Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge

In just a couple of hours' drive from Quito you find yourself in a totally different world. Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge is surrounded by a 700-hectare private reserve of the same name, a tranquil place given over to nature, a humid, misty world full of plants and birds.

On a typical day at Bellavista you wake early and accompany a guide on a bird walk before breakfast, then set off on a hike in the forest, maybe taking in a waterfall, before lunch back at the lodge. In the afternoon you can relax or enjoy further exploration in the cloudforest, following one of the many marked trails or led by a guide as you prefer.

Bellavista offers a choice of accommodation including twin, double, honeymoon, family and group rooms as well as suites, all en-suite and with views of the forest, some with balconies. There are also dome rooms with private showers, slightly smaller and simpler in style, and a dormitory for groups on a tighter budget. The restaurant serves a buffet breakfast and set menus for lunch and dinner.

The rooms

Mountain view rooms

4 rooms with 2 queen-size beds each (up to 3 people), picture windows and an en-suite bathroom.

Trailhead House and Bamboo House

Two-storey houses with 3 bedrooms and a bathroom each; Bamboo House also has a balcony.

Bellavista Mirador and Pichincha Suite

A bedroom, bathroom and sitting room or sitting area.

San Luis House

3 bedrooms and a bathroom, 2.5km from the main lodge.

Dome rooms

5 more rustic rooms (3 doubles, 2 singles), each with a small bathroom.

Dome dormitory

On the 3rd and 4th floors, with a balcony and bathroom, for groups on a tighter budget.

Good to know

• 15 rooms across a range of house and room styles
• Open all year round
• Children are welcome, with family accommodation and some easy trails suitable for youngsters
• Rubber boots provided free of charge for hikes