Mashpi Lodge

An innovative eco-lodge showcasing contemporary design and luxury in Ecuador's breathtaking wildlife-rich cloud forest.

On a private nature reserve deep in the misty cloud forests north-west of Quito, the award-winning hilltop Mashpi Lodge is breathtaking in its fusion of simplicity and sophistication.

Enjoy a jungle experience, replete with exotic bird life and flowering tropical vegetation, but the comfortable cocoon of Mashpi’s modern luxury is very different to the rustic design of a traditional jungle lodge. This minimalist contemporary structure of floor-to-ceiling glass windows frames panoramic views over the forest.

Slate-effect tiles, blond wood and wrought iron furnishings create a feeling of space and tranquillity. The lodge also has a spa, outdoor area with covered hot tub and yoga deck, an expedition room for presentations and a scientific laboratory open to guests.

The top-floor rooms, along with the innovative restaurant, are virtually at the level of the forest canopy. You’ll be eye to eye with the branches where parrots roost and monkeys play. Excursions include gentle jungle-trekking, climbing the observation tower, riding the aerial tram through the canopy and bathing in nearby waterfalls. Afterwards, unwind in the welcoming lounge or reading room, or in either of two hot tubs overlooking the forest.

The Mashpi Reserve was created in 2001 and was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2018. The lodge has won numerous awards for its ecological practices. It was built using sustainable construction techniques, uses hydroelectric power, and works in close co-operation with the local community, training locals as naturalist guides, staff and research assistants. Biological researchers have discovered 19 new species in the region and regularly publish academic papers.