Unique cloud forest at 2 hours from Quito

5 questions to owner Roque Sevilla

Roque Sevilla is a real nature lover. That's why he has dedicated his whole life to the preservation of the rich flora and fauna of his native country Ecuador. In his small-scale lodge, in the middle of the lush jungle of the Mashpi forest, only a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the capital Quito, he loves to share this love with his guests.

1. Why is the environment of the Mashpi lodge so special?

Roque: "The Mashpi Lodge is located exactly between the cloud forest and the tropical rainforest. This creates a special interplay of nature. Everywhere you look you see varied, surprising and brightly coloured animal life. The location of the hotel is therefore the key to an ultimate experience in a varied nature reserve."

2. How did you end up here?

"I knew this particular piece of forest was under threat and to prevent it, I bought it in 2000. Only later, when I took my family and friends to this area it turned out that they loved this place, I decided to do something with it. The result was the Mashpi lodge.”

3. What makes the Mashpi lodge so unique?

"The lodge consists mainly of glass, so that all guests are in close contact with this incredible forest. We have developed the accommodation and its surroundings over the years in a natural way. On the outside, the lodge blends into its surroundings and the interior design is minimalist and in earth tones. Furthermore, we have laid out treetop paths and our guides accompany guests along natural footpaths and waterfalls. These walks make it easier to discover special plants and trees, more than 500 species of birds, monkeys and, if you are lucky, pumas.”

4. Nature conservation is important, but how do you ensure it?

"Because our guides take guests to the most special places of the cloud and rainforest every day, they can keep a close eye on the area. Next to the hotel we run a research centre which has allowed us to learn a lot of things about the forest over the last few years. Take the Mashpi frog, we discovered this frog a year ago. The combination of hotel and research centre allows us to show our guests these special species directly."

5. What do you think the future of the Mashpi Lodge and Ecuador looks like?

"Mashpi is a good example of Ecuador's enormous potential. There is so much we can do to preserve our country's ecosystems. These places need to be protected. This is in the interests of nature and tourism. If we are able to give priority to these two aspects, I am sure that Ecuador will be one of the most attractive countries in the world for the true nature lover.”