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.
- 1 800 571 2985
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.
Venture into the cloud forest in search of exotic and colourful hummingbirds and iconic cocks-of-the-rock.
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.
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.
Burrowed within 300-acres of cloud forest reserve, Sachatamia Lodge is a bird-watchers paradise situated beside the protected forest of Mindo-Nambillo, an area renowned for its exceptional biodiversity and abundant flora and fauna. Constructed almost entirely from wood, the lodge is a rustic building that blends in with the surrounding landscape, offering an indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi. Inside, its 10 wood-clad lodge rooms and bungalows are cosy and elegantly decorated, boasting incredible views of the verdant cloud forest.
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. A restaurant and Explorer’s Bar prepare cuisine and beverages that have been created with a focus on native ingredients and flavours from both the coastal and Andean regions.
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. Boasting incredibly biodiverse forests and a plethora of little-studied wildlife, the lodge carefully balances the wonders of the natural world with cosy accommodations and authentic decor.
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.
I love to squeeze as much out of my day as possible. An outdoors fanatic, I love to delve into harsh environments having summited numerous mountains and trail running into the unknown whenever I get the chance – whether at home or overseas. Funnily enough, it didn’t start like that. It took a few years for the burning fire of adventure to truly take light with my eyes opened by the adventures travel could afford.
Send us an enquiry
Complete our enquiry form and start your next journey.
Two hours' drive south from Quito is the Avenue of the Volcanoes, a road that winds its way between Andean foothills dotted…
Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador and considered by many to be the most attractive. Founded on the Inca site…
In stark contrast to the cool snowcapped Andes mountains are the humid lowlands known as El Oriente. This is an area of…
Welcome to Darwin’s playground, where a delicate collection of fearless wildlife and idyllic landscapes awaits.
The Machalilla National Park offers a fascinating variety of flora and fauna and covers an area of 55,000 hectares including Salango and…
South America’s second highest capital is sprawled along the slopes of the surrounding mountains at an elevation of 9,350 feet.
Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city and home to the country’s chief seaport with major industries focused on petroleum refining, shrimp fishing, and…
Loja's capital city of the same name and the area's natural wonders remain unsullied and largely undiscovered by travellers because they are…
Otavalo and the surrounding villages are famous for their dazzling textiles and intricate handicrafts, which are on proud display at the famous…
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
Sign up and take advantage of our Wishlist if you would like to create your own holiday boards. You can click on the heart across our website and curate destinations, holidays, properties and experiences that you would like us to build your future holidays around.
Sign up and take advantage of our Wishlist if you would like to create your own holiday boards. You can click on the heart across our website and curate destinations, holidays, properties and experiences that you would like us to build your future holidays around.
All you need to do now is activate this account by clicking on the link we’ve just sent you via email to the address you’ve just provided or log in below.
Enter your email below.
you will receive an email from us in the next few minutes. Click in the link in the email to change your password.
if you can't see an email from us in your inbox, please check your junk mail folder as it may have been mistakenly categorised as spam or try a different email address.