Now we know why it’s called a cloud forest – lots of clouds, rain, and trees! At 3,117 feet above sea level, Mashpi Lodge is nestled in the heart of a 2,500-acre private reserve, 70 percent of which is primary forest. The owner, Roque Sevilla, is an Ecuadorian entrepreneur, environmentalist, and former mayor of Quito. His idea was to make a bubble of comfort in the middle of the jungle. And succeed he did!
During our four-day stay at Mashpi Lodge in December, we were provided waterproof boots and raincoats, which were very useful for tromping through the mud. It rained every day, often with little warning.
Birds Abound!
Birds love the cloud forest, and the Lodge has prepared a guide to the most common bird species that can be seen there. We had fun tracking them down and were happy to spot a Broad-billed motmot and Flame-faced tanagers as they darted from tree to tree and sometimes snacked on bananas placed on branches by the naturalists.
Many other types of tanagers live in the forest, including the Glistening-green tanager, Golden tanager, and Rufous-throated tanager.
We especially loved the 17 species of hummingbirds that are unafraid of humans. Since they need to eat every 20 minutes, they appreciated the handout from Jan! (We learned that Ecuador is home to over 132 species of hummingbirds!)
Jan enjoyed playing with her new camera – a Nikon P950, a super-zoom that offers focal lengths of 24mm to 2000mm. She loved the chance to zoom in and capture the action. This was especially helpful for the birds.
A Myriad of Other Creatures
Butterflies and other wildlife also thrive in the forest.
The naturalists knew how to coax the spiders out of their holes, find camouflaged insects on branches and bring out all types of creepy crawlers.
And Many Exotic Plants
Mashpi is also a botanist’s paradise! So many colorful plants adorn the forest.
Views From Above the Trees
The lodge has built several transportation systems to allow guests to view the birds that thrive in the tree crowns, which are often hundreds feet off the ground. A “Dragon Fly” chair system transports four guests at a time.
And an innovative “sky bike” allows you to pedal on top of the trees. We appreciated this custom service! These innovative forest transportation systems were designed especially for the lodge. It sure beats ziplines!
If, for some reason, a tourist got tired of pedaling across the trees, a guide could pull the sky bike back to the tower by pedaling a safety bike positioned at each end. This was quite ingenious.
Hiking Amidst the Forest
We hiked to a waterfall but opted not to hike through the river since it was very slippery. (We left that activity to the teenagers at the Lodge.)
Our guide, Jonathan, was an expert in identifying creatures and plants and always approached everything with a smile.
A hike in the rain to a special viewing platform offered a chance to see even more exotic birds and butterflies.
At the viewing platform, this weasel was very interested in the fresh bananas the guides put out for the birds. He knew how to climb tree branches and get all the good stuff. In fact, he’s licking his chops!
Speaking of “licking one’s chops,” we had no idea that the Lodge’s meals would be so gourmet. Every course was plated with care – including various items of tableware that complemented the food and customized silverware per course. (Need a fish fork in the cloud forest, anyone?)
We were sad to leave Mashpi Lodge but knew that other adventures await! After Mashpi, we returned to Quito and were off to the Galapagos Islands.