Mashpi Lodge

One of the greatest place I’ve ever been to. Location, hotel, staff, service, activities, food. I highly recommend to go. Three days. Don’t worry about the drive. It’s very easy. Take their shuttle. Make sure to check out as many activities as possible.

Mashpi Lodge offers a unique experience in the middle of a large private reserve in Ecuador‘s cloud forest. Basically a rainforest on about 1000 m above sea level. We loved the diverse activities and being active. Our hike to the Magnolia Falls and through a floating river was one of our highlights. The team is very friendly and welcoming, the food delicious and our naturalist guide Jonathan was exceptional.

Where to start? I suppose firstly to congratulate the originators of Mashpi Lodge on their vision of buying land formerly used for forestry and converting it into a rejuvenated mix of primary and secondary forest . The fact that they have combined that achievement with creating a five star eco hotel is , considering the logistical issues that had to be overcome, mind blowing. The lodge is at the centre of all the activities which include a large variety of trails and experiences. For us the highlight was visiting the humming bird area where we must have viewed at least a dozen species zipping around and being able to see them feeding completely unperturbed by spectators. The bird life throughout the lodge area was spectacular and as well as hummingbirds , I particularly enjoyed seeing numerous spectacularly coloured tanagers and others. The observation tower gives splendid views over the jungle canopy though, on the morning we visited mist intervened. It didn’t stop us using the bike ride above the treeline which was great fun and let us see the vegetation a hundred feet below! The accommodation was outstanding as was the food and drink- Fernando’s Spiced Guava cocktail was my favourite from an impressive and reasonably priced list. We were very fortunate in having Anderson Fernando as our guide. He was a sympathetic presence with a vast knowledge as well as being a magnificent spotter. He also went above and beyond in having the patience to teach me how to transfer photos from my camera to my mobile. It’s opened up whole new opportunities. A memorable experience all round.

Oh my goodness, this place is fabulous. The rooms are amazing, the food is sensational and worthy of Michelin stars, the staff are lovely, the birds are stunning. Everything about it is remarkable. Is it cheap? No. Is it worth it? Absolutely. You will never forget your visit. I know I certainly won’t. Thank you to Marc, Jonnathan, Edison, Xavier and all who looked after me so well. Worth mentioning that they have a doctor on staff, visits and medication is included and the doctor helped solve my illness. Turns out I was allergic to the altitude meds.

Now: this is the place!!! Amazing is the only word that describe this place: Amazing is the hotel and the architecture; Amazing was the bedroom (11 if you want to know); Amazing was the bathroom (bathtub with a view!!!); Amazing is the landscape; Amazing are the excursion and the guide; Amazingly interesting is the food; Amazing is the engagement with sustainability and eco friendliness; Amazingly kind, considerate and helpful are the staff. A big thank you to everyone and to Mark that was always around to check on our needs and laugh with us…you have been all wonderful! This is of course an unforgettable experience that will stay with me forever….AMAZING INDEED!

We had an unforgettable stay here and it was a very special way to end our time in Ecuador. We really enjoyed the multiple excursions we took part in and were so thankful for our informative guide who knew so much about the endemic species we encountered. Everyone who works at Mashpi was amazing. Our room was spotless and kept beautifully clean during our stay, the food was unparalleled and the service in the restaurant was fantastic and everyone in the hotel was so welcoming. A highlight for us was the hummingbird garden which was a really special experience. Learning about the origins of Mashpi Lodge was very humbling and we are in awe of the work everyone is doing to preserve what is left of the Choco region. We will be recommending to all our friends and family!

I am absolutely conflicted about our stay at Mashpi. On one hand, the location, hotel, amenities and staff were top-notch. Everyone at the lodge was kind and accommodating, the food and drinks were great, and the space itself is one-of-a-kind. But the real reason we went was to enjoy the cloud forest, with all its wildlife, in a genuine, unadulterated way. In the end, we felt that many of the wildlife-centric activities felt orchestrated. The Life Center was a great place to view birds, but only because the guides had placed a lot of fruit for them to come and eat. The Hummingbird Garden had an overwhelming abundance of hummingbirds, but seemingly only because the guides came bearing gallons of sugar water. We were immediately swarmed once we pulled up. To me, feeding wild birds for the benefit of humans crosses a line. I would much rather happen upon the birds in the wild, even if that means only seeing a few. By contrast, when we went on the night walk, a serious highlight, we found eight frogs, a scorpion, and a kinkajou: just by the guide's searching and skills. I understand the bind the property is in: bring tourists way out on a very bumpy road with the prospect of seeing an abundance of wildlife. But luring birds and other creatures out with food feels misaligned with the sustainable experience they're promoting.

Mashpi lodge is in a beautiful setting in the cloud forest. Tons of birds to see! The staff and guides were great. The hike to the waterfalls was lovely. Night hikes were terrific and we saw tarantulas, scorpions, frogs and crickets. The food is extraordinary. This is just a magnificent place to stay!

After the trip to the Galápagos Islands I was worried that this might be an anticlimax. I should not have have worried as it exceeded my expectations in every way and was a magical way to finish our holiday. What can I say the ethos, staff, hotel and environment were superb and in particular our guide Estuardo was so knowledgeable and considerate he made sure we maximized our time at Mashpi. The staff as a whole were wonderful but Edison and Pamela who served us in the restaurant were amazing and recommended a number of local dishes which were so tasty. I should also mention Diego at the bar who was there whenever we wanted a coffee or something alcoholic and was a great mixologist. We tried the spa and we regretted we could not fit another visit in our 3 night visit. Whilst the dragonfly was not open we were aware of this through our travel agent well before travelling and provides an excuse for a return visit. In summary our only regret with Mashpi was that we did not stay longer than the 3 nights but have resolved to return with our family in a few years.