An eco hotel, or a green hotel, is an environmentally sustainable hotel or accommodation that has made important environmental improvements to its structure in order to minimize its impact on the natural environment and eco friendly hotels Ecuador are considered excellent place to hang out for a couple of nights in Quito and beyond in Ecuador.
It’s worth noting that ecotourism and sustainable travel aren’t exactly the same thing – ecotourism can be unsustainable. Sustainability refers to the broader concept of creating travel that is not environmentally or culturally damaging. Ecuador combines these two brilliantly; here’s a list of some of our favorite sustainable ecotourism experiences.
The rise of ecotourism in Ecuador: Ecuador may be the smallest contender to make the list of the top ten most biodiverse countries, but that doesn’t stop it from inspiring and educating when it comes to ecotourism. Ecuadorian tourism entrepreneurs are leading the way regarding sustainable ecotourism, creating the awareness and attracting the financial support necessary to protect the environment around them
Best Eco Tours in Ecuador
- Outdoor activities nature and animals
- 5-Day Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve Adventure
- Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños 2 days and 1 night with hotel and meals Included
- Quilotoa Tour Full Day With Lunch
- Cotopaxi Volcano full day tour with all the entrances, small groups
See all Eco Tours in Ecuador on GetYourGuide.
1. Kashama Eco Resort & Spa 3* – Eco Friendly Hotels Ecuador
Boasting a landscaped pond with a cascade, a lush palm tree garden and a swimming pool, Kashama offers eco-friendly cottages. Adventure tours are available and parking is free.
At Kashama Eco Resort & Spa, guests can relax in the hot-tub or Turkish steam bath, book and adventure tour or take a trip to Santo Domingo, a 20-minute drive away. Quito is a 2-hour drive from the resort.
Kashama has rustic style décor and an architectural design fully integrated with nature. Bungalows have garden views and suites feature spacious seating areas and balconies. All rooms have private bathrooms and some of them include baths.
Casual rooms, suites & bungalows in a rural ecolodge offering an outdoor pool, dining & a spa.
hotel in Ecuador that has been designed and carefully built around a natural waterfall, where ancestral purification rites once took place.”,”viewport”:”DESKTOP”}]}”>
First, stunning location, with a waterfall directly in front of our room’s balcony softly putting us to sleep each night. Staff are very friendly and helpful, food is great but slightly pricier compared to elsewhere (for obvious reasons). Fresh towels and soap etc are given each day and activities involve a brief jungle walk, fishing (apparently) and swimming, but that’s the point here, to just chill out, unwind and do nothing.
They also offer many types of massages to help with the unwinding. For us though, probably due to the time of year, we had the run of whole place to ourselves, crazy but great too. Highly recommended.
Kashama is a perfect Resort to relax and enjoy a good vacations. Starting with food, the owner is also the chef, that makes espectacular dishes every day. The flavor and taste are SPECTACULAR. Animations are remarkable starting with water rapids to painting rocks and others. The waterfall, massage, spa.
The rooms are comfortable and clean, makes you feel at home. The employee are so friendly, lovely and very professional.
This is the best place that you can choose for vacation and relax…. I have been there couple times and every time is better… The waterfall is completely relax for your thought days… The rooms are from another world and during night you can enjoy the sound of the water running through the wild scenario…. Five stars for room service and the food OMG is completely delicious… I recommend a 100% for who wants to relax and connect with nature…. María and Gerardo will take care of you no matter what and I really appreciate that.
Kashama is in the middle in of a fantastic forest, secluded within large trees, a beautiful cascade (30 ft.) is in the center of the facility and the amenities, service, room, and food were awesome. We stayed in one of the larger rooms and it was spacious, and comfortable. The spa experience was incredible to share with your loved one. They offer a bathtub with scent and flowers.
The food was very good. You can also take a trail tour that is a bit demanding if you take the wrong shoes or do not work out. In the waterfall area, you need to use shoes or sandals to avoid getting hurt with rocks at the bottom.
How much does a room costs at Kashama Eco Resort & Spa?
Prices start 224$/night for Standard Double Room. The Suite with Hot Tub is 483$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for couples.
This suite has a tile/marble floor, minibar and private entrance.
Where to book online – Kashama Eco Resort & Spa – Eco Friendly Hotels Ecuador – you can find the best eco friendly hotels deals in Ecuador during Mama Negra which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Ecuador on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
2. Mashpi Lodge 5* – Eco Friendly Hotels Ecuador
Mashpi Lodge is located inside Ecuador’s Mashpi Natural Reserve and has a unique biology research focus. The lodge has hiking paths, a small souvenir shop and free WiFi access.
Each air-conditioned room here will provide you an iPod dock, a safety-deposit box and a private bathroom with a shower, hairdryer and bathrobes. Floor to ceiling windows offer a complete panoramic view of the foggy forest surrounding the property.
At Mashpi Lodge you will find a hot tub, free shuttle service and a 24-hour front desk. Other facilities offered at the property include laundry facilities, an observation tower and natural massages with stones, herbs and leaves from the area. You will also be able to enjoy a sky bike, natural waterfalls and night-time hikes with bioluminescent fungus.
Amid remote rainforest in the Andean Mountains, this luxe all-inclusive lodge is accessed by scheduled transfer from the city of Quito.
Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping rainforest views, the sleek, modern rooms provide complimentary Wi-Fi, armchairs and safes. Suites have free-standing Philippe Starck tubs.
Freebies include all meals and non-alcoholic drinks served in a chic restaurant, as well as transfers and guided nature activities. There’s also a spa, a library and a boutique, plus a terrace with panoramic forest views.
Mashpi is located only 60 miles from Quito in a direct line, but takes about 3 and a half hours to transfer. We were staying at the sister property in Quito, Casa Gangotena, and this is the final pick up point. The road is scenic, probably only the last hour (and particularly half hour once you’re inside the lodge gates) is a bit rough going. On the transfer we drive past the foothills of the volcano and stop in the archaeological site Tulipe for a comfort break.Throughout the drive, we have a definite change in the atmosphere – leaving Quito at about 9,300 feet above sea level down to only 2,900 feet or 900 metres above sea level at the lodge. It is much more humid and the temperature rises to about 25-28 degrees Celsius (a temperate climate) – it’s not tropical at lodge (more subtropical) but very high humidity – close to 100%. We left Quito in brilliant sunshine but really quite close to the lodge itself the rain and mist starts, but it only makes it all the more different and atmospheric. Throughout the drive we drive cross the equator from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere which is an experience in itself – never imagined there would be shops etc. here!
Cannot say enough positive things here. The lodge has 20 Wayra (meaning wind) rooms with only 3 Yaku (meaning water) suites - 46 square meters (almost 500 square feet) with an incredible large bedroom area with panoramic floor to ceiling glass wall, with an equally incredible bathroom.We were lucky enough to have booked one of the three suites, all of which are located on the middle floor of the hotel. As soon as you enter, to the aroma of mint (the hotel only uses natural cleaning products), and the electronic blind is raised to reveal the majestic view over the cloud forest, you could be mistaken for thinking the hotel had only just opened. Everything was immaculate, beautifully designed and with every amenity you could possibly want.
There is one main restaurant serving all meals, included within your rate, including the transport from/to a choice of four hotels in Quito. Breakfast and lunch were buffet style, providing a great choice of food, all presented beautifully and all of the highest quality. We were asked to provide dietary requirements on booking, and within a few minutes of arriving in the restaurant for lunch on our first day, an attentive server was there to check in with us and confirm our preferences. The restaurant spans two levels of the hotel, with double height glass walls on two sides – absolutely amazing. There is also a bar to the side with some separate casual style seating and a small covered terrace with seating for smoking – the lodge is completely non-smoking inside.Dinner was served a la carte, with several choices for starter, main course and dessert. This was followed by a choice of tea/coffee and all soft drinks throughout the day are included too. Food was exceptional, not least considering the remote location, as was service – warm, friendly and exceptionally helpful. The bar adjacent to the restaurant served the most amazing cocktail choice, with a happy hour between 6:30 and 7:30pm each evening.
From the pickup at Casa Gangotena to arrival at the lodge, nothing could be faulted – the minibus was very comfortable and only the last 30-60 minutes was really bumpy. There was lots of commentary during the ride, maybe a bit too much but this was probably because everything was done in both Spanish and English. We were welcomed at the lodge, given an initial briefing then taken straight to lunch.
There is so much to do around the lodge activity wise, everything from a short hour’s walk to expert long hikes if that’s what you want to do. The cloud forest surrounds the lodge and the views are exceptional – from every vantage point of the lodge building itself, the bedrooms and suites and from different viewing platforms. The lodge has so much space, it could easily have accommodated probably twice the amount of bedrooms but I’m so glad they didn’t do that.
There is such a choice of other activities too – the Dragonfly, sky bikes, visiting the observation tower, a spa within the lodge offering massage and beauty treatments, a jacuzzi and yoga deck a few minutes walk away (book in advance for the hot tub), hummingbirds area, Life Centre with the butterflies and so much more. I’m going to write a more detailed blog post which will be on my website shortly to talk more about activities.
How much does a room costs at Mashpi Lodge?
Prices start 1373$/night for King Room. The Suite is 1662$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for couples.
This double room features air conditioning, bathrobe and iPod dock.
Where to book online – Mashpi Lodge – Eco Friendly Hotels Ecuador – you can find the best eco friendly hotels deals in Ecuador during Mama Negra which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Ecuador on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
3. Hotel Casa Ecuatreasures Centro Historico 3* – Eco Friendly Hotels Ecuador
Featuring a shared lounge, terrace and views of city, Hotel Casa Ecuatreasures Centro Historico is set in Quito, 400 m from Colonial Art Museum. This 3-star hotel offers a concierge service and a tour desk. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, room service and free WiFi throughout the property.
The units at the hotel come with a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a private bathroom with a hairdryer and a shower. All guest rooms feature a wardrobe.
Guests at Hotel Casa Ecuatreasures can enjoy a continental breakfast.
Set in the historic city center 2 minutes’ walk from a bus station, this airy, laid-back hotel in a restored 1946 house is a 7-minute walk from Plaza de la Independencia and the 19th-century Basílica del Voto Nacional.
The 8 relaxed rooms with colorful accents offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and en suite, shower-only bathrooms; some have sitting areas, balconies, city views and/or sofabeds.
Breakfast is complimentary. There’s a furnished courtyard.
This is a tiny hotel (about 9 rooms?) run by an Ecuadorian family that lived in Florida for several years. They could not have been nicer or more accommodating. We arrived famished and, as a B&B, they serve only breakfast, but Hernan arranged for pizza and beer to be delivered. Breakfast the next morning, cooked by Joel, was excellent and, since he is also a tour guide, he was able to make several recommendations. The hotel is eco-friendly: the rooms are named after elements (we were in Water) and its water is heated by solar panels on the roof.
A wonderful boutique hotel in the historic district. It has been lovingly restored and decorated with an emphasis on sustainability. The family that owns it, headed by Hernan are very attentive and provides personal service. They will make sure your stay there is the best it can be. It is an easy walk to the central plaza, beautiful churches, and restaurants. The owner is very happy to suggest activities, and point out the important things to see. The breakfasts were wonderful, focusing on Ecuadorian foods. When we come back to Ecuador we’ll definitely stay here.
This small hotel in the historic district is wonderfully restored and tastefully decorated. Very convenient to walk to plaza, churches and restaurants. It is a small hotel and thus staff give personal service. The owner checked in every day to suggest activities, book a table at the city’s best restaurant, and make sure we had anything we needed. Breakfasts were unique each day and showcased Ecuadorian foods. We would definitely stay again.
How much does a room costs at Hotel Casa Ecuatreasures Centro Historico?
Prices start 1373$/night for King Room. The Suite is 1662$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for couples.
This double room features air conditioning, bathrobe and iPod dock.
Where to book online – Hotel Casa Ecuatreasures Centro Historico – Eco Friendly Hotels Ecuador – you can find the best eco friendly hotels deals in Ecuador during Mama Negra which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Ecuador on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
