Maquipucuna Cloud Forest Lodge

Located on the western flank of the Andes Cordillera, the Maquipucuna Cloud Forest Reserve is home to an awesome array of flora and fauna, from dazzling orchids to Technicolor tree frogs! Experience the richness of life in the clouds with this 3-day ecolodge tour!

It may be the second smallest country in South America, but what Ecuador lacks in size it more than makes up for in natural and cultural diversity! Straddling the equator on the northwest coast of the continent, Ecuador is a land of ancient cities, lush cloud forest, volcanic highlands and palm-fringed coastline. In a single day it’s possible to travel through all these landscapes and more, making Ecuador the most diverse nation on Earth! One of 17 megadiverse countries, with 15% of the world’s known bird species as well as 250 endemic reptiles and amphibians, the “Republic of the Equator” is also home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including its capital, Quito, and the Galapagos archipelago, the lost world that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Small wonder, then, that Ecuador is a traveller’s dream!

The Maquipucuna Reserve is a destination like no other! Cloaked in cloud and moss-mantled, these 15,000 acres of primary and secondary forest constitute one of the world’s top 5 biodiversity hotspots, where birds and insects of scintillating splendour dance in the mist like mischievous sprites. At the heart of all this (yet just two hours from Quito) is the Maquipucuna ecolodge; your base for 3 days of jungle exploration. You’re free to fill your time as you wish, whether that’s hiking, bird-watching or swimming in the nearby clear-water river. There are guided nature walks on offer, as well as a trip to the local sugar cane mill where you can try a glass of guarapo (cane juice) or aguardiente (fire water)! And if all that sounds a little too hectic for your liking, you can kick back and relax in your hammock with a book from the lodge’s library.

This trip is for people who care about the natural world and the tribal cultures that still manage to survive in small pockets across the globe. You need to have a sense of social responsibility and to be able to empathise with the people you will meet.

Ecuador’s cloud forest is a special place and the eco-lodge offers you a chance to live within it without disturbing its delicate ecosystem. If you can’t imagine a holiday without TV, sun beds and beach bars, best look elsewhere! The eco-lodge has spacious double and family rooms and can house up to 18 people.