The cloud forests of Ecuador are not awash with colour. Instead, they pick a single one and run with it.
Green isn’t just green here, it’s gob smacking, gut punching, grandstanding green, a green that explodes with greedy, reckless abandon.
And you can visit. At 2000 metres above sea level, here’s how you can visit the Ecuadorian cloud forests.
Overlooking the cloud forest in Ecuador
The Cloud Forests of Ecuador
Top Things to do in the Andean Cloud Forests
- Hike through the cloud forest
- Go bird watching
- Cycle in the sky
- Swim in waterfalls
- Swing through the canopy
- Eat chocolate (seriously, it’s a thing)
What is a cloud forest?
A cloud forest is a tropical or sub-tropical forest with a near persistent cloud cover. According to the International Cloud Atlas, this cloud canopy cover is called the silvagenitus.
Disclosure and handy other info: I visited this cloudforest in Ecuador by staying at Mashpi Lodge at the suggestion and organisation of Metropolitan Touring. I flew from Cardiff to Quito via Amsterdam with KLM. As ever, I kept the right to write what I like. As ever, as always. If you book or buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Cheers.
Mashpi Lodge is one of a number of Eco Lodges in the otherwise unpopulated bioregion of the Ecuador cloud forest
What is it like to visit the Cloud Forests of Ecuador?
The cloud forests of Ecuador are not awash with colour. Instead, they pick a single one and run with it.
Green isn’t just green here, it’s gob smacking, gut punching, grandstanding green, a green that explodes with greedy, reckless abandon.
A green that brings lesser sights to life, like the web of a spider or the jagged skeleton of a leaf that catches raindrops between yesterday’s green.
Rain, too. There’s plenty of rain here, or at least that’s the first impression. It’s also the second, since rain does fall most of the time. The forest’s secret, however, lies in the fact that rain manages to fall from the leaves without falling from the sky. Clouds condense on the greenery itself, gathering, trembling, amassing and then rolling with a drip and a flourish from the tip of a leaf to the next.
The wildlife in the cloud forests of Ecuador reward those with patience
Where to stay in Ecuador’s cloud forest
It is virtually impossible to travel independently here on account of the steep terrain and lack of easy access. As a result, most visitors stay in one of the private Eco Lodges in the thick of the forest. The lodges create tours through the forest and typically arrange transfers from Quito. Here are the main lodges
- Mashpi Eco Lodge – Luxurious eco-lodge with a sky bike a little further from Quito than the Bellavista.
- The Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve & Lodge – an affordable four star cloudforest lodge in Tandayapa near Mindo and relatively close to Quito.
Preserved Bioregion with Outstanding Birdlife
The leaves resemble umbrellas drawn straight from Thumbelina’s tales. The tree trunks stretch into the grey bulbous mist like scaffolding for skyscrapers, while the wildlife itself… is shy.
Pumas prowl at night, so I’m told. And raccoons by day, as I’ve seen only moments ago.
Butterflies use fake snake eyes to scare predators away while hummingbirds flit and fuzz and buzz around so close you can feel the flutter of their wings.
In Ecuador’s Cloud Forest, if you have a head for heights, you can climb into the canopy and appreciate the wildlife along the way…
Recommended reading: Pre-Columbian Art in Ecuador and the Surprising Question It Asks
Patience is Key in the Cloud Forest
In short, I’m learning that beneath the green lurks a less flash wildlife. One that requires patience, a degree of silence, and a curious and inquisitive eye.
Orangutans do not blaze in orange in this part of the world. You won’t hear the heavy footfall of elephants nor the orchestral weight of the whale.
But the beauty is no less bewildering. It just requires patience and comes cloaked in both grey and iridescent green.
Patience pays off when visiting the cloud forest in Ecuador…
Why are they called cloud forests?
The term seems to be a literal interpretation of how these forests appear. Low-hanging clouds hover over the upper canopy of the trees, giving off the appearance of permanent fog. The moisture condenses onto the leaves of trees and drips onto the lower plants. The water comes from the clouds, but not through rain.
Cloud Forest Activities
Here at Mashpi Lodge in Ecuador, we’re all about getting up close and personal with nature. The lodge itself teeters (or so it feels) on the edge of an earthy cliff, immersing itself in the canopy layer of the cloud forest that cloaks these 22 rooms. Each room bears floor to ceiling windows and the dining area comes straight from the imagination of Jurassic Park itself.
Mornings start early, with swirling mist and hot swirling coffee, as we stand on the rooftop on the lookout for birds.
We slush and swish along leafy, muddy paths and the brave (or foolish) among us (@MrTravelLab in this case) freshen up in waterfalls and later swing right through the trees on a vine like Tarzan (albeit wearing substantially more clothes.)
It’s not all hard hiking, though.
Wine and cheese appear outside the butterfly farm and there’s a chance to stop and rest to watch the hummingbirds buzz by.
But all of that takes place at ground level, amid the squelch and security of nominally dry land.
Then there is the sky bike…
Ecuador Cloud Forest Mashpi Lodge Man on viewing platform
Cycling in the Cloud Forests of Ecuador
We’re Cycling in the Air…
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I want to close your eyes and imagine two things for me.
One, that you have the soundtrack from The Snowman playing in your head, ba-dooms and all. (We’re just going to cunningly switch the word walking to cycling.)
And two, that you’re high atop the cloud forest, ready to launch off into the mist on a rickety, stickety looking tandem bicycle thing with a roof hook.
Allow me to explain in this video:
Fun Facts about Ecuador’s Cloud Forest and Her Wildlife
- The cloud forests of Ecuador are one of the most biodiverse regions anywhere on the planet.
- An estimated 500 types of bird species live in this habitat alongside animals such as ocelots, anteaters, monkeys, and peccaries.
- Some of the birds have fantastic names: the Andean cock of the rock; the coronet, the booted racket-tail, the violet-tailed sylph and the fawn-breasted brilliant. What’s more, those are all hummingbirds.
- Ecuador’s cloud forest is also home to toucans and trogons; both the golden-headed quetzal and the plate-billed mountain toucan are fairly common.
- It’s wise to keep an eye on the ground lest you trample on a giant earthworm. By giant, we mean snake-size.
- Harder to see due to their camouflage are tree frogs, grass frogs, and other amphibians. If you feel something wet and sloppy land on your skin, that’s what it could be…
- Spectacled bears are harder to find. But they are out there…
Recommended reading: Off the Beaten Track in Quito, Ecuador
Nature walks, birdwatching and conservation projects available in Ecuador’s cloud forest
Mashpi Lodge: Eco Retreat in the Cloud Forest in Ecuador
Mashpi Lodge is a one-of-a-kind wilderness retreat. While only three hours from downtown Quito, you wouldn’t know it once you’re there. The Lodge engulfs visitors in the surroundings of the cloud forest.
The steel and glass structure has floor-to-floor, wall-to-wall windows throughout. The Lodge, which has 24 guest rooms, is situated on over 3,000 acres of rainforest, 80% of which has been untouched by man. You are just as likely to wake up to see a monkey swinging past your room or a coronet preening by your window. The spacious, stylish rooms are paired with a two-story dining room that allows for guests to be awed by nature as they dine. A team of naturalists and scientists staff the resort’s research centre; they lead hikes, give talks, and explain the natural habitats of the jungle. Lodge residents have the opportunity to explore by day and relax by night. At over 3,100 feet above sea level, “guests can watch the club-winged manakin bird conduct its courtship dance, trek to 190-feet-tall waterfalls, climb an observation canopy into the treetops, or spot the Mashpi torrenteer frog species.” The Mashpi Lodge began when Roque Sevilla, the former mayor of Quito, purchased the land in order to protect the biodiverse area which was at risk following years of deforestation and goldmining. After nearly ten years of conservation efforts, Sevilla decided he need to share one of the most beautiful spots on earth with the world.
Cloud Forest Ecuador Map
How to Visit the Cloud Forests of Ecuador
How do you get to the lodges in the cloud forest?
Most international travellers will arrive in Quito and then take a road transfer from there. It’s a long, bumpy drive but takes less than a day. Quito is also a fascinating city so I’d highly recommend you spend some time exploring the culture, art museums, markets and architecture.
When is the best time to visit the cloud forests of Ecuador?
The best time for bird watching is between December and April each year.
More from South America
Ecuador
- A taste of Quito’s pre-colombian art is just what visitors need
- The oldest market in Quito has tales to tell
- Why the cloud forests of Ecuador matter to us all
Top Tip! Work out what to wear in the jungle with this handy guide.
Nature at its best. Very nice shots of cloudforest. Thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome – glad you enjoyed!
Abi,
Your travel writing is truly inspirational. We are currently in Quito and heading out for a day trip to the cloud forest tomorrow. I know a day trip will not be long enough, but we plan to return again in April towards the end of our trip. We have been in Quito for the past four days and as wonderful as it is in the city, I am anxious to see the beauty of the flora and fauna in the cloud forest!
Ah, hi Kristi, thanks for your kind words! Enjoy it on my behalf – I’m at the desk at the moment. Have fun!