Mashpi Lodge
Contemporary modernist eco-lodge with real scientific credentials. Minimalist steel, wood, and glass — floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows everywhere — but the luxury is understated. No pool, no swim-up bar. The experience is built around guided nature expeditions, a functioning research lab guests can visit, and the kind of wildlife density that makes ornithologists weep.
Complimentary shared transfers from Quito depart 8:30AM, but only from the Swissotel, JW Marriott, Dann Carlton, Hilton Colon, and Casa Gangotena — confirm your pickup point
Why It Matters
Awarded 2 Michelin Keys in 2025. Sits within the UNESCO Chocó-Andean Biosphere Reserve, one of the planet's most biodiverse ecosystems. Carbon neutral since 2017. Featured on BBC Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby (S1E2). Ranked by Condé Nast Traveler as a Top 25 Resort in South America. Research conducted here has discovered more than 20 species new to science.
Mashpi Lodge is a glass-and-steel modernist box perched at 950m in a 3,200-acre private cloud forest reserve, about 3.5 hours northwest of Quito. It holds just 24 rooms and is entirely all-inclusive — meals, guided expeditions, the Dragonfly gondola, the Sky Bike, everything. Built on the site of an old sawmill by ex-Quito mayor Roque Sevilla (so not a single tree was felled for construction), it now doubles as a working scientific research station that has identified over 20 new species. Look, the price stings, but nowhere else in Ecuador puts you this close to the cloud forest while serving genuinely good food.
Where You'll Stay
3 room types available
Wawa Room
From USD750 / nightThe one Wawa Room (Wawa means 'baby' in Kichwa) is the lodge's solo-traveler option. It is smaller than the Wayra rooms and comes with a special single-occupancy rate that makes it the most accessible entry point at Mashpi. Everything else is the same: floor-to-ceiling glass, all-inclusive access, the full guided program. If you're traveling alone and don't need the extra space, this is genuinely great value.
Double
Wayra Room
From USD1,500 / nightThe lodge's 20 Wayra Rooms (Wayra means 'wind' in Kichwa) are spread across all three floors. Ground-floor rooms face the forest floor; upper floors reach the canopy. You pick your view at booking. Three pairs interconnect, with a king-bed room linking to a twin room — that's the configuration families should request. All come with the same floor-to-ceiling glass treatment and full sound isolation. Thirteen rooms have two full-size beds; seven have a king.
King or Twin/Double
Yaku Suite
From USD1,750 / nightThe lodge's three Yaku Suites (Yaku means 'water' in Kichwa) are the top-tier option. They are designed for couples and come with a standout feature: a state-of-the-art Philippe Starck-designed freestanding bathtub positioned to look directly into the forest. Larger than the Wayra rooms, with a king bed and a double-sink bathroom. Floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides.
KingThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
A well-maintained trail network runs through the reserve with routes categorized by difficulty. Trails connect to rivers, waterfalls, and viewpoints. The Howler Monkey and Magnolia trails are steep but short; guides point out flora and fauna along each stratum. Rubber boots and rain gear provided.
The lodge's signature activity. An open-air gondola on an advanced cable system carries guests over and through the forest canopy in a 360-degree ride. Not a zipline — it moves slowly so you can actually see the wildlife. One of the few places on Earth you can experience the upper canopy of a cloud forest this closely.
A tandem pedal-powered bike on a cable system above the treetops. You and a partner pedal yourselves along while looking down at the forest below. Safe, genuinely fun, and gives you a different perspective on the canopy than the Dragonfly.
Ecuador has the largest number of classified orchids in the world. The reserve's orchid and epiphyte gardens (including mosses, bromeliads, and gesnerias) are curated collection points making it easy to see the plant diversity without bushwhacking through primary forest.
With over 400 species catalogued in the reserve (35 of them found nowhere else on Earth), this is one of South America's premier birdwatching destinations. Expert naturalist guides — many of them local community members trained by the lodge — lead early-morning and daytime sessions. The Hummingbird Garden alone hosts 15 species of hummingbirds.
A dedicated viewing platform with feeders attracting up to 15 species of hummingbirds. Recently expanded with additional feeders, new seating, and a second pathway. Toucans and tanagers also show up regularly at the fruit stations.
Guided walks after dark to spot nocturnal species. The lodge is particularly known for bioluminescent fungus visible at night — a genuinely strange and memorable experience.
A 26-meter observation tower about 10 minutes' walk from the lodge. From the top, you get 360-degree views of the forest with a solid chance of spotting toucans, parrots, tanagers, and other canopy birds that are hard to see from the trail.
Located about 30 minutes' walk from the lodge in a leaf-shaped building, the Life Center houses the butterfly breeding program with around 200 identified species (21 actively bred here). Guests can watch the full metamorphosis cycle from egg to adult. The surrounding observation deck is one of the best spots in the reserve for orchid and bird sightings.
An interactive laboratory where guests can see and learn about ongoing scientific projects in the reserve. Led by the resident Wildlife Project Coordinator. Has a dedicated area for children. Scientific talks and biodiversity presentations happen here regularly.
The lodge's resident biologist and science team present regular talks on conservation projects, new species discoveries, and the ecology of the Chocó bioregion. Enlightening even if you're not a scientist.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
The lodge is three floors with no elevator — worth knowing if mobility is a concern.
A comfortable reading and relaxation space on the first floor where naturalist guides brief guests on upcoming excursions. Also used by the science team for presentations.
Comfortable lounge areas with a living wall of native plants. Good for relaxing between expeditions.
All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), guided excursions, most activities, and shared transfers from Quito are included in the room rate. Spa treatments and some private services are extra.
Full humidity and temperature control systems in all rooms, plus soundproofing.
First-floor shop stocking expedition gear, books, guides, clothing, toiletries, souvenirs, and award-winning Ecuadorian chocolate.
Recently installed dedicated EV charging station at the hotel entrance — useful if you drove your electric car through the mountain roads.
Complimentary shared transfers from select Quito hotels (Swissotel, JW Marriott, Dann Carlton, Hilton Colon, Casa Gangotena). Depart 8:30AM.
Two covered outdoor hot tubs at the Samay Wellness Center, both with direct forest canopy views. No traditional pool on property.
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