Mashpi Lodge
ecuador
THE PERSONALITIES
The Quiet adventurers. Wildlife photographers. Design lovers. Hikers. Birdwatchering enthusiasts. Conservationists.
MOMENTS
Mist rising through the canopy. Hummingbirds in flight. A forest symphony at dawn. Warm rain on glass walls. Chocolate-making in the jungle. Butterflies landing on your sleeve. Silence after rain.
BEST VISITING MONTHS
June to November for clearer skies and excellent birdwatching. December to May for lush greenery and afternoon rains that bring the forest to life.
COST
WHY STAY
Perched at 900 meters above sea level in Ecuador’s Chocó Cloud Forest, Mashpi Lodge sits at the meeting point of the Andes and the Pacific coast—one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth. The surrounding 2,500-hectare reserve shelters over 400 bird species, rare orchids, and countless butterflies, all thriving in a mist-soaked ecosystem that feels almost primordial.
Designed by Ecuadorian architect Alberto Miani, the lodge is a striking glass-and-steel structure that appears to float within the canopy. Its minimalist, contemporary form contrasts beautifully with the wilderness around it, allowing uninterrupted views of the forest from every room. Interiors are pared-back yet warm—rich woods, neutral tones, and floor-to-ceiling windows invite the outside in, making you feel cocooned within nature’s pulse rather than separated from it.
Mashpi is more than a hotel—it’s a living laboratory for conservation. Founded by Roque Sevilla, former mayor of Quito and lifelong environmentalist, the lodge embodies regenerative tourism. Scientists and guests coexist here, studying new species, reforesting degraded land, and learning how to live in balance with the forest. Staying here is a reminder that luxury can mean awareness—of sound, of stillness, of place.
WHY WANDER
Step outside your glass cocoon, and the forest opens like a cathedral. Guided hikes lead you through dense trails alive with orchids, glass frogs, and neon beetles. At dawn, birdwatchers gather to glimpse rare species like the Glistening-green Tanager or the Andean Cock-of-the-rock. The Sky Bike lets you pedal across the treetops suspended between valleys—an experience that redefines flight.
For those drawn to water, the Copal Waterfall and crystalline streams invite cool immersion after a humid trek. You can also visit the Life Centre, where butterflies are bred and released, or the Dragonfly Gondola, which carries guests over 2 km above the forest floor, revealing how infinite green can really feel.
Beyond the reserve, explore nearby Andean communities and cacao plantations to understand the local rhythms of life. It’s an immersion in both ecology and culture—a reminder that the forest’s story includes its people.
INDULGE IN
The cuisine at Mashpi celebrates Ecuador’s biodiversity. Expect seasonal menus built around locally grown ingredients—heart of palm, cacao, and tropical fruits—reimagined with contemporary flair. Dine beneath soft light as clouds drift past the glass walls, and end each meal with desserts infused with chocolate made from nearby plantations.
GETTING THERE
Mashpi Lodge is a 3.5-hour drive northwest of Quito, through winding Andean roads and rural landscapes that descend from highlands into lush cloud forest. The journey itself is a transformation—altitude giving way to humidity, pine forests to palms.
WILD INITIATIVES
Mashpi’s Mashpi Reserve protects over 6,000 acres of primary and secondary forest, safeguarding the Chocó bioregion—one of the planet’s most endangered ecosystems. The lodge funds long-term scientific research, hosts an on-site laboratory, and employs local residents as naturalists, guides, and conservation stewards.
Through the Mashpi Foundation, the property invests in reforestation projects, sustainable cacao production, and education programs for surrounding communities. The lodge’s design itself minimizes impact—prefabricated offsite to reduce forest disturbance and powered partly by hydroelectric energy.
*Images property of Mashpi Lodge