While Ecuador’s famed Galápagos Islands continue to draw travelers from around the world, those seeking a quieter, more immersive experience with nature will find their paradise in the country’s lush, misty cloud forests. Just three hours from Quito, Mashpi Lodge rises like a jewel from the heart of the Chocó biogeographic region—one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Perched 950 metres above sea level, the lodge is surrounded by 2,500 hectares of pristine rainforest reserve, recently expanded to enhance its ecological impact and protection efforts.
Tucked deep in Ecuador’s Andean cloud forest, Mashpi Lodge is more than a stay—it’s a portal into the wild. With just 22 minimalist, glass-walled suites, guests are wrapped in misty canopy views and awakened by dawn choruses of over 500 bird species. Photo: Mashpi Lodge
Mashpi Lodge is more than an eco-luxury retreat—it’s the embodiment of a visionary idea. Founded by Roque Sevilla, a former mayor of Quito and owner of Metropolitan Touring, the lodge was conceived as a carbon offset initiative to counterbalance the environmental toll of conventional tourism. A leader in Ecuadorian sustainability, Sevilla designed the lodge to blur the lines between architecture and environment. Minimalist, glass-walled rooms invite the forest in while keeping the elements—and insects—out, offering panoramic views of verdant canopies and the dawn songs of over 500 species of birds.
View this post on Instagram
Guests at Mashpi are fully immersed in this living rainforest through curated experiences that celebrate biodiversity. From guided hikes on sustainable forest trails to evening wildlife-spotting walks, nature reveals itself with every step. The lodge’s signature Dragonfly cable car glides slowly above the treetops, allowing an unrivaled bird’s-eye perspective of the forest canopy, while the Sky Bike offers a thrilling, pedal-powered ride across suspended tracks, giving guests the sensation of flying through the jungle. In every direction, toucans, hummingbirds, butterflies, and monkeys animate the dense green silence.
The magic doesn’t end with the scenery. Mashpi Lodge is also a scientific research station, hosting biologists and conservationists who study bird migration patterns, monitor elusive species like the puma, and share findings with guests during evening lectures. The on-site laboratory is open to visitors, offering a rare opportunity to see science in action as part of the lodge’s mission to promote conservation through education and tourism. Encounters at the hummingbird sanctuary or butterfly life center further illustrate the delicate, complex ecosystem that thrives here.
In the emerald depths of Mashpi’s cloud forest, the lineated woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus) acts as a true forest engineer. With its powerful beak, it carves nesting cavities that later become safe havens for countless other species. Photo: Mashpi Lodge
What makes Mashpi truly exceptional is how it manages to offer five-star hospitality without compromising its core commitment to environmental stewardship. Each of the lodge’s 22 rooms and suites is an oasis of calm, where design and sustainability coalesce. Gourmet meals are crafted with local ingredients, spa treatments draw on native botanicals, and every detail speaks to a refined, respectful interaction with the rainforest.
Mashpi Lodge is not only one of Ecuador’s top luxury ecolodges, but also a pioneering model of regenerative travel. It proves that tourism, when done right, can be a powerful tool for protecting fragile ecosystems while delivering unforgettable experiences. For anyone looking to explore Ecuador beyond the Galápagos, the cloud forests of Mashpi offer a greener, deeper kind of magic.
Rooms from $925/night. mashpilodge.com
