La Selva Ecolodge
La Selva Lodge is located in the Yasuní National Park, on the shores of Lake Garzacocha. This lodge offers accommodation full of comfort, combining relaxation activities in the spa with various excursions through the forest. The facilities have been built with materials from the Amazon, especially bamboo.
To get to the lodge, Puerto Francisco de Orellana takes a motorized canoe, which will take you downstream to the Napo River; After approximately two hours of crossing, you will disembark and, after a short walk, on the shores of Lake Garzacocha take a canoe that will take you to the cabins.
La Selva Lodge has 17 cabins built with traditional materials from the Amazon. Each cabin has a private bathroom with hot water, hammocks, mosquito nets, fans, and almost all have a private balcony or terrace. This lodge offers varied services: restaurant, bar, rest area, a cabin with hammocks, laundry service and spa. In addition, all activities are accompanied by a guide.
In La Selva Lodge you can opt for numerous expeditions that will take you deep into the Amazon, to know the amazing diversity of fauna and flora that it offers. You can choose to visit the Yasuní National Park, Pañacocha, indigenous communities and much more. In addition, you can visit the butterfly garden, canoeing through the Garzacocha lagoon or through the rivers in the area. This site also has a 35 meter observation tower built around a gigantic ceibo. The spa area offers massages and yoga classes.
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IncludedLa Selva EcolodgeExcursionsAll the foodsAccommodation HotelTour guidePrivate transportationDescribed activities in the itinerary
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Not IncludedAccommodationTransfersTravel insuranceAirplane ticketsLunchPersonal expensesFood and drinksPayment of Tickets24/7 supportGuide / Driver
It is recommended to carry a small backpack so that your transfer is not complicated, remember that only 20 pounds of luggage are allowed on the airlines. You should bring light clothing, insect repellent, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, hat, cotton socks, passport (or color copy), binoculars, waterproof poncho and flashlight. It is recommended not to take food of any kind, as this may attract insects.
4 Days/ 3 Nights
Day 1: Quito / Puerto Francisco de Orellana (El Coca) / La Selva Lodge / Night Tour - Dinner
We will leave Quito early in the morning, and after a flight of 30 minutes we will arrive at the city of Francisco de Orellana (Coca). Upon arrival, a representative of the hotel will transfer us by bus from the airport to the pier, where the canoe awaits us for two and a half hours along the river. Although the Napo River in certain sectors is one kilometer wide, it is shallow, so the canoe drivers will take us through the channels where there is greater depth. The banks of this river are home to several Quichua communities. Traditionally, their houses with straw roofs supported by wood are surrounded by small gardens or farms, where they grow coffee, plantain and yucca, among other products. We will have lunch on the way. After reaching the dock, we will disembark and walk 15 minutes, to take another canoe that will take us for 20 minutes through the lagoon of Garzacocha to the lodge. After a refreshing drink, we will receive a short talk about the lodge and the schedules of the excursions. Later, around 4:00 pm, we will take a short walk along the Matapalo trail, so called because on this trail there are strangler fig trees, known as matapalos. During this walk we will learn about the flora and fauna of the region. After dinner, we will take a night walk to observe several animals that can only be seen at night.
Day 2: Exploration in the Jungle
After breakfast, we will leave the lodge for a 30-minute walk to the observation tower. This tower is 40 meters high, and is located in a ceibo tree, from where we can observe the forest from a different perspective. We can see several species of birds, the red howler monkey, the capuchin monkey or the squirrel monkey. After two hours in the tower, we will walk along the Tucaneta trail, to observe the main characteristics of the tropical rain forest and the behavior of insects, frog, reptiles, birds and mammals. We will return to the lodge for lunch, around 12:30. After lunch, we will rest until 4:00 pm and take a two-hour canoe ride around the Garzacocha lagoon, while we observe herons, mosquitoes, hoatzines, squirrels, howler monkeys and more. After having dinner at the lodge, we will take a canoe trip through the lagoon to observe alligators, boas, bats, owls, nocturnal mammals and more. If the sky is clear, we will have the opportunity to observe the stars.
Day 3: Exploration of the Amazon
In the morning, we will leave the lodge early to take a 90-minute walk to the Mandicocha Lagoon. This small lagoon is surrounded by forests of Igapó and here we will find an ecosystem different from other sectors of the Amazon. Some of the species that we will observe include foxes, alligators, lizards, fruit bats and jacanas. Then we will return to the lodge by another path, for lunch. After resting, around 16:00, we will make the Chaguamango Hermano trail, which starts next to the lodge and ends at the shore of the lagoon. During the walk, we will go through the 'Neotropical pharmacy' that we find in the forest. Upon reaching the lagoon, we will return to the lodge by canoe. We will have dinner and rest in the lodge.
Day 4: Las Cascadas Eco-Jungle Lodge - Baeza - Termas de Papallacta - Quito
After breakfast, we will leave the lodge to return to Coca by the river and then take our flight back to Quito.
5 Days/ 4 Nights
Day 1:
Arrival at the Lodge. A representative from La Selva will assist you at the Quito Airport with the check-up of your bags and your tickets. He will give you the shipping instructions. After a short flight of 35 minutes to Coca, you will be attended by a representative of La Selva Ecolodge, he will welcome you to Coca, will help you with your bags and will transfer you along with the other guests to the dock, there will be waiting for our motorized canoe.
La Selva Lodge is located two hours from Coca by motorized canoe. The canoe is covered, in case of bad weather, as rain or strong sun. The trip itself is fun and interesting. The passengers will receive a box lunch during the journey. The motorized canoe will take you to the dock of the lodge, where you will disembark and make a short walk to take another small canoe with your hand luggage. We will take care of your luggage.
Once you arrive at the lodge, you will be welcomed with a cocktail and our lodge manager will give you a short orientation talk about the lodge and its facilities. Then you will be shown your room and have the opportunity to explore a little before dinner. During dinner, your group and the guide will arrange the activities for the next day
After dinner, depending on the weather and the desire of the group, there could be short activities, such as a night walk or a canoe tour around the lodge to admire the wildlife. Many guests prefer to relax in the lounge accompanied by a cold drink or instead take a relaxing massage at the spa!
Day 2, 3 and 4: Exploring the Amazon Rainforest.
Breakfast is served very early since there is so much to see and do! There are various activities that you could do, including a visit to the parrot lick, a visit to a native community, or a trip to the observation tower to see the birds and monkeys, just to mention some of the activities you can do at La Selva Lodge. The activities that are carried out will depend on various factors such as the climate and interests of the group. If you do not want to participate in any of the activities that the group will perform you can enjoy our comfortable lounge, bar or spa. Around half a day our chefs will delight you with the best cuisine in the area with delicious national and international dishes. After lunch, you can read a book or enjoy a refreshing nap. In the afternoon you can enjoy more discreet activities such as a pleasant canoe trip discovering the life that hides in the trees surrounding the beautiful Garzacocha lagoon, hiking in the lodge or other activities that will be agreed with your guide. In the evening after a delicious dinner and if conditions permit you can enjoy new and exciting night activities. On the last night of your stay you can check your bar account, which can be canceled in cash or by credit card. If you wish you can leave your tips for the staff and guide tonight.
Finally, we will ask you to help us by filling out a short comment sheet in which you can tell us about your experience at La Selva Eco-Lodge and how we could improve our services.
Day 5:
Return to Quito After a delicious breakfast we will return to the city of Coca to take your return flight to the city of Quito. All our logistics are carefully planned so you can enjoy your last day with us before taking your flight to the city of Quito putting an end to your adventure at La Selva Eco-Lodge.