Dave Stamboulis
| Special to USA TODAY 10Best
Ecuador is home to some fabulous nature and wildlife opportunities, ranging from the Galapagos Islands to the cloud forests of the Andes. Yet only three hours from urban Quito, you’ll find one of the country’s best hidden escapes.
Mashpi Lodge is closer to Quito than it is to the Amazon rainforest, but you’ll find the same adventure experience, as the lodge, set on the edge of the 6,000-acre Mashpi Rainforest Reserve, is home to over 400 species of birds, frogs, trees and other endemic species found nowhere else in the world.
At this gorgeous rainforest retreat, you’ll be able to trek in the jungle, wander along subtropical rivers or even fly high above the cloud forest canopy, as Mashpi Lodge is home to the unique Dragonfly open-air cable car system, as well as the two-person Sky Bike, offering guests an incredible aerial perspective of the surroundings.
Mashpi Lodge has half-jokingly been called a “biology department within a hotel,” due to the resort hiring up to thirteen wildlife biologists and visiting scientists, as well as employing highly trained naturalist guides to lead guests on excursions across the reserve. They’ve also launched a “Forest Steward” program that gives…
Source link
CHECK OUT: Top Travel Destinations
EXPLORE OUR: Travel Guides
