Mashpi Lodge is in the Choco Forest. It is a lodge and research/conservation centre. Roque Sevilla was the Mayor of Quito and had a vision for this region of rain/cloud forest to preserve it and study the ecology. When a timber company put up the land they owned for sale, Roque convinced the board of directors of the travel company to purchase the first 1000 hectares. The company now owns close to 3000 hectares here. And have created the Lodge.

They have a staff of 12 ecologists/biologists that come and study the ecosystem. They also partner with people from the community to work with the researchers. Regardless of their education and more about their passion for nature they bring them under their wing to learn about research. Two community folks are now creating their own Mashpi Research Centre in the area.

Sometimes it feels super pretentious but when you are out and about looking at stuff, you really let that go and enjoy what the area has to offer. Here we birdwatched, hiked, saw waterfalls and flew in the sky.

The food was really amazing.

Kindness, authenticity and modesty are words I think of when I think of the people of Ecuador. They are wonderful and live in such a beautiful country. So much opportunity and potential.

It has been a pleasure to be part of their world if even for a couple of weeks.

Waterfalls fool you in the forest . You see the clouds form and you hear the water and immediately think it must be raining.

Beautiful tumbles of water down the rock face into the pool below. Majestic.

Way on top of the Forest is a gondola that sweeps us through the trees. It is amazing to see the depth of the Forest from this angle.

We started way below the top, by a waterfall and walked along the stream with volcanic rocks that are smooth and long like the layers of sediment. Reds and blacks and whites.

Then up to the top in a little basket to see trees and world from the top.

So many trees here have friends that grow with them. We don’t see the variety of species on species in Canada. Here we see two, three or more plants living together.

The next day we were back again on the canopy and it is a very different world with the dominance of the Cloud Forest. Magical and mysterious as we float through the clouds.

Rhizomes are found on so many branches in the Choco Forest. These look like moss but I am told are not moss at all and are distinguished because they don’t have roots and just survive on water captured on their leaves.

There is a beautiful blue butterfly that hides from predators by pretending to be a snake when it’s wings are folded and an owl when it’s wings are open.

Agave thrives in Ecuador.

It really is foundation to the Ecuadorian culture. They use it for soap, to heal, and to make Shigras which are purses. Fermented into a hooch. Found everywhere and multiple species.

The Agave flowers every 25 years. A long tree-like stalk with unimpressive flowers. Once it flowers it dies. I think one year Allan Gardens had their Agave flower and had to have it peek out of the roof.

To rid you of evil, the Moya Community may strip you naked and flog you with stinging nettles. Then pour cold water over your body to intensify the release of badness.

They have very little crime.

The Choco Forest lives between the Cloud and Rain forest at around 1000 meters above sea level. It has the widest range of biodiversity in Ecuador and home to birds, frogs, snakes, spiders, crickets, plants and animals.

There are 133 different species of hummingbirds. Hummingbirds ideally like an altitude between 500 and 2000 meters so the Choco Forest is perfect for them. Humming birds must drink nectar every 20 minutes so here they have many different flowers and feeders to drink from.

The train trip was so enlightening about the cultures of Ecuador. We spent four days, mostly staring out the window, waving at people as we went by and being astonished at the variety and beauty of Ecuador. It was captivating.

And should you be this way, please take this train trip.

Along the way with the train, you will pass by many eucalyptus trees. It fills the air with the smell of Vick’s Vapour Rub.

The Indigenous communities use the leaves to treat respiratory track infections and its wood is used for construction and for cooking food.