Paul Bird
From quaint Andean villages and colourful markets to staggering volcanic landscapes and the Amazon Rainforest, Paul has explored the length and breadth of Ecuador.
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An hour and a half north of Quito stands a moss and vine draped, mist shrouded, primeval cloud forest. Spilling over with lush vegetation, find epiphytes, bryophytes, mosses and lichens clinging to the trunks and branches of the trees.
Amongst this web of flora from the forest floor to the canopy, including thousands of varieties of orchid, there is a rich variety of insects, reptiles, mammals and birds. Due to the mountainous terrain, views through the trees can be beautiful over the canopy top.
Cycle through the Cloud Lodge on Mashpi Lodge’s sky bike, or riding the 2 km gondola, through and over the cloud forest canopy affords you a bird’s eye view of this biodiverse wonderland, over waterfalls and treetops alongside toucans and hummingbirds.
Tell us what you love doing and we’ll curate a journey that’s perfect for you.
Hike to refreshing forest waterfalls, go tubing or rafting atop winding rivers, or embark on a canyoning adventure.
Stumble upon bio-luminescent rotting wood and search for nocturnal critters by torchlight during a night walk.
Marvel at the plate-sized butterflies that swarm all around, search for tracks of spectacled bears, and absorb the overwhelming sound of many species of monkeys.
Venture into the cloud forest in search of exotic and colourful hummingbirds and iconic cocks-of-the-rock.
Our Ecuador experts have created and curated these holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something to spark ideas for a unique adventure.
Some of the wonderful places to stay that we frequently recommended.
Seamlessly blending lush jungle with an urban comfort, Mashpi Lodge is an exclusive Cloud Forest hideaway situated on a scenic plateau that overlooks distant forested mountains and up-close untamed foliage. A stunningly contemporary piece of architectural design, the lodge offers 22 rooms that aim to immerse guests in the striking landscape through the use of sweeping floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows.
Set within nearly 2000-acres of private reserve in Ecuador’s cloud forest, Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge is a base for adventure and exploration. Offering a unique stay above the forest canopy, the lodge is comprised of a selection of accommodation options from camping and mountain-view rooms to forest-view bamboo houses and geodesic domes.
A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
From quaint Andean villages and colourful markets to staggering volcanic landscapes and the Amazon Rainforest, Paul has explored the length and breadth of Ecuador.
John rode the railways of Ecuador on the carriage roof before it was outlawed, but still recommends a jaunt along the Devil’s Nose – an engineering marvel that can still be enjoyed from inside a carriage.
My specialist areas are the Americas and polar regions, where I’ve formed lasting connections with both the land and its people. Known for bringing these wild places to life, I design immersive programmes that go beyond the ordinary, helping my clients to connect with nature in a deep and meaningful way.
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