El Monte Sustainable Lodge

Location:
Quito Office: Roca 736 y Amazonas (pasaje Chantilly)
Mindo, Ecuador

Hotel

By Dawn Wohlfarth Arteaga

The most ecologically friendly hotel in this incredibly environmentally conscious town, El Monte is a comfortable, full-service lodge with spectacular views. Set on 44 hectares (108 acres) of a private nature reserve, there is rich secondary cloud forest, excellent bird and wildlife watching and a river full of rapids for tubing and waterfalls for cliff jumping.

You get a feel for the isolation of El Monte the second you arrive: the only way to reach the lodge is via a wooden swing connected to pulleys and ropes, which carries you across the rushing river to a series of paths leading to the lodge.

Among the projects El Monte maintains to make it an eco-lodge are: sustainability projects: the farm produces much of the vegetables and fruits served to guests, no red meat is served and most meals are vegetarian; solar panels provide the only electricity on the grounds in the main lodge, the cabins use candles for light after dark; education: guides teach guests about the importance of preservation in the area and the facilities build awareness; and preservation: the private reserve protects a good portion of Mindo’s cloud forests from development and destruction.

There are six two-story cabins which sleep five people each. Décor is minimalist, allowing nature to be the focus. The quality of the cabins is excellent. However, there is only one bathroom per cabin, so those who sleep on the bottom floor must climb to the second to use the bathroom (this can be tricky in a cabin with no electricity if you need to go at night). El Monte lodge limits its lodge occupancy to one party, so you won't have to share with strangers. The cabins are spaced far enough apart along the river banks that you feel completely isolated and can bird watch from the comfort of your bed.

The service is friendly and attentive. El Monte is owned by an American/Ecuadorian couple, who often join guests for meals and make themselves available for conversation, assistance, guiding and transportation. Bilingual naturalist guides are also always on hand and help guests decide their itinerary. If you are dying to see as many birds as possible, they will take you out as early as you want to find just what you’re looking for. The main lodge features comfortable couches, games and lots of books about Ecuador, birds, wildlife along with some novels, magazines, etc.

These features all come at a price – and a fairly steep one at that. For $86/per person, guests enjoy two days of meals, guides, local transport, river tubing and cable car rides and one night’s stay. This puts El Monte among the more expensive Mindo hotels, but your money is going to a good project.

They recommend you bring: Binoculars, flashlight, light pants & long sleeved clothing, sun hat, sunglasses, natural insect repellent & sun protector, rain poncho or jacket, bathing suit, camera and high speed film (ASA 400 or higher for the deep woods lighting).

This Hotel is: Expensive

Hotel Amenities, Services and Facilities Laundry Service, Travel Info Desk, Lounge, Luggage Storage, 24-Hour Hot Water

Getting There:
From the center of Mindo, follow signs to the Butterfly Farm (El Mariposario). You will want to have private transport, or call the hotel in advance to come pick you up in Mindo. It is about a 15 minutes' drive down an unpaved road.

Room Prices:
Price Description:$86/per person

Children ages 6-10: $43/night

Children ages 0-5: free

Contact Information:
Phone: 593-2-255-8881
E-mail: mindo(at)remove-this.ecnet.ec
URL: www.ecuadorcloudforest.com
Reservation URL: www.ecuadorcloudforest.com/html/reservations.html

Traveler Reviews of El Monte Sustainable Lodge

Numero Uno!

Rating: 100%

Beautiful setting, comfortable cabins, great food and hospitable hosts. Lush cloud forest and great bird watching.

By V!VA User from Boston, Nov 03, 2005

el monte sustainable lodge

Rating: 100%

the food was delicious, the owners were muy amable and the place was an isolted experience. if you need your blackberry 24/7 its not for you

By zu smith from seattle, wa, Apr 15, 2007

less is more

Rating: 100%

liked every single thing about it, the people are really nice and interesting, the setting is stunning, the rhythm it brings you feels so natural. the whole experience makes you realize that our lives nowadays are so flooded with technology and information and consumerism, ... it is sooooooo good to just be away from it all, to reconnect with yourself, the people around you, and of course nature...

By barbara from belgium, Jun 27, 2007