Filming in Colombia: El Nido del Condor Ecolodge
An Andean Condor flying over El Nido del Condor Ecolodge.
One of Our New Favorite Colombian Filming Locations
During the heart of North America’s summer, our client Merrell asked us to help them find a cold-weather location in Colombia to create visual assets for their new winter shoe line-up. WhereNext opted for a spectacular filming site in Colombia’s Central Andes: El Nido del Condor Ecolodge. This breathtaking location combines stunning Andean landscapes with excellent birding and trekking and is the ideal place to film a range of different climates and landscapes.
El Nido del Condor offers spectacular views over the Andes mountains.
The main house, where meals are served and with a lovely view of bird feeders and native forest.
How to Get There
El Nido del Condor is located in the municipality of Villamaria, in the department of Caldas, 17km from the town of Villamaria. The road to get to the ecolodge is mainly unpaved. Therefore, arriving in a 4x4 vehicle is preferable, particularly if it’s been raining. WhereNext works with a trusted local team of drivers and can easily arrange 4x4 transport to and from the lodge to the nearest airports.
The easiest way to get to El Nido del Condor is to fly into Matecaña International Airport in the city of Pereira, then transfer directly from there to the ecolodge, a journey of roughly three hours. The city of Manizales - much closer to the ecolodge - does have an airport with national flights from Bogota. Still, the mountainous location of the airport means that flights are often heavily delayed or canceled. Many are even rerouted to Pereira. Therefore, to minimize production delays, flying to Pereira is preferable.
When you arrive at the ecolodge, it’s necessary to cross the spectacular Molinos River canyon on a metal gondola. This is an excellent opportunity to film stunning aerial footage of the cloud forest landscapes and, on clear days, the snow-capped peak of Nevado del Ruiz volcano.
The metal gondola that takes you to El Nido del Condor across the Molinos River Canyon.
What Makes This Ecolodge Special?
El Nido del Condor is the result of the dreams and hard work of the Botero family. They wanted to share their little slice of Andean paradise with the world. So they decided to open a glamping-style ecolodge, putting their years of experience as architects to good use by designing a series of stunningly appointed safari-style tents, artfully arranged so that every visitor enjoys peace and privacy as well as a panoramic view over the mountains.
Each room counts on two deck-style balconies, with hammocks, tables, and chairs; large, comfortable beds; spectacular semi-open bathrooms and showers with views over the canyon; and even coffee-making facilities so that you can grind yourself a fresh cup of Colombian coffee each morning. With a total area of over 80m², cabins are spacious, offering plenty of room to set up for a shoot, style, and dress models if necessary, and relax at the end of a hard day.
Each tent at El Nido offers beautiful views, comfort, and luxurious accommodation.
Because El Nido is located on a hilltop flanked by the canyons of the rivers Molinos and Campanario, it appears almost like an island in the sky, a sensation amplified by the mountain mists that descend on it most days. As a result, it’s an ideal location if you’re looking for a range of different climates to film: the weather can go from bright sunshine to chilly Andean mist in the blink of an eye, making for a delightfully varied filming location.
The Place to Film Condors in Colombia
So why the name ‘The Condor’s Nest?’ During one of their visits to the land, the Boteros noticed a stunning pair of Andean Condors soaring along the Campanario River canyon. At first, they thought it was an isolated sighting, condors being resident throughout the nearby Los Nevados National Park. But after several more encounters, it became clear that the condors had a special connection to the area.
Eventually, they discovered that the pair had a nest on the rocky cliff face directly below the ecolodge. Even outside of the nesting season, the pair regularly use the nest as a roosting site. Consequently, they chose to name the new hotel El Nido del Condor Ecolodge. It is now probably the best location in Colombia for filming these giant raptors, Colombia’s National Bird.
The condors can arrive at any time of the day, but they often afford visitors magnificent eye-level views as they rise from their nest on the thermals. If you’re looking to film condors in Colombia, this is undoubtedly the place to do it. Additionally, several bird feeders are located in front of the dining area, where many colorful Andean tanagers and warblers are regularly spotted, along with the endemic Andean Squirrel.
Social Responsibility
El Nido del Condor emphasizes social responsibility in all of its activities and practices and aims to use natural materials with low energy consumption. Most dishes are prepared with locally produced ingredients to minimize environmental impact and support local producers.
The owners of the ecolodge have also developed and supported studies and investigations into the habits and ecology of the condors and education programs seeking to raise awareness of these majestic birds among local residents. Colombia has faced a battle in recent years as an increasing number of condors have sadly been poisoned. This is often due to a lack of education, as local farmers believe that the birds hunt their livestock. By helping to educate the local population about this species' habits and environmental importance, the ecolodge is helping to protect future generations of Colombia’s national bird.
The stunning canyon where the condors are seen most days.
Each of the safari-style tents has its own private terrace with views over the canyon below.
Eco-Friendly Practices
In addition to their commitment to social responsibility, the owners of El Nido are also working hard to operate sustainably, following eco-friendly practices. The eco-lodge runs on solar energy, with several panels providing electricity to the main lodge and cabins. The toilets and showers are operated with rainwater harvested and oxygenated with a solar aerator, and all of the cleaning products used are ecological.
Additionally, all wooden structures at El Nido del Condor are constructed from cultivated wood, and the furniture is certified as nature-friendly.
When filming in Colombia at El Nido del Condor Ecolodge, you can confidently choose a sustainable and environmentally friendly filming location.
Contact our Colombia Production Company Here
Check out our Colombia Production Company’s Guide to Colombia's spectacular National Parks. If you are considering filming a natural history production, here is what you need to know about Colombia’s spectacular wild destinations.