Elite Traveler March-April 2018

Yaku Suites MASHPI LODGE, ECUADOR

On the site of a one-time saw mill, in a 3,000-acre private reserve between lower montane rain forest and cloud forest, sits the magical Mashpi Lodge. Though it features luxury amenities such as a spa and fine-dining restaurant, the lodge takes its responsibility as an education center seriously. There’s an on-site laboratory that conducts scientific studies into the surrounding wildlife, and a 20-minute walk takes you to the Life Center, where you can learn about the metamorphoses of the different species of butterflies living on the reserve. The three Yaku Suites are the premium rooms in Mashpi Lodge. The gorgeous modern spaces are bordered by floor-to-ceiling windows that make you feel part of the terrain. Special amenities Philippe Starck–designed bathtubs with rain forest views Size 495 sq ft Number of bedrooms One Nightly rate from $1,650 Contact Marc Berry, operations manager, info@mashpilodge.com, +59 324 004 100, mashpilodge.com