ECUADOR ANDEAN CLOUD FOREST

Featuring Deluxe Properties Casa Gongotena in Quito and Mashpi Cloud Forest Lodge (Ecuador's Leading green hotel)

8 days/7 night Program

Locally Hosted

Including:

5 days- 4 nights at Mashpi Deluxe Lodge in the Cloud forest with all meals.

Accommodations at the Wayra deluxe rooms with air conditioned, hot water and private bathrooms.

English speaking naturalist guides for daily excursions to primary forest, aerial tram and lagoons along the reserve.

Specialize lectures while at Mashpi.

Visit the Tulipe Archeological site.

3 nights in Quito at Deluxe Casa Gongotena (2 at the beginning and 1 at the end of the program)

Luxury rooms with daily buffet breakfast and tea time.

Private City tour of Quito.

Private transfers Airport-Quito-Airport

Private transportation Quito-Mashpi Reserve-Quito

Entrance fees.

Assistance of our local representative in Quito & Mashpi.

English speaking tour guides.

Call (770) 732-9434 for more information or to book today! Mention code 12723599

Tour Operator
Tara Tours
Duration
5 Days
Escorted
Escorted - No
DayDestinationDescription
Day 1Depart USA- USA-QUITO : Upon arrival and after going through the immigration and customs procedures, you will be met at the exit, by our tour operator in and transferred to Deluxe Casa Gangotena
Day 2Quito- QUITO : AM Sightseeing tour of Quito (private): A visit to downtown Quito to relish in this urban jewel and its treasures of art and architecture. Quito's colonial quarter, the largest and best preserved of South America, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stroll starts at the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop's Palace. Visit the temple of La Compania de Jesus and its awesome gilded interior. Continue on to the Monastery of San Francisco, one the of great religious buildings of the New World; its impressive facade and atrium that lead to its Baroque interior influenced by Moorish style, with the winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar. The tour ends at a lookout point with a great view of the city of Quito
OVERNIGHT DELUXE CASA GANGOTENA (B).
Day 3MASHPI JUNGLE LODGE- QUITO/MASHPI JUNGLE LODGE : Pick up from your hotel, then, we will take the highway north of Quito, passing the Equator Monument and Latitude 0°, and then we will climb over the pass and from here on, it's downhill towards the Pacific Ocean.
After about two-and-a-half hours, we arrive at the entrance to the Mashpi Rainforest Biodiversity Reserve, which extends over the surrounding 1,300 hectares (3,212 acres) - a haven for wildlife and biodiversity. Here, we will stop at the Hummingbird Viewpoint to learn more about these irrepressible flying machines, enjoy a drink. We then wind our way 6 km (3.75 miles) further aboard electric buggies until we reach the lodge itself, at approximately 12 PM.
Here you will be welcomed with a refreshing drink and checked in to your room. Lunch is served soon after, followed by a short time to relax. After lunch, the afternoon's activities begin (please see options detailed below). These will depend on factors such as group size, physical abilities and weather conditions.
Before dinner, guests will meet their Naturalist Guides for a short briefing about the next day's activities. Optional night walks head out from the hotel following dinner.
You will stay 4 nights at Mashpi Lodge with all meals and excursions.

ABOUT MASHPI RAINFOREST BIODIVERSITY RESERVE AND LODGE
Mashpi Lodge is a private getaway only accessible to guests. Located on a high plateau, it is ideally situated to give breathtaking views of the forest and valleys from nearly every angle. The lodge, built with the latest techniques in sustainable building, is designed to blend beautifully with its surroundings. It features contemporary, minimalist design and decor, mixing warm earth tones and clean lines: a cozy cacoon amid the forest with the natural world just beyond, ideal for contemplation and relaxation. At the reserve's entrance camp, vehicles are left behind and guests board specially-designed electrically-powered buggies for their journey to the lodge itself. These buggies lower the impact of human presence on the forest by preserving fossil fuel and reducing noise.
The lodge is intimate, accommodation a maximum of 36 guests, in 18 ample 430 sq ft suites. Suites are tastefully furnished, with a king size bed or two queen-size beds. For those traveling with friends or family, connecting rooms are available.
Social areas include several relaxing lounges. Like the suites, these feature huge picture windows making guests feel part of their surroundings, where, at night, the only lights are the dance of myriad fireflies. Mashpi Lodge provides a Reading Room with internet access and an extensive collection of books and videos on the natural world. Masphi Lodge features two Jacuzzis, as well as specialized massages and treatments, many employing natural local ingredients such as earth, stones, herbs and leaves. Gourmet meals are specially prepared by our chef with local fresh organic produce and are accompanied by our house wine.

Day 4-6MASHPI JUNGLE LODGEMASHPI JUNGLE LODGE : Mashpi Exploration

Exploring Mashpi Lodge for those who want to enjoy the beauty and magic of dawn in the forest - which is when most birds are active and calling, as well as when views are often most spectacular - early morning activities are organized before breakfast. Following breakfast, we head out from the lodge to explore, returning for lunch and a rest, before enjoying an afternoon amid Nature, then dinner, night walks and sleep (B, L, D).

PACKING

NOTES:

1 Guests will be supplied with rubber boots. Please ensure you send us your size. The lodge also supplies walking poles, but you may want to bring your own.

2 We kindly ask that luggage not exceed 45 lbs (20 kilos) in weight, with one item per person.

3 Due to the Lodge's waste water management system, we request guests only use biodegradable soaps and shampoos (the Lodge supplies these as part of its amenities), and only flush toilet paper in lavatories.

4 The small boutique at the lodge sells a range of books, guides, clothing (T-shirts, shirts, hats, buffs), crafts, as well as essentials (batteries, health care products, etc.).

  • Sunhat
  • Sun block
  • Sunglasses
  • Swimwear
  • Walking shoes/sneakers
  • Socks: we recommend joggers' socks that don't slip easily inside rubber boots. 2 pairs per day are ideal.
  • Light-weight, earth- or dark-coloured, long-sleeved T-shirts and shirts
  • Earth- or dark-colored, light-weight trousers
  • Light fleece/sweater
  • Sandals/Tevas
  • Goretex jacket - guests will also be supplied with waterproof ponchos
  • Insect repellent (natural, not chemical like DEET)
  • Good binoculars (Guides will have pairs to share)
  • Small backpack for trails
  • 6 Ziploc bags of different sizes for keeping things dry
  • Sealable bag for packing dirty laundry in luggage
  • Headlamp (or Flashlight)
  • Extra batteries
  • Appliance chargers. Plugs in Ecuador are US-style, 2 flat pins 110 volts. 220 volt adaptors can be supplied upon request.
  • Day 7Quito- MASHPI JUNGLE LODGE/QUITO : On the last day, there Is an early breakfast, followed by a shorter morning activity and check out. There's then time to relax at the Lodge, watch a video presentation or bird watch from the terraces. A substantial snack is served at 10.30 AM and we leave the hotel at 11 AM . About an hour away, we visit the intriguing archaeological site of Tulipe. We then drive back eastwards, winding our way up the Andes towards the capital, arriving at Quito hotels between 3 and 4 pm. Transfer to DCASA GANGOTENA HOTEL for overnight (B).
    Day 8Return USA- QUITO-USA : Private transfer to the Quito airport for your flight to USA. (B)
    Dates/Pricing

    Click Quote or call us to get additional information on your chosen travel date. Special offers or competitive pricing may be available!

    DatePrice / DescriptionQuote
     $3,940.00* (USD) / 2016 : LAND TOUR COST PER PERSON : DoubleQuote
    Disclaimer

    * Child rate under 15 years old sharing room with 2 adults

    Not included: INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE. Insurance . Airport departure taxes for your international flight Quito US$48 (usually this amount is included in your international air ticket). Tips to tour guides, drivers. Bar, gifts and any other service not specifically mentioned in the included section

    SAMPLE AIRFARE FROM MIAMI:

    US$500-650

    SAMPLE ADD-ONS FROM OTHER USA CITIES:

    For same package add $220 from ORL, TPA, JAX, FMY and Zone 1; $250 from ATL; add $300 from BDL, BOS, BWI, EWR, NYC, PHL, RDU, WAS, + Zone 3 - - Add $350 from CHI, CLE, DTT; - Add $380 from DEN, DFW, HOU, MSY, SJU ZONE 2 & 4; Add $430 from LAX, SFO + ZONE 5; Add $450 from Zone 6. RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME

    SAMPLE ZONE CHART:
    Zone 1: FL; Zone 2: AR, LA, MS, NM, OK, TX; Zone 3: CT, GA, MA, MD, NC, NH, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT; Zone 4: AL, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD, TN, WI; Zone 5: CA, ID, NV, UT; Zone 6: OR, WA

      
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