco-friendly accommodations I have stayed at that typically have a dirt path, El Nido del Condor created an elevated boardwalk path that connected the entire property that gave it such an eco-luxurious feel. The main lodge where all guests can congregate for meals is built to resemble the flight of an eagle (pictured below). So creative!

Accommodations at El Nido del Condor: Glamping Tents!

If you’ve been reading Wanderluluu for a while you know that I’m a sucker for a good glamping experience. Hands down, El Nido del Condor takes the cake! I was SO impressed by the glamping setup and overall experience. It felt more like staying in a boutique hotel than a tent. Each natural canvas luxe glamping tent offers sweeping views of the nearby mountains and valleys and truly gives you a one-with-nature kind of feel. One night we had an intense rainstorm and the rain coming down on the tent felt like a dream.

Each tent features a private back deck with hammocks for guests to rest and relax, as well as your own private front terrace to enjoy green-screen-this-can’t-be-real views, a private indoor/outdoor bathroom, full queen-sized bed, and even an in-tent fireplace! Each night a member of the staff would come into the room to start a fire in the word-burning fireplace which made the ambiance and the coziness level of this stay go off the charts.

Birdwatching & Hiking at El Nido del Condor:

Aside from the resting and relaxing you’ll be doing in your eco-tent, there are lots of opportunities for birdwatching and nature hikes. In fact, El Nido del Condor offers a guided birdwatching nature hike led by a birding expert. They take you to a nearby finca where you can actually see the condor’s nest (with the help of binoculars). Funnily enough, though, we got the best view of all straight from our private terrace, so you technically don’t even need to go on the birdwatching tour! However, we did learn a lot about condors and condor conservation while on the tour, so I would definitely recommend it for that reason.

While waiting for the condors to arrive, I went ahead and made a new friend on the finca hehe.

Oh, and did I mention that El Nido del Condor is ALSO an avocado farm?! They had hundreds of Haas avocado bushes around the property and as a guest, you can walk around and check everything out on your own.

Getting To El Nido del Condor:

Getting to El Nido del Condor is no easy task – you’ll need to take 3 modes of transportation to get there, but one thing is for sure – IT’S MORE THAN WORTH IT! First off, you’ll need to fly into Manizales (airport code MZL) or take a bus to Manizales. Manizales is a city located in the Caldas region of Colombia which is part of Colombia’s coffee region. Although I have taken buses all over Colombia because it is the cheapest way to get around the country, flying is by far the best, easiest, and most efficient way to get around Colombia. For example, a bus ride to Manizales from Bogotá will likely take you 9-10 hours whereas a flight will take you only 1 hour! And honestly, flights are not too expensive so I would recommend flying to save yourself time and hassle.

Once you arrive in Manizales, you’ll need a driver to pick you up for part 2 of the journey. We arranged a driver directly with El Nido del Condor which I would recommend because they know exactly where to take you. You’ll then set off for a 1-hour 4×4 ride up the mountain – this ride is VERY bumpy and windy. If you are prone to motion sickness I would suggest bringing some meds for that.

Your driver will then drop you off at a platform for part 3 of the trip – a ride gondola suspended hundreds of feet over a valley to get to El Nido del Condor Ecolodge! If you’re afraid of heights, you’ll need to figure out some way to get through it because this is literally the only way to get to El Nido del Condor haha!