Mashpi Lodge

The lodge’s three Yaku Suites are ideal for couples looking for an intimate, romantic getaway in the heart of the forest. They feature luxurious, state-of-the-art bathtubs, king-size beds and beautiful semi-open plan spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows. Sit back on the sofa and watch the natural world outside. With a floor space of 495 square feet, guests are sure to feel at home in the environment. Luxurious bathroom amenities, Wi-Fi and a reusable water bottle are also included.

Rooms at Mashpi are divided into three floors, with the first floor providing views of the busy forest floor. The upper two floors instead offer vistas over the magnificent forest canopy.

The lodge’s Wayra Rooms are perfect for groups or families and can be interconnected for a shared experience. They are feature floor-to-ceiling windows and are spread over all three floors of the lodge, allowing guests a choice of view.With a floor space of 366 square feet, guests are sure to feel at home in the environment. Luxurious bathroom amenities, Wi-Fi and a reusable water bottle are also included.

Rooms at Mashpi are divided over three floors, with the first floor providing views of the busy forest floor. The upper two floors instead offer vistas over the magnificent forest canopy.

The Wawa is designed for a more intimate, solo experience and comes with special rate offers. It is smaller at 228 square feet, aimed at travellers looking to experience Ecuador on their own. Luxurious bathroom amenities, Wi-Fi and a reusable water bottle are also included.

Rooms at Mashpi are divided over three floors, with the first floor providing views of the busy forest floor. The upper two floors instead offer vistas over the magnificent forest canopy.

Dining at Mashpi Lodge is a dramatic and unique experience, set in the two-story dining hall with floor-to-ceiling windows that invite in the sights and sounds of the forest. Fresh, local ingredients are used in innovative ways to create mouth-watering menus that represent the regions and flavours of Ecuador. Wild garlic and chilangua are just a couple of examples of the ingredients that inspire dining here.

Breakfast provides guests with the opportunity to sample a variety of fresh Ecuadorian fruits and enjoy different breads, cheeses, hams, eggs cooked to your liking, cereals, homemade jams, organic honey and granola and energizing fruit juices.

Lunch is a light affair, where guests can enjoy fresh regional vegetables, soups, sandwiches, and a fusion of Ecuadorian and international dishes. Ceviche is often featured. Fresh fruit juice and delightful desserts are also served.

Dinner is a more formal occasion, where subtle lighting from the floor lamps combines with the theatrical view to create an intimate setting. Imaginative, exciting dishes are in store that showcase the best of Ecuador’s flavours and techniques and take advantage of the lodge’s proximity to both mountain and sea.

The bar is a warm environment perfect for sharing a drink with friends new and old before dinner. The cocktail menu has been designed from scratch with Mashpi’s environment at its heart. Expert mixologists craft each exotic drink. There is also an extensive wine list.

At Mashpi Lodge, your experience is at the centre of how things are done. So, while the lodge recommends the hikes and activities we think you will enjoy, the decision of how to spend your time rests with you. On arrival and each night, your guide will meet with you to discuss how you’d like to spend your time at the lodge and help you create a programme for your days there.

At Mashpi we are also happy to tailor hikes and activities to your specific interests – if you want to spend your holiday birdwatching, or you want to rise at dawn to experience sunrise before a waterfall, we can arrange this. Families can also be specifically accommodated, with an array of adventurous activities that embrace the stunning nature of Mashpi.

Get your boots on and prepare for adventure as you set out on one of the forest’s trails, anticipating splashes, glorious waterfalls and swimming holes and vibrant flora and fauna. Enjoy the sounds of the forest and feel cleansed by nature. The lodge’s guides are all experienced and many are local to the area. They’ll make sure you can learn about every feature of this stunning environment and guide you to its most beautiful spots.

There are numerous exciting trails with their own character through Mashpi:

Jungle Swing Trail

This fun-filled trail is characterised by vines that can be swung on as well as providing an excellent case study in forest regeneration. 15 years ago, the area of the forest that the trail passes through was pasture. It is now a young forest, with plentiful Miconia trees. This trail is adventurous, enjoyable and ends in a beautiful mature forest.

Jungle Swing Trail takes approximately 1h45 and can be combined with the Dragonfly for the return journey.

Strangler Fig Trail

This trail takes its name from a fascinating plant that inhabits the reserve, lowering its roots from the canopy of a host tree before eventually smothering it. 40-metre tall palms also dominate this trail.

The Strangler Fig Trail takes approximately 2 hours to complete.

Capuchin Monkey Trail

This is the reserve’s longest trail, at 3.5km and connecting various of the reserve’s attractions. Both the trail’s namesake and Club-wing Manakin birds performing courtship dances can be seen on this trail, which also connects with paths to the Healing Waterfall and Laguna River. The return journey sees us wading and walking upstream to the Magnolia Trail and then back to the lodge, or back via the Dragonfly.

The walk to the river takes approximately 2h20, or 1h30 by using a vehicle to drive to the trail’s start. The walk back takes approximately two hours.

These mysterious hikes transport guests to a wholly different world – the forest after dark! An entire host of species only begin their activities as the sun sets, including frogs, snakes, insects and tarantulas. Let sounds guide you in this atmospheric environment and keep your eyes open for the recently discovered Mashpi Torrenteer glass frog!

Walk into the butterfly centre and be struck by a cascade of colour, as the resident species flutter through the air on wings of all different shapes and sizes. Here guests can view and learn about the different stages of metamorphosis from the breeding programme experts and enjoy the sensation of a friendly butterfly touching down on their hand. This is particularly popular with younger visitors.

Ever wanted to soar above the natural world – silently, at your own pace, and with a friend or loved one in the seat behind you? The Sky Bike offers just this, with views of the tumbling river and gorge below as well as the busy forest and its inhabitants.

Stretched 200 metres between two points in the forest, this clever contraption is pedal-powered and made for use by two people. Children over one metre tall are welcome to ride and enjoy the magical sensation of floating over the treetops.

Mashpi’s forests are home to 32 species of hummingbird, all living at different altitude ranges, and 19 of them can be viewed in the Hummingbird Garden. Hummingbird and fruit feeders have been placed, and there is a purpose-made shelter with seating for viewing these magnificent creatures.

As well as hummingbirds, toucans, tanagers, squirrels and other fruit feeders can also be observed. The garden is located at a natural viewpoint, with clear days giving guests a magnificent view of the reserve’s wooded hills. This calming spot is particularly ideal for nature photographers of any level.

Witness the Mashpi Forest transform into a cacophony of activity at night and walk from the hotel to Mashpi Torrenteer Lagoon, where a waterfall and river form a beautiful pond. Many species of frogs (including rain frogs, tree frogs and glass frogs) and other animals enjoy this moist haven. This fascinating and peaceful location is where the lodge’s scientific team discovered the Mashpi Torrenteer Frog.

The Dragonfly is, for many guests, the headline experience at Mashpi Lodge. An open-air cable car system that allows guests to soar above the forest canopy (and sometimes through it), the Dragonfly is a thrilling adventure with breathtaking scenery.

Providing an elevated perspective over the forest and Mashpi Reserve, each gondola can be stopped by your guide for a more detailed look at something or somewhere. The dragonfly moves at a relaxed pace and carries up to four guests and one guide. A round trip takes approximately 40 minutes to complete and can be combined with several hikes for a longer adventure.

Rising 26m above the treetops, Mashpi’s Observation Tower surveys the reserve and allows guests to take in the breath-taking panorama of the forest. Clear days see the reserve’s boundaries, and the villages and crops interweaving with trees beyond. The structure allows you to view the structure of the canopy as you ascend through it.

Species that can be spotted include toucans, woodpeckers, barbets, parrots and tanagers, as well as birds of prey.

Mashpi Forest is gifted with several stunning waterfalls, each with its own character and magnificent walks leading to them. We centre each guest’s stay on their wishes – so if you want to hike to a waterfall at dawn, or to meditate in peace in the tranquillity of rushing water surrounded by forest sounds, this can be arranged.

The Healing Waterfall

This is one of the more challenging hikes and requires a good level of fitness, but the reward is worth it. This is one of the reserve’s most beautiful waterfalls in a stunning setting. There is even space behind the waterfall where you can sit and channel the surging energy of the water.

The whole walk takes approximately four hours, though this can be reduced by using either the Sky Bike or Dragonfly for part of the journey.

Magnolia Waterfall

This waterfall is within easy reach, flowing down from just outside the lodge into the Laguna River. It has a great viewing platform about halfway down and the pool at its foot is ideal for bathing – it even has a natural jacuzzi! A newly discovered species of Magnolia flourishes in the area.

Copal Waterfall

Water is of course central to Mashpi, and the experience of taking a dip in 18-20°C water at the bottom of a waterfall is an unforgettable one! The trail leading to Copal Waterfall is of medium difficulty through a beautiful primary forest, with many trees over 100 years old. The copal tree features strongly and has resin that is used both as an anaesthetic and burned as incense.

This walk takes approximately two hours.

The spa offers a range of massages both for individuals and couples, set on the lodge’s second floor and with a team of capable and experienced staff. The in-depth spa menu includes massages, exfoliations, body wraps, open-air treatments, feet and hand treatments and sessions for two.

The wellness centre, named SAMAY (which means “soul” in Kichwa), is set within the beautiful environment of the forest itself. It offers a space to unwind and watch the flora and fauna, relax in the open-air hot tub or practise yoga on the purpose-built deck.

Held in the expedition room during evenings, members of the lodge’s team of scientists present fascinating and informative lectures on conservation and species at Mashpi, as well as ongoing projects. These sessions are an excellent way to feel more connected to the reserve and gain an in-depth understanding of the work we do.

By visiting Mashpi Lodge, you are directly contributing to the conservation and deeper understanding of the unique and precious ecosystem and biogeographical region of Mashpi and its surrounding area. Roque Sevilla, the founder of Mashpi Lodge, is a passionate environmentalist and puts conservation and sustainability at the heart of his business.

Mashpi would not be what it is without the collaboration of the local community. The communities of Mashpi are integral to the Lodge and are also the primary providers of agricultural and other food products and supplies that are used at the lodge.

A team of scientific researchers is based at Mashpi, covering nearly the entire animal kingdom but with a particular focus on invertebrates. One example of how this supports the ecosystem is the discovery of miniature wasp species, whose behaviour relates to the pollination of the plant species they visit. This understanding is crucial to the survival of the forest.

Other investigations also focus on butterflies, plants and climate monitoring, and Mashpi works alongside universities and conservation groups. This includes projects on CO2 absorption and training local populations in organic farming and conservation. The aim is to continually learn more about the reserve’s area and thus how to protect it. This information is readily shared with visitors to enhance their stay and connection to the forest.

New frog and orchid species have been discovered by the team at Mashpi that exist nowhere else on earth! Guests can also get involved by volunteering their time to help with research or providing equipment or funding to the scientific team.

The lodge’s story begins in 2001, when the former mayor of Quito Roque Sevilla bought a section of the Ecuadorian Chocó Rainforest to protect it from deforestation and mining efforts. The Chocó Rainforest has already been reduced by 90% due to exploitation.

Deciding that the biodiversity of the area ought to be shared with as many people as possible, the lodge was built on an old logging concession, so no trees were felled during its construction.  Much of the structure was preassembled in Quito to avoid excessive disturbance to the forest.

As a result of its protection, the remaining area of forest has maintained 80% of its primary growth. What’s more, due to existing logging infrastructure, the carbon footprint of the lodge’s construction and infrastructure was significantly reduced.

Immersion in the environment is key to the lodge’s purpose, which is why it was designed with so many windows, allowing guests to feel connected to their environment. Sevilla hopes that by experiencing the wonders of the forest and its diverse species, guests become passionate defenders of the rainforest.

Mashpi Lodge makes every effort to source local food and support local and sustainable businesses in doing so. Water is used from the nearby Mashpi Torrenteer Waterfall, and waste is recycled and composted. Water waste is treated in a modern biological treatment plant. Paths are reinforced with small recycled plastic crates. In this way, Mashpi minimises the impact of its waste on the environment.

The lodge has also been designed following the Emmedue system, which uses specific materials to keep the lodge cool during summer and warm in winter. This means there is no need for external heating or cooling systems.

75% of staff at the lodge are employed locally, allowing residents to earn a living without engaging in resource extraction – of course, it also means that Mashpi’s staff are highly knowledgeable and experienced in the area. The lodge’s employees are all also stakeholders in the lodge itself.