GTMT-192 – MASHPI LODGE

Four Days / Three
Daily departures from Quito

SAMPLE ITINERARY

DAY 1: Quito / Mashpi Lodge (L/D)

The adventure begins at around 08:00 am at one of the main hotels in Quito, when you will be collected by Mashpi transportation. Mashpi Lodge is located 110 km (70 miles) from Quito, on the western flank of the Andes, and on the journey we pass by the monument of “La Mitad del Mundo” (“Middle of the World”) as we cross the equatorial line. The journey then continues westwards, downhill, following the course of the Rio Blanco. After the town of Nanegalito, we head northwest, along winding country roads, passing the archaeological site of Tulipe and various farming communities. We arrive at the Lodge mid-morning.
Your time at Mashpi is your own to experience. Along with our expedition staff, you can choose from any of the activities on offer, always accompanied by a University-graduate naturalist guide and an experienced local guide – all at your own pace. On your arrival day, you will plan your activities with the team and receive a talk about Mashpi and all its wonders.

After enjoying lunch and a rest, you’ll head out in the afternoon for your activity, which could include a hike through the forest followed by gliding above and through the forest canopy aboard our amazing and unique Dragonfly aerial cable car…

When darkness falls, a new troupe of creatures emerges: your guides will accompany you in search out tiny (and some transparent!) frogs, snakes, insects and even tarantulas during a Night Walk.

DAY 2 & DAY 3: Mashpi Lodge (B/L/D)

The next day might begin at first light on the panoramic terrace, watching – and hearing – a menagerie of birds stirring around the Lodge.
The forest always rewards the “early birds”, as the dawn light lures a variety of fascinating species in their search for food. A good place to find birds is actually right at the hotel’s terrace, with a cup of fresh coffee, tea or hot chocolate in hand, from where we can enjoy not only the beauty of the forest but also the many species that come to feed on insects and fruits at nearby trees. Our guides will help us spot what’s around, offering a peek inside their telescope for a close-and-personal view of the incredible bird richness Mashpi possesses.
After breakfast, you could hike towards a waterfall, bathing in the tremendous crash of water, head to the Hummingbird Garden, or discover the winged wonders of the Life Centre’s butterflies.

After lunch, how about pedaling between two points of the forest around 200 m (655 feet) apart on the aerial Sky Bike, followed by a climb up the Observation Tower to take in the Reserve in its entirety and watch the sun go down behind the clouds…

For the evenings, we have prepared a series of different lectures such as the “Secret Wildlife of Mashpi, the trap camera project”, the “Chocó, a biological hotspot” about the formation and diversity of the Chocó, or about our scientific research projects. The lectures will be given by one of our naturalists or our resident biologist at 7.30 pm.

DAY 4: Mashpi Lodge / Quito (B/L)

On your last day, there’s more time to explore the forest trails, head to a different waterfall or find a nook to let the whole experience sink in.

This activity begins at 6:30 AM in the hotel lobby and takes advantage of the many bird species that come to the hotel to feed. After a cup of coffee, we walk down the road seeking mixed-species feeding flocks: these usually feature different insectivorous bird species that move together while foraging. In a single flock, we may see over 20 different species, making these more-or-less common encounters an undeniable treat for bird aficionados. The activity takes one hour; we return to the lodge for breakfast. About at 8:30 AM we leave the hotel and head to Copal Waterfall. This beautiful 2-hour-long hike features a landscape of moss-covered trees, bromelias and orchids at every corner. The trail ends at a spectacular waterfall over 50 m high. We return to the hotel by noon for check out and enjoy our last meal at Mashpi before heading back to Quito at approximately 1:30 PM.

RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICE (RRP) PER PERSON PER NIGHT IN US DOLLARS
VALID FROM JANUARY 01 TO DECEMBER 31, 2017

PROGRAM RATES INCLUDE:

• Transfer in (shared basis) from four hotels in Quito: Swissotel, JW Marriott, Hilton and Casa Gangotena.
• Transfer out (shared basis) to four hotels in Quito: Casa Gangotena, Hilton, JW Marriott and Swissotel.
• Hotel accommodations
• All meals at the Lodge
• Guided activities and excursions within the Reserve: walks, birdwatching and nature encounters, Sky Bike, Life Center, waterfalls and Hummingbird Garden.
• Wi-Fi
• Unlimited soft drinks
• Use of rain ponchos and rubber boots

NOT INCLUDED:

• Dragonfly cable car ride: $40 + taxes per person per stay for all activities that incorporate this service; $20 + taxes per child under the age of 12.
• Spa treatments
• Alcoholic drinks
• Taxes and service charge, currently: 12% Value Added Tax, 10% Service Charge
• Gratuities, tips and personal expenses