La Selva Amazon Ecolodge & Spa
- Duration
- 4-5 Days
- Prices From:
- AU$ 2,948
Enjoy an Amazon adventure and spend time exploring the Ecuadorean tropical rainforest with walks and canoe rides. See colourful flora and fauna and meet a local indigenous family at their home. Spend 3 nights using the Selva Ecolodge as your base.
When speaking of South America, you just can’t ignore the Amazon. The Amazon rainforest, the largest rainforest on Earth, is one of the wonders of the World due to its size, extremely rich natural life and biodiversity. From Quito airport, you will be met and briefed before taking a short flight to Puerto Francisco de Orellana also known as El Coca located in the Ecuadorean Amazon rainforest. From here, you will board a motorized canoe for an amazing 2 ½ hour journey by river through the rainforest.
You will eventually be dropped off at La Selva’s main dock. A little later, have a 15 minute jungle walk to a creek where you will join a paddle canoe for a 20 minute ride across a lagoon to reach the lodge area. Your luggage will be taken care of during this journey. On arrival at the lodge, have a refreshing drink and a briefing given by the resident manager about the lodge and available activities. This will be your home for the next 3 nights.
In the late afternoon, walk on the Matapalo Trail with a naturalist guide who will show you the local flora and fauna of the tropical rainforest. This evening, have a night walk to look for all kinds of reptiles, birds, and other animals.
The next morning brings a walk on the Chaguamango Hermano Trail which starts at the lodge and finishes at a lake. Your guide will tell you about tropical plants that are used by indigenous groups to cure different ailments. Return to the lodge by canoe. In the early evening, enjoy a night canoe ride around the lagoon to look for caimans, boas, bats, owls, night mammals and other nocturnal wildlife.
The following morning, visit the most biologically diverse place in the world, the Yasuni National Park reached by a 20 minute canoe ride plus a 15 minute walk to the Napo River. Here, a 10 minute motorized canoe ride will uncover an awesome display of the world of bird life which includes hundreds of parakeets and parrots. Then continue for another 30 minutes ride for more bird watching along the banks of the river. After this, you meet an Amazonian Kichwa family who will receive you in their home. Return to the lodge by motorized canoe, a walk and a paddle canoe ride. In the late afternoon, visit a butterfly farm to learn about the different stages of these colourful creatures. This is followed by an adventure of fishing with piranhas. You will try your hand at fishing and hopefully catch some fish for the lodge’s chef to cook for your dinner.
Depart the lodge next morning to return the same way back to Quito.
- Duration
- 4-5 Days
- Prices From:
- AU$ 2,948
Itinerary View Trip Map
Quito to La Selva Lodge
At the Quito International Airport you will be met by La Selva representative in the National departure area in order to assist you and give you a short briefing about the journey.
After a 30 minute commercial flight to Puerto Francisco de Orellana "El Coca", transfer by private transportation. A representative will take care of your luggage and will provide you with life vests and fresh water bottles.
An amazing fluvial journey of approximately two and a half hours in a motorized canoe with the assistance of a high quality English-speaking naturalist guide will be the beginning of a great experience in the tropical rainforest. A delicious boxed lunch will be provided.
At the end of the motorized canoe ride, you will be dropped off at La Selva's main dock. After using the facilities and putting mosquito repellent on, a short 15 minute jungle walk will lead you to a creek where a small canoe will be taken to enjoy an unforgettable 20 minutes paddle canoe ride across "Garzacocha" (the heron's lagoon) in order to reach the lodge area.
Do not forget that the only thing you must take care of is your carry-on and camera equipment. Your other luggage will be transported by our lodge's staff.
Approximately 15 minutes later, the resident manager will greet you with a delicious welcome cocktail. From there you will continue on to relax in the bar area with a fresh tropical fruit snack and a short briefing with general information about the lodge and activities, provided by one of our bilingual naturalist guides.
430PM - Matapalo Trail: This trail was named after the Spanish name of the famous Strangler fig (Ficus sp) one of many remarkable trees that you will find during this short introductory walk, where your native and naturalist guides will start to share with you part of their knowledge about flora and fauna of the tropical rain forest.
640PM - Night Walk: A flashlight and a camera will be the most important tools you will need to enjoy all of the insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals that you might see during an hour walk in the darkness of the forest.
730PM - Dinner
| Meal Plan | Lunch and Dinner |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 Nights |
| Accommodation |
La Selva Lodge |
| Location | View map |
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La Selva Lodge
Deep in the Amazon Rainforest, a paradise awaits you. La Selva Amazon Ecolodge & Spa is a study in adventure travel and ecotourism in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. The Ecolodge consists of: three exclusive bungalows featuring lakeside suites with private balconies and panoramic windows; …
Deep in the Amazon Rainforest, a paradise awaits you. La Selva Amazon Ecolodge & Spa is a study in adventure travel and ecotourism in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. The Ecolodge consists of: three exclusive bungalows featuring lakeside suites with private balconies and panoramic windows; a butterfly spa; a new gourmet restaurant with local ingredients from an organic farm; an observation tower; trails and excursions around the area with the best multilingual naturalist guides.
Facilities
- Bar
- Massage Facilities
- Restaurant
- Spa
La Selva Lodge
6:00 AM - Wake Up Call
6:30 AM - Breakfast
7:00 AM - Observation Tower/ Tucaneta or Mandi Forest
After a 20 minute walk the observation tower comes into sight. This amazing construction will allow you to climb 120 ft above the forest. Your Naturalist and Native guides will help you spot the colorful birds of the Amazon, maybe even certain primates.
On the way back from the tower there is the option of taking the Tucaneta Trail where your Native Guide can show you some of the medicinal plants still in use today and your Naturalist Guide will provide you with interesting info on the ecology and natural history of the Amazon.
There is also the option of visiting the beautiful lagoon of Mandi Cocha. A hike of about 1 hour takes you to the lagoon where an Igapo Forest is present, meaning that the forest is temporarily flooded by black water. Different species of birds and even giant otters can be seen here.
1:00 PM - Lunch
4:30 PM - Charapa Trail
This trail goes on for about an hour beginning at the lodge and ending by the edge of the lagoon. It is a great loop where different mammals, monkeys and birds can been seen that come closer to the lagoon at this time looking for food. It is also perfect for witnessing an Amazonian sunset from the water in the canoe.
6:40 PM - Night Canoe Ride
With the help of a spot light your guides will take you around the lagoon via canoe
looking for nighttime wildlife. This is also a great opportunity for star gazing!
7:30 PM - Dinner
| Meal Plan | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner |
|---|
La Selva Lodge
6:00 AM - Wake Up Call
6:30 AM - Breakfast
7:00 AM- Parrot Clay Lick and Mandi Wasi
Today you will make your way back to the Napo River and take a motorized canoe ride to the clay licks, one of the most fascinating displays of the wild world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather here to eat the mineral rich soil, an important part of their diet. Binoculars are essential to really capture the moment.
After the clay licks we will take you to experience our Cultural Activity. An Amazonian Kichua woman will welcome you at their community center to share their life of the Kichua's in the Amazon. This is special because it is part of the Amazon you do not find on the maps and provides the special and unique opportunity to really get to learn more about the people of the Amazon.
1:00 PM - Lunch
4:30 PM - Garzacocha Lagoon and Ceiba Trail
This is one of the most beautiful lagoons in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Here there are many chances to see monkeys and birds and sometimes families of squirrel monkeys join capuchin monkeys looking for food. The tremendous calls of the Howler monkeys can be heard in the afternoon and the smallest monkey in the world, the Pigmy Marmoset can be seen here too. Plenty of birds like the Hoatzin, toucans or macaws can also be seen flying overhead.
6:30 PM - Nocturnal Walk
On a night walk we give you the chance to enjoy the creatures and sounds of the Amazon Jungle at night. Sometimes we can see amazing things during this activity. Make sure you bring a flashlight for this fantastic experience.
7:15 PM - Departure Briefing
Our manager will provide you all the necessary information about your departure procedure for the next morning.
7:30 PM - Dinner
| Meal Plan | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner |
|---|
Depart La Selva Lodge
6:00 AM - Wake Up Call
6:30 AM - Breakfast
7:00 AM - Departure for Coca
In accordance to your briefing the night before, you will have an early wake up call,
breakfast and departure from the lodge.
The lodge staff will assist you with your checked luggage and the motorized canoe ride will head upstream back to Coca, where our representatives will take you to the airport to help you with your checked luggage and boarding passes.
During your free time in between activities you can use our kayaks, swim in the lagoon, have a massage or just relax in your room and have a nap!
| Meal Plan | Breakfast |
|---|
Other Information
DEPARTURES:
Daily except Sunday
PRICE INCLUDES:
- Assistance at the airport: Quito and Coca
- Airfare Quito-Coca-Quito
- Transfers in the city of Coca
- Canoe transportation from Coca to the Lodge on scheduled departure days
- Accommodation + All meals
- Guided excursions
- Bilingual English/Spanish speaking naturalist guide + Native guide
- Rain Poncho and Rubber Boots will be provided during your stay at the Lodge. Boot size available up to size 10½ men size.
PRICE EXCLUDES:
- Travel insurance
- International and domestic airfare & airfare taxes
- Visa fees if applicable
- Meals and beverages not mentioned
- Gratuities
- Items of a personal nature
OTHER INFORMATION:
Listed times are to be used as a guide only
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Prices are "from" per person based on twin/double share accommodation and for travel in low season. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply. Limited seat/spaces and all pricing is subject to change and availability. Rates for single or triple travellers are available on request - please inquire.
16 Dec 2023
