Dare yourself to trek down hidden paths, splash through rivers, rise at dawn to spot rare birds, or fly high above it all aboard our Dragonfly. A hideaway in the forest only accessible to its privileged guests and located on a scenic plateau, the lodge features breathtaking views of the surrounding forested mountains right up close through its floor-to-ceiling panoramic glass windows.
Like a cathedral to the natural world, it protrudes from the verdant hillside, holding unknown comforts and pleasures within.
It seems unfathomable that such a wild and remote site could even be associated with a city, yet Mashpi lies within the Metropolitan District of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. The lodge perches at 950 meters (3,117 feet) above sea level and the reserve in which it is located ranges in altitude from 500 meters to 1200 meters above sea level.
Even our local guests express amazement that such an incredible wilderness lies within the city borders and that it can be reached without complicated logistics.
The Lodge’s towering Dining Room is two-stories high and serves as a spectacular space for a lively gourmet experience.
Mashpi’s chefs draw inspiration from the diversity of Ecuador’s cuisine and ingredients, making the most of the Lodge’s location between the coast and the Andes and providing guests with the best of both worlds.
Whether it be a workout on the Yoga Deck, a relaxing afternoon at the Spa, a meditation session in the middle of the forest or a refreshing dip in a pristine swimming hole next to one of the forest’s powerful waterfalls, Mashpi Lodge reconnects everyone with life and invites them to fall in love with nature.
The very name says it all. Our SAMAY (“soul” in native Kichwa) Wellness Center is a space where care is highly personalized and life itself is celebrated. We have designed our two wellness areas to blend perfectly with the lodge’s natural environment, offering experiences to help enrich your stay with us.
The adjacent wellness area, which is accessible via a short path that winds through the lush foliage, offers great opportunities for viewing numerous species of birds, relaxing in the covered open-air hot tub or practicing your favourite asana on the welcoming yoga deck.
At Mashpi Lodge, proud member of the exclusive National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World collection, each explorer finds a personal unique way to approach the beauty of the reserve.
From the numerous trails to the elevated viewpoints of the Observation Tower, Dragonfly and Sky Bike, the forest here astounds and delights with the seemingly infinite possibilities that it offers.
Wayra Rooms
The 20 Wayra rooms (Wayra is a Kichwa word which means “Wind”) all cover a generous 34 square meters (366 square feet). 13 Wayra Twin Rooms have two full-size beds, three rooms located at the end of the northwestern wing and the rest along the southeastern wing. 7 Wayra King Rooms out of the 20 rooms feature king-size beds.
Yaku Suites
The lodge’s three Yaku Suites (Yaku is a Kichwa word meaning “Water”) extend over an expansive 46 square meters (495 square feet). They are located on the first floor, at the lodge’s northwestern end. Each one features a large bathroom with twin washbasins and Philippe Starck-designed bathtubs-with-a-view. All of them have king-size beds.
Architecture
Mashpi Lodge was built with the latest techniques for sustainable construction – like parts preassembled in Quito – and is designed to blend perfectly with its natural environs. It is strikingly-contemporary, featuring modernist design and décor, mixing warm earth tones, steel, stone and glass in salient perspectives: a true cocoon amid the forest.
Open-Air Panoramic Terrace
On the upper level, a lovely open-air terrace with pergola style roof, seats and tables, provides a space for guests to enjoy splendid views and a place to relax with the sounds of the forest and its inhabitants almost at touching distance. This is a favorite venue for early-morning bird-watching. Grab your binoculars and scroll down to watch birds from the terrace.
The Restaurant & Explorer's Bar
Dining at Mashpi offers another form of exploration and delight: discover the regions and customs of Ecuador through the fresh local ingredients in our gourmet dishes, accompanied by sophisticated wines or cocktails.
The Lodge’s towering Dining Room reaches up two-stories high, a dramatic setting for a lively gourmet experience. Here, Mashpi’s chefs draw from the diversity of Ecuadorian cuisine and ingredients, making the most of its location between the coast and the Andes: the best of both worlds.
The Explorer’s Bar is the perfect space to relax while watching night-time creatures flutter by the floor-to-ceiling windows after a day of jungle discovery, the Explorers’ Bar is stocked with beers, fine wines from mainly Chile and Argentina, and premium liquor, and is manned by our expert barman.
Spa
Offering a range of beauty treatments and massages, our spa allows you to indulge and de-stress, reconnecting with yourself and with the essence of nature. With a massage room on our terrace, treatments come accompanied by uplifting birdsong, to a backdrop of boundless beauty.
Boutique
A small boutique sells a variety of books, guides, clothes and souvenirs as well as toiletries and other essentials for guests. Treat yourself, friends and family to fragrant essential oils, award-winning Ecuadorian chocolate, or a one-of-a-kind shirt depicting Mashpi’s best-loved creatures.
Viewing Platform
Like a ship’s prow staring into the the steaming forest, our viewing platform juts out over the plateau, a metal structure that provides a space where you can be immersed in the world of Mashpi, surrounded by the calls of the birds and erratic dance of the butterflies.
Expedition Room
An extensive library of books awaits in the Reading and Learning Room on the first floor, a space also used by the Naturalist Guides and the Resident Biologist to present talks to guests, providing in-depth information about the forest and its spectacular inhabitants.
Laboratory
Led by our entomologist, the laboratory is home to investigation projects carried out in the Mashpi Reserve, looking into all kinds of living creatures. A particular interest is paid to invertebrates, looking into small organisms like miniature bees, aquatic insects in the rivers around the reserve, up to the variations in butterflies depending on the altitude.
Life Center
Located an easy 20-minute walk from the Lodge, the Life Center is one of the most magical places in the Reserve. Watch tayras and tropical birds come to feed as you relax or breakfast on the wooden deck, feeling at one with nature. You can also learn about the metamorphosis of the different species of butterflies that inhabit the reserve.
