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Key Features

  • Myriad plant species ready to be explored
  • Incredible luxury in the middle of the cloudforest
  • You can visit the Sky bike, Humming Bird garden, Life Center and other incredible sites

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Mashpi Lodge

5-Star Luxury Cloudforest Lodge ★★★★★

Just a three-hour drive from Quito, you'll find the Mashpi Lodge, nestled in the heart of the cloud forest of Ecuador. The Mashpi Reserve is 1300-hectares, spanning both Rainforest and cloud forest- making it a hotspot for biodiversity seldom found in other parts of the world. This luxury lodge is great for bird-watching, with over 500 species identified in the surrounding area. At 900 meters above sea level, this lower mountain Rainforest is a unique habitat and ecosystem, where the humidity of the coast and the arid air of the Andes meet. Hidden in the reserve are endemic species of flora and fauna that reconnect you with the natural world. Ask for our exclusive discounts and promotions on trips to Mashpi Lodge.

Services & Facilities

Inclusions & Exclusions

Included ✔
  • Accommodation
  • Transfers in and out (shared basis from major hotel chains in Quito)
  • All meals
  • Bilingual naturalist guide
  • Use of rain poncho / boots / umbrella
Not Included ✘
  • Gratuities, bar, gifts and additional items
  • Optional activities outside the reserve (kayak, bike, canopy zip-lines, etc)
Lodge Access ⅈ
Getting to Mashpi, three hours northwest of Quito is a cinch. Guests are picked up by a comfortable shuttle from their hotels in the capital, and taken through the scenic byways to the north through rolling hills before descending into the cloudforest. Pick ups are normally done in the morning after breakfast, allowing time to stop at scenic points along the way and arriving at Mashpi Lodge in time to check-in and have lunch before launching into the activities of the day.
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Sample Itineraries at Mashpi Lodge Ecuador

Mashpi Lodge doesn’t have set itineraries. Being a luxury lodge, the idea is that you meet with your naturalist guide during an orientation to plan what you would like to do based on your interests. Hiking through the cloud forest to isolated waterfalls, visiting the butterfly farm, going for a ride on the Skybike, and climbing to the top of the observation tower are just a few of the activities that you can do while relaxing and exploring the Mashpi Reserve.

Sample Mashpi 3-Day Itinerary

En route from Quito to Mashpi Lodge, stop at the ruins of Tulipe to learn about the ancient Yumbo tribe that once resided here in the cloudforest. Then you'll head to Mashpi, where a friendly staff will welcome you and help you get situated in your spectacular room with a gorgeous view of the surrounding Ecuadorian cloudforest. A brief orientation is followed by lunch and a guided afternoon hike. Another evening hike will acquaint you with the nocturnal species around the Mashpi lodge, after this you will enjoy an amazing dinner and enjoy the lodge facilities.

An early morning makes for an ideal bird-watching tour, as your guide will help identify the many species you'll spot. Then you'll enjoy a hearty breakfast before visiting the 30-meter observation tower, putting you in the heart of the canopy. The aerial bike is the next activity - unique to Mashpi Lodge! Then a different trail will take you back to the lodge. In the afternoon, you'll head to the Wildlife Center to learn about the various endemic species around Mashpi Lodge and see butterflies in all stages of metamorphosis.

In the morning, pack your suitcases and prepare for one final birding adventure to spot the birds feeding on the nocturnal insects and see the majestic Copal Waterfall surrounded by orchids. If you'd like to purchase a souvenir, the gift shop has a collection of fun memorabilia. Then it's time to say farewell to this amazing and luxurious Ecuador lodge and head back to Quito, passing the City at the Center of the World along the way.

Sample Mashpi 2-Day Itinerary

After arriving, an introduction to the cloud forest lodge and having lunch - dive into the day´s adventure by taking a spin on the Skybike. The two-person ride, one person pedals and the other sits in front, spans a 200 meter (655 feet) gorge high above rushing rivers below. Next head to the Observation Tower at Mashpi Lodge. The structure stands eight story high, and overlooks the tree tops of the reserve where spectacular views of the rolling tundra that spans as far as the eye can see. Options before dinner include a night hike and a visit to the Life Center - a research farm of the luxury lodge dedicated to the 300 species of butterflies found in the reserve.

After waking up early and having breakfast, head out with your guide to the Copal Waterfall. The medium difficulty trail takes you under the thick canopy of the forest before descending the waterfall, where you are welcome to swim underneath the cool, refreshing waters. After this you will get ready to say good bye, a private transfer will take you from Mashpi Lodge to your hotel in Quito or directly to the airport as you would prefer.

Main Activities at Mashpi Lodge

Mashpi Sky Bike

The Sky Bike at Mashpi Lodge is a fun way to explore the Mashpi Reserve. Spanning 200 meters, (almost 700 ft.) across a gorge with rushing rivers below, one person pedals along a cable while the other sits in front. It’s a thrilling ride that opens up the territory beyond the treetops and puts you in the middle of the natural wonders of the cloud forest. Guests can start and stop at their leisure, taking time to marvel at the view in the distance while keeping a lookout for birds and creatures of the reserve in the tree tops below. It´s one of the innovative ways in which this cloud forest lodge in Ecuador is raising the bar for all visitors to Mashpi.
Mashpi Sky Bike

Hummingbird Garden

There are 30 species of hummingbirds spotted to date within the Mashpi Lodge’s reserve, and 19 of these are found in the Hummingbird Garden. Located 15-minutes by car from the lodge, or by traversing a 4 kilometer (2.4 miles) trail that is one of the longest, but easiest as far as terrain, in the reserve. Once at the garden, dazzling hummingbirds zip back and forth between feeders, vying for position with others and suspending themselves in mid-air to feed before flying off for higher ground-only to return again. Violet-Tailed Sylphs, Purple-Crowned Fairies, and Green-Crowned Wood Nymphs are a few of the species that hang out in the area. This activity is a photographer’s dream-as the natural setting and the brilliant colors of the quick-moving birds are easy to capture when feeding.
Mashpi Sky Bike

Dragonfly Cable Car

The Dragon Fly Cable car is another one of Mashpi Lodge’s innovations. The network of six towers spanning 500 meters / 1,640 feet a piece takes you high over the reserve’s canopy, rivers, and waterfalls. Two main stations let you traverse back from hikes after swimming below waters, exploring trails in search of wildlife, and discovering the over 200 species of orchids found in the Mashpi Reserve. For bird watchers, eagle-eyed guides can stop the gondola to point out the toucans, cock of the rock, and the long-wattled umbrella bird. Other creatures that can be seen in the surroundings of Mashpi Lodge include howler monkeys - seen traversing the treetops in groups from the Dragonfly. The landscapes you can get to see of the Mashpi reserve are just breathtaking.
Mashpi Sky Bike

Life Center at Mashpi

The life center, close to the luxury lodge - is part of the Mashpi Lodge research center, and it is also and an observation point where the birds of the reserve are seen in the nearby tundra from a charming deck where refreshments are served. The center’s research revolves around the hundreds of species of butterflies that are found in Mashpi. A dozen of the 50 species that the center has successfully bred are found here, they are only a fraction of the 300 or so found within Mashpi’s borders. Interactive activities for kids give them a chance to play scientist, using the tools of the trade and learning about the methods involved to identify and categorize the butterflies and moths of the region, a must have experience during your trip to Mashpi lodge.
Mashpi Sky Bike
Prices

Mashpi Lodge

Book Mashpi Lodge on any date and get a free private Quito City Tour / Up to 20% Discounts on Selected Departures

Combine a luxury trip to Mashpi Lodge with a tour to the Galapagos Islands on one of our exclusive Galapagos Cruises or with a visit to a Luxury Amazon Rainforest Lodge, our local team of travel experts can assist you in putting together your dream holiday.

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