About us
The cloud forest is our home.
When you arrive, it becomes yours too.
We provide
Genuine warmth and comfort—where the forest outside your window is as much a part of the experience as the bed you sleep in.
Efrain
Efrain was born and raised in Mindo, where he grew up working the land alongside his family. As a young man, he witnessed firsthand the impacts of logging and hunting in the region, and came to see conservation as a vital and hopeful alternative. In the early 1990s, working alongside local organizations such as Fundación Pacaso & Pacaso and a small group of emerging conservationists, he helped establish the 19,000-hectare Mindo-Nambillo Protected Forest—laying the foundation for the region’s future as a global destination for biodiversity and ecotourism.
Deeply committed to his community, Efrain currently serves on the Mindo Security Counsel and is very active with the City Planning Commission -both volunteer positions, advocating for thoughtful, sustainable growth that protects both the people and the surrounding cloud forest.
A member of the Mindo Guides Association, Efrain is also the visionary and builder behind Casa Divina Eco Lodge, which he constructed by hand from the ground up—a reflection of his craftsmanship, dedication, and connection to the land.
Widely recognized as one of the region’s top birding guides, Efrain brings decades of experience and an intimate knowledge of the local ecosystem to his work. More than anything, he is passionate about sharing the forest he calls home—helping others experience its beauty while inspiring a deeper respect for its protection.
Efrain
Efrain was born and raised in Mindo, where he grew up working the land alongside his family. As a young man, he witnessed firsthand the impacts of logging and hunting in the region, and came to see conservation as a vital and hopeful alternative. In the early 1990s, working alongside local organizations such as Fundación Pacaso & Pacaso and a small group of emerging conservationists, he helped establish the 19,000-hectare Mindo-Nambillo Protected Forest—laying the foundation for the region’s future as a global destination for biodiversity and ecotourism.
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Deeply committed to his community, Efrain currently serves on the Mindo Security Counsel and is very active with the City Planning Commission -both volunteer positions, advocating for thoughtful, sustainable growth that protects both the people and the surrounding cloud forest.
A member of the Mindo Guides Association, Efrain is also the visionary and builder behind Casa Divina Eco Lodge, which he constructed by hand from the ground up—a reflection of his craftsmanship, dedication, and connection to the land.
Widely recognized as one of the region’s top birding guides, Efrain brings decades of experience and an intimate knowledge of the local ecosystem to his work. More than anything, he is passionate about sharing the forest he calls home—helping others experience its beauty while inspiring a deeper respect for its protection.
Molly
Molly was born and raised in San Francisco and came to Ecuador in the 1990s to study Anthropology and Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon. Her path led her to Mindo, where she was researching the influence of ecotourism in small communities—and where she quickly fell in love with both the extraordinary biodiversity of the cloud forest and the warmth of its people.
It was here that she met Efrain, and together they founded their business in 2000 with a shared vision: to create meaningful, responsible travel experiences that connect guests to the natural and cultural richness of the region.
At Divine Sabina Experiences & Eco Lodge, Molly guides the vision and direction of the company, ensuring a deep commitment to sustainability, integrity, and thoughtful hospitality. Her work centers on maintaining high standards of environmental stewardship while creating experiences that feel both personal and transformative.
Molly is an active member of the Mujeres del Bosque women’s circle and supports conservation initiatives locally and throughout Ecuador. She is currently learning about syntropic farming and participating in community-based science initiatives within the Andean Chocó Biosphere, continuing her lifelong dedication to learning, collaboration, and regeneration.
Molly
Molly was born and raised in San Francisco and came to Ecuador in the 1990s to study Anthropology and Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon. Her path led her to Mindo, where she was researching the influence of ecotourism in small communities—and where she quickly fell in love with both the extraordinary biodiversity of the cloud forest and the warmth of its people.
Read More
It was here that she met Efrain, and together they founded their business in 2000 with a shared vision: to create meaningful, responsible travel experiences that connect guests to the natural and cultural richness of the region.
At Divine Sabina Experiences & Eco Lodge, Molly guides the vision and direction of the company, ensuring a deep commitment to sustainability, integrity, and thoughtful hospitality. Her work centers on maintaining high standards of environmental stewardship while creating experiences that feel both personal and transformative.
Molly is an active member of the Mujeres del Bosque women’s circle and supports conservation initiatives locally and throughout Ecuador. She is currently learning about syntropic farming and participating in community-based science initiatives within the Andean Chocó Biosphere, continuing her lifelong dedication to learning, collaboration, and regeneration.
Our Commitment
The Chocó Andino Biosphere Reserve is one of the most biodiverse places on earth. We are lucky enough to call it home—and responsible enough to take that seriously.
Through our work with Divine Sabina Experiences & Eco Lodge, we protect more than 100 hectares of primary cloud forest while bringing guests into direct contact with the living biodiversity and culture of Mindo. We believe you can only truly protect what you know, and we’ve built everything around that conviction.
Our commitment to the land shows up in the small decisions: the materials we build with, the energy we use, the local entrepreneurs we partner with, and the fair, respectful workplace we’ve created for our team. Sustainability isn’t a marketing position for us—it’s how we live.
And when you visit, you become part of it. Every traveler who walks these trails, shares a meal with our team, or spots their first cock-of-the-rock leaves carrying something the forest gave them. That connection is what makes conservation last.