With its striking contemporary design and incredible ‘heart of the forest’ feel, Mashpi Lodge is a sophisticated and relaxing hideaway in the clouds, perfectly situated for exploring the incredible biodiversity of the Chocoan cloudforest.
The incredible biodiversity is reason enough to visit - a haven for bird watchers is the 26m Observation Tower or Hummingbird Station where over 400 species of birds have been spotted.
One of South America's most sophisticated hydro-electric powered ecolodges and a model of sustainable practice built from recycled steel and glass in the Andean foothills.
Mashpi Lodge is only 3 hours by road from Quito, making it far easier to access than the Amazon rainforest, but surrounded by the 3,200 acre Mashpi Reserve you will feel the same sensation of stepping into nature's true wild home.
Mashpi Lodge occupies a magnificent setting in the Chocoan cloudforest - wake up each morning with the rainforest within touching distance of your floor-to-ceiling window.
Mashpi Lodge, built with the latest techniques in sustainable building, has been designed to blend beautifully with its surroundings. It features contemporary, minimalist decor, mixing warm earth tones, notes of bright colour, clean lines and striking angles and vistas to form a luxury cocoon in the cloudforest. The setting provides an ideal place for contemplation and relaxation.
Mashpi lodge has an intimate feel, and accommodates a maximum of 48 guests in luxurious rooms and suites, all with floor to ceiling windows that seem to interact directly with the verdant forest outside. You wake up to a captivating view of tree trunks, branches, vines, leaves, birds and clouds all around. It's a bit like being in a capsule, observing life beyond from the comfort of your bed. Open the window, and the sounds of bird and frog calls wash over you.
The biological wonders at Mashpi Lodge will delight the most jaded nature lover. Perched at 900 metres above sea level, and surrounded by lower montane rainforest and cloudforest, the lodge is surrounded by a profusion of plant species, from ferns and bromeliads to hundreds of orchid species, many newly-discovered. An incredible 500 species of bird, including 36 endemics, call the surrounding forest home, while monkeys, peccaries and even puma also inhabit the reserve. Mashpi is a great place to spot hummingbirds with 22 species present.
For many, the highlight of a visit to Mashpi Lodge is the aerial tram, which glides you over 2 km through and above the forest canopy, enabling you to explore different areas of the reserve as well as appreciating the full richness of this arboreal ecosystem. Trails loop around the reserve, taking you to waterfalls, cock-of-the-rock leks, and right into the heart of the forest to observe tree trunks festooned with orchids, lichens and mosses, giant ferns reaching up to the light above, coiling vines, swirling mists and clouds of moisture. There is also the Dragonfly which offers an unforgettable experience gliding through the forest canopy and the sky bike for those who want to explore the canopy more actively. The observation tower is a superb place to watch the comings and goings of toucans, woodpeckers, barbets, tanagers and parrots.
Close to the lodge, the Life Centre is a place for learning and discovery, but also where you can disconnect, contemplate the views, lie back in a hammock, read a book, enjoy a fresh fruit juice or a brew of locally-grown coffee. Guests will learn about the butterflies that inhabit the region, about frogs and toads, some of which are kept in glass terrariums, as well as dozens of species of orchids, bromeliads and passion flowers. Close to the Centre, an area for growing medicinal plants has been set up, and much of what is grown finds its way into the dishes prepared at the restaurant.
The restaurant is dramatically designed, and features dishes conjured up with herbs, spices, a wide variety of chillies, and leaves and fruits from the surrounding rainforest. A wellness space features a Jacuzzi framed by eye-catching carved wooden panels, open to the breezes and sounds of the forest, perfect for relaxing after hikes. Specialised massages and treatments using natural local ingredients such as earth, stones, herbs and leaves from the Reserve are given in an adjoining room, leaving guests refreshed and revived.
When to visit
Hop on the sky bike and pedal your way along 200 metres of cable hung through the jungle canopy
Plan your trip
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Enquire NowMashpi Lodge is located in the heart of the Chocoan cloudforest in Ecuador, north of the capital city, Quito.
17-hour international flight via Madrid or Bogota to reach Quito, followed by a 3-hour 30-minute drive to Mashpi Lodge.
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