From: £861
From: $1,146
The adventure begins at 08.30 a.m. with a pick-up from one of four hotels in Quito (Swissôtel, JW Marriott, Hilton and Casa Gangotena).
It takes around three hours to leave the high altitudes of Quito and drive through the hilly surrounds to the Mashpi Reserve, located at about 1,000m (3,330ft). The alternating terrains make the area one of the world’s most significant biodiversity hotspots.
We’ll pass the dry Pomasqui valley before heading into the misty cloud forest and magical world of Mashpi.
Note: Clients not staying at one of the four hotels simply make their way to the closest one for pick-up.
On arrival, we enjoy lunch and a briefing before enjoying some free time to relax after the journey. Check-in for the rooms is after 2 p.m.
The rest gives us energy for the afternoon’s activities, which you can choose with the help of the guides and depending on the weather. We usually start with a guided walk along an exploratory trail so you can familiarise yourself with the Chocó region’s forests.
Keep an eye out for wildlife at all times. You never know what you’ll see.
We return to the lodge for dinner. There are evening lectures to enjoy, given by a naturalist guide or the resident biologist, about the region, ongoing projects, and wildlife.
Early starts are recommended at Mashpi. Dawn is busy with many creatures searching for food or somewhere to rest. Those up early can head to the hotel terrace at 06.30 a.m., where a guide will help spot wildlife.
Breakfast service usually starts around 07.30 a.m., giving us energy for the day ahead. Most people fit in between six and eight experiences in a three-day stay, or more if staying longer, plus wellness experiences if desired.
There is life at every step in the forests around Mashpi, a place to revive the senses.
Naturalist and local guides will explain the myriad plants, insects, and animals as you hike.
Two of the lodge’s main trails, which are rarely flat, are the Howler Monkey and Magnolia Trails. The steep angles help with wildlife spotting. Other popular walks include the vigorous uphill hike (1 hour) to the San Vicente waterfall or the Oxibelis trail. We often combine activities like the sky bike with a walking trail.
The Copal Waterfall trail is a two-hour-long hike with a spectacular 50m waterfall to finish. Those who want to bathe in waterfalls will enjoy water temperatures between 18 and 20°C (64 and 68 °F).
Activities end by returning to the lodge to enjoy a refreshing natural juice and fresh towels to dry off. We’ve got night trails to reveal even more of the forest’s secrets plus daily evening night briefings from our guides or resident biologists.
The Life Centre is a place for learning and discovery and somewhere to disconnect, enjoy the views, or relax. You may spot wildlife on the short walk from the lodge to the Life Centre.
The butterfly reproduction programme is a highlight, as are the dozens of species of orchids, bromeliads and passion flowers around the centre. There are also medicinal plants and a variety of typical forest plants from tobacco to cacao, which many animals come to feed upon.
The Observation Tower (26m/85ft) offers a bird’s-eye view and panoramas surrounding the lodge. Wildlife observation is best at dawn or dusk. There are 162 steps to climb to get close to toucans, woodpeckers, tanagers, parrots, and raptors.
The dragonfly canopy ride glides gently through the air over 1.25miles/2km, showing the immensity of the Mashpi Reserve. The 40-minute route combines with other trails or can be done in an out-and-back fashion.
The sky bike requires one of its two occupants to pedal and push the bike through the forest canopy. The 200m (655 feet) route crosses a river and gets you up close to nature. Children must be 1m tall and accompanied by adults.
Feeders attract many of the 32 hummingbird species in Mashpi to this viewpoint. There is a shelter with seating and a natural viewpoint and breathtaking views.
A massage, yoga, spa treatments, or the outdoor hot tub—the Wellness Centre will replenish your reserves.
You may be up at 06.30 to watch wildlife or choose another short adventure. Check-out is at 11 a.m., so your guide can recommend activities.
The transfer leaves Mashpi Lodge at 11.30 a.m.. It includes a complimentary box lunch to enjoy during our drive back to Quito. Drop-off is at one of the four pick-up hotels ((Swissôtel, JW Marriott, Hilton and Casa Gangotena).
Mashpi Lodge aims to mix the best-in-class hotel service in an artistic, natural environment. It succeeds thanks to luxurious rooms and tasteful communal spaces that blend in and play with the surroundings.
The contemporary and sustainable lodge sits at the beating heart of the Mashpi Reserve, 950m/3,100ft above sea level, among the lower montane tropical rainforest and cloud forests. Panoramic views unfold from almost all areas, fusing you with nature during your stay.
Your wellness is cared for with high-end gastronomy, exotic cocktails, and the plush Samay Centre and Spa. Learn more about the environment in the expedition room. There’s an indoor and outdoor bar lounge, coffee bar, well-stocked library, gift shop, and viewing platform. There are even some computers for those that may need access.
Mashpi Lodge is also a member of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World programme; no need to say more.
Mashpi Lodge rooms, dispersed over three floors, immerse you in forest life while ensuring its wildlife remains safely in the canopy. Enjoy stunning mountain views from floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall panoramic glass windows, some on two sides, with the forest just a few feet away.
This crystal capsule makes you feel like you are in the forest from the comfort of your bed. Open the windows and let the forests’ calls wash over you.
There are 24 rooms at Mashpi, with room for up to 50 guests.vCheck-in is around 2 p.m., and check-out is at 11 a.m.
All rooms feature:
This trip is open to anyone who has a good level of fitness and enjoys being in the outdoors, with a positive attitude who wants to walk in a stunning cloud forest.
Hikes are from 15 minutes to 2-3 hours long and involve some ups and downs, but there are plenty of stops to see wildlife, take photos etc.
The itinerary is flexible, and you can relax at the lodge birdwatching, enjoying the Wellness Centre, having a massage, or looking for wildlife from the hotel terrace. The trip is open to all, including children.
Mashpi Lodge is happy to cater for vegetarian / vegan / gluten-free diets – please contact us for more on any dietary requirements.
Synchronise a top-end gastronomic experience with the surrounding natural beauty with Mashpi Lodge’s beautiful, cloud forest-wrapped restaurant.
Chefs use Ecuador’s myriad ingredients, from the coast to the Andes to the Amazon, to create unique local flavours and tempting international dishes. Breakfast and lunch are buffet while night dining is à la carte. Don’t forget to try cocktails inspired by Mashpi’s verdant environment.
Any bar bills can be paid in USD cash or by credit card.
Approximate meal times:
Breakfast is served at 07.30 (buffet style)
Lunch is served at 13.00 (buffet style)
Dinner is served at 19.00 (A la carte)
Local, bilingual (English/Spanish) guides will take you around the trails, spotting wildlife and explaining various aspects of the forest’s flora and fauna.
Many of the local staff are from the surrounding Mashpi Reserve.
Mashpi Lodge has worked hand-in-hand with Mashpi Reserve’s communities since the project’s inception in 2001. Indeed, much of the food you’ll enjoy comes from the locals’ land.
Community members and lodge employees also follow a programme that makes them company shareholders and offers work and training possibilities.
A flawlessly organised Galapagos adventure with an excellent guide, smooth logistics, and a fantastic group — a stress-free trip that exceeded every expectation.
An unforgettable Galapagos adventure filled with fearless wildlife, stunning landscapes, and exceptional guiding throughout.
Ecuador cloud forest’s most exclusive hotel immerses you in nature while you luxuriate in the wonderful comforts at Mashpi Lodge.
Just a few hours from Quito, Mashpi Lodge sits in the 3,000-acre Mashpi Reserve, and forms part of one of the world’s most important biodiversity regions.
Explore lush, misty cloud forests bursting with wildlife from dawn to dusk, accompanied by expert naturalist guides and biologists. Trails criss-cross the Andean landscapes, revealing a diversity in wildlife unrivalled in the area.
Choose your own adventure in this magical place. Watch butterflies hatch from cocoons, fly above the forest canopy in cable cars, or pedal through the trees on the exclusive Sky Bike. Or harmonise with Mother Earth in the Wellness Centre, with its spa treatments, massages, and hot tub.
Landscapes vary from the drier south to the more humid north.
The Highlands, or sierra, encompass two Andean Cordilleras (the Central and Western), which run north to south through the country. Ecuador’s largest volcano is Chimborazo (6,310m) whose summit, because of its proximity to the equator, is the closest point on earth to the sun. Several of Ecuador’s volcanoes are still active, and it’s a great area for trekking.
Descending the steep, east-facing slopes of the eastern Cordillera, one passes through a transition zone comprising dense cloud forest and humid high jungle, before entering the Amazon lowlands.
This mainly primary rainforest covers a third of the country, accounts for 5% of the population and stretches across Ecuador, from its Colombian to its Peruvian borders.
The Galapagos Islands are simply unique. Lying 600 miles off the mainland, the archipelago comprises the summits of gigantic equatorial volcanoes.
The flora and fauna of the Galapagos, long separated from their continental cousins, have evolved differently. Charles Darwin used his observations there to develop his theory of Evolution.
Ecuador is the second smallest South American country, and one of the most varied.
It comprises three main geographical areas: the coast, highlands and Amazon plus is home to the Galapagos Islands.
Because of its relatively compact size, it makes a great holiday destination as you can move from highlight to highlight fairly easily and rapidly.
Ecuador lies between latitudes 4º south and 2º north. Overall, climate varies according to time of year, altitude and region.
In the Ecuadorian highlands, there is little temperature variation by season as temperature depends largely on altitude.
In Quito, shade temperatures range from 6 to 10ºC in the morning and from 19 to 23ºC in the afternoon, with cool nights. In the lower basins between mountains, it gets significantly warmer.
Rainfall depends on whether an area lies closer to the eastern or western Andes. To the west, June-Sept is the dry period and Oct-May the wet (with often a short, dry spell in Dec or Jan).
The best period to visit Quito and trek and climb volcanoes such as Cotopaxi is the west Andean dry season of June-Sept and Dec/Jan. This is also Ecuador’s high season. During the Oct-May wet season, most rainfall is in the afternoons.
To the east, Oct to Feb are dry and Mar-Sept are wet. Overall, the southern highlands are drier than the northern highlands.
On the Pacific coast, rainfall becomes less from north to south. The coast can be enjoyed year-round, although from June-Sept mornings are often grey with the garua mists.
Jan-May is the hottest and rainiest time of year.
In Ecuador’s Amazonian region, rain can fall at any time, but Dec-March is usually the driest season and Mar-Sept is usually the wettest period.
Galapagos can be visited at any time of year.
The warm season is Jan-Jun, bringing calm, warm waters (around 70°F) and sunny days (72-9°F or 22-32°C), February and March being the hottest and sunniest months with blue skies and sunshine.
The islands receive slightly more rainfall during these months, occasional heavy bursts in the afternoon. Great for snorkelling and you can spend a lot of time in the water without wetsuits, with great, clear waters.
The dry ‘garua’ season is Jun-Dec an it’s a great time for marine life. August and September are the coolest when you may need a jacket in the evenings and the sea can be choppy and temperature drops around 15-24ºC on average.
There can be mist on the islands in the mornings (garua) which usually burns off by midday leaving overcast skies or a sunny afternoon.
Sea temperatures may drop to 60°F- 72°F (15-22°C) during this time and snorkellers will want a wet suit for prolonged periods in the sea.
A flawlessly organised Galapagos adventure with an excellent guide, smooth logistics, and a fantastic group — a stress-free trip that exceeded every expectation.
An unforgettable Galapagos adventure filled with fearless wildlife, stunning landscapes, and exceptional guiding throughout.
