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El Monte Lodge

  • El Monte Lodge
  • El Monte Lodge
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Rustic, eco-friendly lodge in a remote nature reserve, with an emphasis on simple and sustainable living combined with comfort and attractive contemporary style.

The rustic, eco-friendly El Monte Lodge is set on the Río Mindo within a lush private nature reserve. It places an emphasis on its simple and sustainable living, and has a distinct air of remoteness – even reaching the property is an adventure, entailing a memorable river crossing via a wooden swing operated by ropes and pulleys.

Once within the grounds, an idyllic scene unfolds: the main lodge with its dramatic pitched roof is surrounded by lustrous, mist-shrouded greenery, dissected by the river which flows past the lodge’s six thatched cabins.

These follow a traditional indigenous design and look very much at home within the surrounding cloud-forest, alive with the movement and song of the area’s abundant bird population. The lodge is powered by solar panels and hydroelectricity. There’s a bar, lounge and games area within the giant, open-sided cedar wood main lodge, cosily kitted out with sofas and two open fire pits. This is also the only area to get Wi-Fi and the setting for set menu meals (no red meat), prepared using produce from the lodge’s own garden

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • "The owners of El Monte were most welcoming. The lodge was run on the most positive ecological lines and the simple cooking delicious.”

    JH, Chester Nov 2013
  • Wonderful retreat in such peaceful surroundings. Food is superb and hosts very genuine, friendly people committed to their business.

    KS Southampton Jan 2015
  • Accessed by a rope-drawn seat across a river, El Monte is a fabulous eco-lodge set in lovely grounds. The owner, Tom, is extremely helpful and great company. The food is…

    JB, Newcastle Apr 2019
  • Wonderful place and setting. An extra night would have been better....As it was, we saw little of El Monte as we had to leave at 5am next day. This was…

    MP, Hemel Hempstead Nov 2016
  • Lovely place to finish our holiday. If only we had another day there!

    TC, St Albans Oct 2016
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Our Expert's Opinion

Jamie
Jamie Swan - Product & Marketing

Jamie backpacked across Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil before joining us; he has a degree in politics and is also a keen sportsman..

Papagaio

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Charlotte
    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

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