SACHA LODGE

Imagine yourself drifting down a narrow, winding creek surrounded on all sides by a lush, endless sea of tropical greenery, and all that separates you from the deep black Amazon waters is a canoe hand-carved out of a single tree trunk. As you manoeuvre around a bend something unidentified crashes off into the underbrush, and you catch a glimpse of two magnificent, colourful macaws startled into flight. Suddenly, the forest erupts with a roar so loud that all you can imagine is some giant, fierce predator on the prowl. But as you turn to face your destiny, the menace is revealed as a family of furry red howler monkeys huddled together in a treetop. With a sigh of relief you continue onward, deeper into the unknown.

This is one of the many sensations you may experience at Sacha Lodge, located in the heart of Ecuador’s Amazon Basin. A haven for nature lovers, birdwatchers, scientists and adventure seekers, Sacha Lodge provides comfortable accommodations, first-class meals and expert guides in order for you to fully enjoy the wonders of the tropical rain-
forest.

Accommodations
The lodging at Sacha was carefully designed to offer comfort to the traveler yet preserve the environment and rainforest ambience. Each of our 10 double cabins, with high thatched roofs and private shaded terraces, is constructed with traditional materials and nestles well concealed in the lush surroundings. In their rooms, visitors may overlook the jungle from hammocks and often report seeing wild fauna such as anacondas or capybara (the largest rodents in the world) while resting between activities!

A distant, nearly inaudible generator provides electricity, and the private bathrooms provide hot showers. All cabins are screened against insects, and contain ceiling fans above two comfortable double beds.
Guests may use free time to enjoy a raised lookout above our main bar and lounge, which offers a scenic view of Pilchicocha Lake and excellent opportunities to bird watch.

Our meals are prepared to please the international traveler, and vegetarians are more than welcome. During one meal we will even enjoy a barbecue at our outdoor bar and dining area right on the edge of our lake!
Swimming and piranha fishing are also activities not to be missed here… but don’t worry! Piranhas are scavengers and the guides will prove that swimming is perfectly safe.

Activities
Sacha Lodge’s guests will be divided into small groups, each of which will be led by a native guide with expert knowledge of the rainforest’s medicinal and other useful plants, and a bilingual naturalist guide educated in the biology and ecology of the area. A typical day at Sacha begins at sunrise or earlier, in order to take advantage of the cool morning hours when the rainforest’s animals are most active. Each group may decide on its own wake-up and breakfast time, as well as the difficulty and duration of their morning outings. In the afternoon, visits begin between 3:00 and 4:00 and often continue into the evening, when the nocturnal insect and frog chorus begins.

Activities are spread out over a wide area and allow visitors to explore several distinct but equally fascinating habitats. Several trails lead through pristine terra firme forest, where 150-foot kapok trees tower above and roots form huge buttresses to give trees support. Others follow strategically raised boardwalks in seasonally flooded forests, where walking on the ground would be nearly impossible during most of the year due to groundwater. One trail many choose to follow even leads across fallen tree trunks and a steel cable zip-line through rich swampland!

A favorite activity of our guests is to paddle dugout canoes along tannin-rich black-water creeks and lakes, where luxuriant lianas, bromeliads and palm trees thrive. And wherever an outing may lead the possibilities of spotting animals, from the tiny pygmy marmoset to the feared ocelot or puma are endless.
For adventurous souls, the day does not necessarily end with dinner. Night walks and canoe trips, with the aid of flashlights, often reveal creatures seldom seen during daylight.

Caimans (of the alligator family) and giant insects rule the jungle after sunset… Do you dare search for them?

SELVA JUNGLE LODGE

We invite you to visit a place where anything is possible...the exotic, the mysterious, the sensuous.

Deep in the virgin forest, our lodge, La Selva, is necessarily remote. But with dugout canoes, with horses and with brute manual labor we have brought to this paradise as much luxury as possible.

LA SELVA JUNGLE LODGE is located in the heart of the Amazon basin of Ecuador. LA SELVA has been in successful operation for about sixteen years, and we are a highly respected (if not the best) jungle lodge in South America, which won the "ECOTOURISM AWARD" at World Congress on Tourism and Environment.

LA SELVA provides guided tours of the rainforest with trained Naturalist guides and Native assistants. However, there are many other options available and you can create your own itinerary: decide for swimming, fishing, bird-watching or simply relaxing. and enjoying our gourmet food and personalized service.
You should know that "in the jungle anything is possible" and there you will find the ultimate rainforest experience that will surprise, as well as overwhelm your senses.

We invite you to share LA SELVA JUNGLE LODGE that is Eric Schwartz's (owner) dream-come-true,  a Californian free lance writer, that with his Ecuadorian-born wife, together, they: "harness the power of the marketplace in service to the environment".

LA SELVA, which you might know, in Spanish means "the jungle", is about sixty miles from the town called Coca, down the Napo river (one of the main tributaries of the Amazonas river) and one mile in land from the river itself.

Accommodation
La Selva is comprised of 17 thatched-roofed bungalows with many different sleeping configurations, a spacious but cozy bar with a wrap-around view of our gorgeous lake, and a grand dining room, also with a cone-shaped gigantic, thatched roof.

You can sneak a siesta (spanish for nap) in the hammock hut, or spend some time lazing about on your own private hammock reviewing the day's photos from your digitial camera.

La Selva Jungle Lodge comes of a native design: rustic, authentic and comfortable. The lodge can be described as private bungalows that are cozy and immaculately clean.

The bungalows at La Selva Jungle Lodge are made entirely of secondary rainforest materials and are designed to blend with Ecuador's Jungle.
Each bungalow has a private bathroom, a hammock and a mosquito net in each bed.

The unexpected amenities such as hot water showers will delight you. And everything at the lodge is sanitary beyond your wildest expectations.

Activities
A complementary welcome cocktail greets them in the bar along with the Naturalist guides. In order to give, the first class service the LA SELVA is well known for, we have prepared a random sample itinerary. The first excursion will be organized, as fast as they want and they will be ready to choose one of the innumerable possibilities that we are glad to detail for you:

WALK TO SILVERIO'S HOUSE: Cross Garzacocha Lake. Two and a half to three hour walk on a purposely underdeveloped trail which has some physical challenge. Half of the walk takes place in primary forest and the other half passes the huts of our indigenous neighbors along the Napo River.

MANDICOCHA TRAIL: An easy trail close to the hotel which is usually filled with wildlife no matter what hour of the day you do it. The excursion can last as long as you want.

MANDICOCHA-MANDIYACU: A 3 to 4 hour trip. Follow the Mandicocha trail until you reach Mandicocha Lake which has a completely different ecosystem than Lake Garzacocha (where the hotel is located). Board paddle canoes for a one and half hour glide down Mandiyacu stream. One easily sees the myriad of wildlife that presents itself along the shores of the stream. Arriving at the Napo River, board a motorized canoe for the trip back to LA SELVA.

EL SALADO: It's a two-hour excursion often combined with a picnic lunch and trips across the Napo River (see following). Visit a site where with a little luck, parrots, parakeets and macaws can be seen by the thousands.

HIGH FOREST TRAIL: The duration can vary between 3 to 5 hours. Cross the Napo River and arrive at a challenging mountainous trail which offers yet another ecosystem. It is a chance to see birds and other wildlife nowhere else seen. Also a chance to eat lemon ants.

CHALLUACOCHA LAKE: A motorized canoe trip down the Napo River. Then a walk and a paddle canoe trip to Challuacocha for a picnic at a shelter overlooking the lake, then relaxing canoeing, fishing for piranhas, or a two-hour hike through yet another unique forest.

PILCHE TRAIL: Cross Garzacocha Lake then one hour or more of walking. See and enormous colony of leafcutter ants and whatever wildlife may come your way.

NIGHT EXCURSIONS: Canoe or walking trips after dark to view nocturnal animals such as caiman, monkeys, insect, owls. Sample the LA SELVA nightlife.

135 FOOT OBSERVATION TOWER: Not far from the lodge you can spend many hours observing birds flying by at eye-level, wildlife of all kinds, and yes, a bird's-eye view of it all.

And more possibilities!

KAPAWI

The Kapawi project was initiated in 1993 by Carlos Perez Perasso, founder of Canodros and leader of the Ecuadorian journalism through El Universo, the major newspaper in Ecuador, through his vision and passion to nature his goal was to commence a new trend in ecotourism, in partnership with the FINAE, Federation of Achuar Indigenous People in Ecuador, by providing a monthly means of economic support and jobs to the Achuars, superior to the relatively limited lifestyle in an area of 5.000 square kilometers with a population of 4,500 people in 56 communities. In 2011, all installations will be transferred at no cost to the Achuars.

The lodge accommodates up to 50 visitors with double and triple accommodations and was built in accordance to the Achuar concept of architecture.
Kapawi is the largest community-based project ever developed in Ecuador. It was developed and built in co-ownership with the private enterprise, Canodros S.A.. Kapawi was created to provide a high standard service in one of the remotest and most pristine areas of the south east of Ecuador, away from oil exploitation and other destructive practices.

At the moment up to 70% percent of all the employees that work at the lodge are Achuar. Canodros also buys products and services for the lodge in the nearby communities. Tourists give a contribution of US $10 dollars as an entrance fee. For these communities their main income comes from ecotourism.

Kapawi has also provided a launching platform for the Achuar as it has brought the area to the attention of many people from non governmental organizations that invested money and time to develop projects to reinforce the structure of the FINAE organization and developing different projects parallel to ecotourism such as: health, communications, transportation, and education for the entire Achuar territory.

Accommodation
The lagoon varies in water level throughout the year's season and provides the perfect setting for your accommodations.

The lodge accommodates up to 50 guests and was built in accordance to the Achuar concept of architecture. We offer 20 double and triple rooms with private bathrooms, sun heated showers and electricity provided by a solar panel system. Every room has a wide terrace. One thing you should kept keep in mind during your stay here at Kapawi is that you are in the “jungle”. Insects are by far the most numerous form of life in this habitat, even though the rooms are screened through the walls and floors, you may have some unwanted “guests” in your cabin.

Activities
A day in Kapawi starts at 6:00, hot drinks and a light snack will wake you up, for a short hike in the forest or an early morning canoe trip for bird watching in the banks of the Capahuari river or to visit the parrots salt lick. Passengers will be back for breakfast at 8:00, then at 9:00 approximately passengers depart for a morning activity which will take them back to the lodge at 13:00 for lunch or you can take the lunch along to enjoy a beautiful picnic in the forest and being back to the lodge at 17:00 approximately. For passengers who decide to have lunch at the lodge they will start their afternoon activity at 15:00. At 19:00 a briefing with the guides will be scheduled every day. Dinner is served at 19:30. At 20:30 passengers will have the opportunity to do a night hike, a caiman watching or to receive a lecture about the rainforest or the Achuar life. Sleep at night in the community or camping are also available upon request to the guides.

The Lodge provides multiple activities in programs that are characterized by their flexibility: we allow you to design day by day, with the rest of your group and your guide, the most suitable program for your interests and desired activity level. Most itineraries include visits to the Achuar communities, hikes in the rain forest, canoeing, bird watching, and other activities. According to your interests and physical condition (but not your age!), we offer three alternative programs: easy, moderate, and difficult. These programs depend mainly on the distance and time you would like to spend on our trails; all other activities can be included in any program.

NAPO WILDLIFE CENTER

The Napo Wildlife Center, NWC Amazon Lodge,   is the greatest and ultimate alternative luxury ecohotel in Amazonian Ecuador. This ecotourism project includes the conservation of approximately over 52,000 acres (over 21,400 hectares )of the most pristine Amazon Rain Forest within the Yasunì National Park, an important biosphere reserve and the largest tract of tropical rain forest  in Ecuador.

The Napo Wildlife Center, NWC Lodge is located by the Anangucocha lake, into the unique ancestral territory of the Anangu Quichua Community. Thanks to their own initiative and supported  by the Tropical Nature Conservation System,  we have built in partnership the most carefully designed first class Amazon lodge in Ecuador.

We want to invite you for a visit to this special destination. Please do not hesitate and contact  your travel agent or operator  for further information on the  premier  Amazon lodge in Ecuador:  the Napo Wildlife Center,  NWC.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Lodging at NWC has been designed to offer maximum privacy and comfort to the world traveler, providing lake and forest views from their private porches, as well as preserving one of the most pristine spots of Amazon forest in Ecuador. Each of our 10 individual large luxury cabanas are prepared for receiving guests in double occupancy or arranged in advance for a 3 members family visit. Rooms include a king size and twin size beds, private bathrooms with on demand hot water,  a multi-speed ceiling fan,  electricity provided by silent generators supplemented by solar panel power system, plenty of lights and 120 v outlets, screened windows and mosquito nets.

Buildings keep the traditional native architecture with harmonious modern mixture inside providing cool shaded terraces with inviting hammocks and ample space from where visitors may observe the surroundings. While resting from activities people may get to see a group of giant otters investigating near the lodge dock or a large 4 meter (13 feet) black caiman crossing the lake or a capybara looking for rest near our lake edge, or experience the graceful often flights of blue and yellow macaws over the lodge area. The hall has a library with books on local birds and tropical ecology, next door the bar provides ice-cold beer, wine, soft drinks and other liquor selections. The calls of red howler monkeys will company the resting times before gearing up for the next excursion.

Guests are welcome to use our observation tower next to the dinning hall during free time other than the guided visit and simply relax with the great view of the Anangu lake.

The not so distant canopy of the rain forest will be a good opportunity for birding or discovering more wildlife right next to the lodge. The dock area is a nice spot to receive that equatorial tropical sun or the base for a nice dip into the lake. Without fear you can swim around the dock and have a refreshing time, guides of course will jump in first and eliminate any doubts you may have in spite of the black caimans and piranha inhabitants!, believe me it is a very safe and rewarding cool water. Meals are carefully prepared to delight the variety of tastes and desires of the international visitor, including traditional Ecuadorian dishes, forest gifts or the preparation of vegetarian or special meal requirements. Reverse osmosis water filtration system is used in the kitchen (very safe)

ACTIVITIES

Visitors will be divided up into small groups, and lead by a native Anangu guide, who is also an official Yasuni Park Ranger, expert on the forest's secrets about medicinal plants and other useful items of the rain forest, and an excellent bilingual naturalist guide with great deal of knowledge in tropical forest biology. Both guides using their unmatchable enthusiasm will create informative enjoyable excursions every day providing an educative fun experience. Groups and guides will tailor their excursions while taking advantage of the highest peaks of activity and weather conditions in the forest.

They will schedule their outings before done or at sunrise. This will maximize wildlife observation and of course each group will decide with their guides how extreme and intense they take their Amazon excursion, this applies for afternoon excursions and night outings, when an overwhelming concert of natural sounds will flood the atmosphere. Welcome and gear up to enjoy the best fauna attractions on the Napo!!!

Amazon Lodges Tourist Superior