There are few places on Earth where nature feels as magical as the cloud forests of Mashpi, Ecuador.
Mist drifts through ancient trees. Waterfalls echo through the forest. Orchids and bromeliads cover every branch. Then, in a flash of emerald and violet, one of Ecuador’s most spectacular hummingbirds appears—the Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis).
The Vertical Colibrí has entered one of its most extravagant worlds.
As our journey descends through the Andes, the landscape transforms completely. The harsh alpine tundra gives way to one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet.
The hummingbirds change with the elevation:
• The resilient Ecuadorian Hillstar above 5,000 meters.
• The elegant Long-tailed Sylph in the Andean forests.
• The brilliant urban hummingbirds of Quito’s Parque Metropolitano.
• And finally, the breathtaking Violet-tailed Sylph of Mashpi’s cloud forest.
This transformation is at the heart of every Kordillera expedition.
We believe an expedition is more than reaching a summit.
It is about experiencing the full vertical world of the Andes—from glaciers to cloud forests, from high mountains to lush rainforest, combining authentic adventure with exceptional comfort.
The climb may end, but the journey continues.
In the forest.
In the cuisine.
In world-class lodges surrounded by nature.
In the silence after the effort.
And in unforgettable encounters with wildlife found nowhere else.
Mashpi is not an escape from the Andes.
It is one of their most extraordinary expressions.
The Vertical Colibrí continues.