Mashpi Lodge

NOTES: http://www.mashpilodge.com/ Opening April 2012

http://www.justluxe.com/travel/luxury-vacations/feature-1738218.php

MASHPI LODGE READIES FOR JANUARY 2012 OPENING IN PRIVATE RAINFOREST RESERVE NEAR QUITO, ECUADOR

All-suite lodge in Andean biodiversity “hotspot” to entice nature lovers into the protected depths of the Ecuadorian rainforest

July 2011: There is a new destination for experiencing natural beauty, biodiversity and eco- adventure in the Ecuadorian Andes: the Mashpi Rainforest Biodiversity Reserve. Located just two-and-a-half hours west of historic Quito, this 2,600-acre reserve protects a small slice of the Tumbez-Chocó-Magdalena biodiversity “hotspot,” and will be home to a bold new retreat called Mashpi Lodge, hot on the heels of its sister property Casa Gangotena that opens in Quito Old Town in September.

This sophisticated and intimate Lodge has been designed as the ideal springboard for exploring the biodiverse world of its reserve. A private getaway only accessible to its guests and located on a high plateau, Mashpi Lodge offers breathtaking views of the forest and valleys at nearly every angle and combines the highest standards of comfort, service, guiding and cuisine.

The wonders waiting at Mashpi Lodge will delight the worldliest nature lover. Perched at 3,116 feet above sea level and surrounded by lower montane forest and rainforest, the Lodge is surrounded by a profusion of plant species, from ferns and bromeliads to thousands of orchid species, many that have been newly discovered. A staggering 500 species of bird – including some 36 endemics – are found here and nowhere else, fluttering through the canopy. Monkeys, peccaries and even puma make their homes in a forest crisscrossed with waterfalls and hiking trails.The Lodge, built with the latest techniques in sustainable building and employing hydroelectric power, is designed to blend beautifully with its surroundings. It features contemporary, minimalist decor, mixing warm earth tones and clean lines: a cozy cocoon amid the forest with the natural world just beyond, ideal for contemplation and relaxation and a base for wildlife adventures.

Mashpi Lodge is intimate; accommodating a maximum of 44 guests in 22 understated yet luxurious suites, including three “Yaku” suites (Quechua for “wind”) that cover 398 square feet and feature private Jacuzzis-with-a-view plus two “Wayra” suites (Quechua for “water”) that cover 327 square feet and interconnect for groups of friends or families.

Social areas include several relaxing lounges with vast picture windows inviting nature into the Lodge and a peaceful Reading Room offering internet access and an exquisite collection of books and videos on the natural world.

The Spa will feature Jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish bath and specialized massages and treatments using natural local ingredients such as earth, stones, herbs and leaves from the Reserve.

The Lodge Dining Room offers a lively gourmet experience where Mashpi‟s chefs draw from the diversity of Ecuadorian cuisine and use the finest fresh organic ingredients from the surrounding rainforest such as naranjilla, papaya, palm heart, coffee, chocolate and plantain. A full bar offers specialty cocktails and a carefully selected wine list features mainly Chilean and Argentinean vintages.

The Mashpi Experience is about discovering life in the tree tops, trekking along trails, listening to animal calls, absorbing each and every colour, bathing in pure waterfalls, spotting butterflies and birds, encountering amazing creatures, or simply relaxing with a view of clouds playing hide- and-seek with the forest. Everywhere you look, you find life in all its varied, surprising and multi- coloured forms. Trained local guides and expert naturalists join guests for their explorations to bring the reserve‟s riches to life. Guided night walks uncover an altogether different side of the magic of the rainforest: true nocturnal safari adventures.

A novel system known as „dendronautics‟ (from the Greek Dendron meaning tree and nautical meaning navigation) with an environmentally-friendly Aerial Tram that glides through the upper canopy taking groups of up to six guests with their resident naturalist for two kilometers, to where the most exciting life in rainforests happen.

The Mashpi Rainforest Reserve introduces a Butterfly Vivarium housing local species of butterfly in a natural yet protected environment to assure the best development of pupae and butterflies together with a Serpentarium dedicated to the often misunderstood invertebrate, the snake. These micro-habitats were specifically created to aid the various scientific initiatives taking place within the reserve but also allow guests an educational insight into the myths and truths regarding these intriguing creatures.

A Scientific Research Centre has been created in line with the Reserve‟s goal to improve scientific knowledge about the Reserve‟s ecosystem and is fully equipped with laboratories where visiting and local scientists can carry out their research and continue to discover new species. Their Tree and Shrub Nursery Project is run by the local community and teaches farmers from the surrounding region about the natural richness of the forest and the conservation of

native tree species, discouraging extractive and harmful practices. The funds from the project are directed to improving health and education, as well as organic food production, in surrounding villages.

A deep respect for the local people and their communities is at the heart of Mashpi‟s sustainability goals. Casa Campesina is a local farmhouse supported by the Reserve where Mashpi guests can share time with the people who inhabit the rainforest and share time with them to learn about their traditions and ways of life. Surrounded by plantations of different crops, including yucca, bananas, hearts-of-palm and coffee, those with a sweet tooth can learn how to turn native cocoa beans in to dark chocolate and join family-led activities in their own environments.

Original Travel (www.originaltravel.co.uk / 020 7978 733) offers 7-night trips o Ecuador from £2,555 per person including a fully inclusive 3-night rainforest programme at Mashpi Lodge combined with 3 nights at Casa Gangotena in Quito Old Town on a B&B basis. Includes international flights and private transfers.

Watch a video of the Mashpi Rainforest Biodiversity Reserve View photos of the forest and work-in-progress at the Lodge

Editor‟s Notes:

Mashpi Lodge is owned by Metropolitan Touring, one of South America‟s best-known and most-respected travel companies. It has been providing unrivalled service to guests for over five decades. The company runs its own ground operations in Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and Chile, and also owns and operates the finest ships for expeditions in the Galapagos Islands, the M/V Santa Cruz, Yacht Isabella II and Yacht La Pinta, as well as the Finch Bay Eco Hotel.

Mashpi Lodge‟s sister hotel, Casa Gangotena, is a restored 16th century mansion overlooking Plaza San Francisco in Quito‟s historic Old Town and will open as a new 31-bedroom boutique hotel in October 2011, mixing Art Nouveau and quintessential comforts; perfect for discovering the city‟s cultural riches.