Deep within a 3,200-acre private reserve in Ecuador, Mashpi Lodge opened in April with 22 rooms and suites providing visitors a private sanctuary for nature hikes or for simply observing the flora and fauna of a vast ecosystem. About two and a half hours northwest of Quito, the lodge is surrounded by the Tumbes-Chocó-Darién bioregion, which spans four countries from Panama to Peru. Here, guests can unwind in luxury while animal-watching in an ecosystem that is home to an estimated 500 species of birds, 12 newly identified species of butterflies, and many others. [See & Read More]