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The Napo Wildlife Center Amazon Lodge
important information
- Departure Day: every day except Sundays
- Number of rooms: 12 rooms
- Price:
- 4 Days USD 760
- 5 Days USD 950
- 8 Days USD 1.520
- More prices
Background
The Napo Wildlife Center is one of the greatest and ultimate alternative luxury ecohotel in the Amazonian Ecuador as far as possible in the jungle. This ecotourism project includes the conservation of approximately over 82 square miles (53,500 acres - over 21,400 hectares ) of the most pristine Amazon Rain Forest within the Yasuni National Park, an important UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the largest tract of tropical rain forest in Ecuador.
The Napo Wildlife Center 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 it is the most carefully designed first class Amazon lodge in Ecuador.
Getting There
The journey to Napo Wildlife Center starts in Quito, Ecuador's capital city. From its national airport an approximately 30 minute flight will take you over the Eastern Andes Mountain Range, crossing the equator and looking into snow capped volcanoes over 5,790 meters above sea level (18,991 feet) to reach the headwaters of the Amazon Basin near the Napo River at only 250 m above sea level (820 feet). After landing at the Puerto Francisco de Orellana town airport, locally known as Coca, Napo Wildlife Center staff will greet you and take you for a short 5-7 minute transfer to embark on the covered motorized canoe. Here a comfortable breeze will company you on an approximate 2 hours boat ride, 50 miles (about 80 Kilometers) downstream the largest Ecuadorian tributary of the Amazon: the Napo River. During this trip a good number of birds could be spotted along the way and they include: herons, kingfishers, ospreys, and many others as one travels away into a more pristine and remote area.
Boat will arrive to the northwest boundary of the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve where Napo Wildlife Center is located by the Anangucocha lake. To access the lodge you may either start a guided 2 ½ km (1,5 miles) hike on rich forest wildlife or embark on a quiet and enjoyable paddle dugout canoe ride with the staff for about 1 1/2 hours along a creek with dense flooded palm forest. Following any route, as you get deeper into this preserved area, you will be surprised by the oftentimes seen monkeys of several species, colorful birds and other amazing potential wildlife encounters. At the end of the walk and near the end of the paddle you will reach the Anangu Lake and have a superb view of the lodge waiting for them on the other side.
Accommodations
Lodging at Napo Wildlife Center has been designed to offer maximum privacy and comfort to the world traveler, providing lake and forest views from your private porches, as well as preserving one of the most pristine spots of Amazon forest in Ecuador. Each of the 12 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, 24 hours electricity provided by hybrid system combining solar panels, batteries, inversors and silent generators, 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 you may observe the surroundings. While resting from activities you 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 the lake edge, or experience the graceful often flights of blue and yellow macaws over the lodge area. The hall has a library with books about 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.
You are welcome to use the observation tower next to the dinning hall during free time without the guides 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 us 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).
Also they have invested in an environmentally sustainable sewage system, best and unique on the Napo region and probably best in the Amazon. All waste water is treated to the highest standards in order to keep the swamps clean of human activity. Quality of effluent water is higher than the lake environment! Power is generated by a top of the line hybrid system featuring: solar panels, industrial batteries and noiseless generators. A highly efficient system that generates energy with minimal impacts.
Activities:
Professional Canopy Tower
Only 35 minutes from the lodge there is the best and most professional canopy tower ever built in Amazonian Ecuador. Designed to last and provide maximum safety to users, this stainless steel structure complies with international certification ISO 9001:2000 that covers design, manufacturing and erection of steel structures and buildings, and other industrial applications.
This magnificent building, over 125 feet tall, is standing right next to a giant 155 feet Kapok tree where an ample platform provides great space for over 15 guests and their cameras, spotting scopes, tripods and binoculars gear or other equipment ready to enjoy the canopy of the rain forest! No one should miss this amazing highlight that provides great views of possible troops of howler, capuchins, monk sakis or spider monkeys in the nearest forest. In a clear day, the immense tropical scenery can reach views of the Andes where Gran Sumaco and the snow capped Antisana and Cayambe volcanoes are located, truly a one of a kind experience.
Lake & Creeks
Napo Wildlife Center has a large lake with two creeks that can be easily explored quietly while sitting on a dugout canoe paddled by the expert guides and staff eager to spot and show you the wildlife. The possibilities are great in finding more troops of other species of monkeys like squirrel, saddle-backed and white fronted capuchin monkeys or those that by natural distribution or best habitat occur only on the south side of the Napo and include: monk saki, spider, woolly and golden mantle tamarin monkeys. Napo Wildlife Center is home to a total of 11 species of monkeys.
All four species of caiman are found at Napo Wildlife Center. The lake offers black caiman species, which can easily be seen best at night canoe rides or even at sunny days by the edge of floating vegetation.
The creeks have a dense vegetation on sides, with large trees overhead and calm flowing waters, no one knows exactly what awaits in the next meander, a flooded forest with anaconda or a gentle easy moving three toed sloth.
Forest Trails & Hikes
Hikes along a variety of forest types are possible by visiting different trails. You can appreciate the tropical forest richness, discover new plants and colorful or well camouflaged insects. On forest trails, you may see monkeys, lizards, tortoises, frogs and army ants in addition to an array of birds, including toucans, macaws, parrots, manikins and hummingbirds.
The staff is constantly aware of wildlife movements and they report each other when and where it will be best to try looking for. This is the territory of the rich terra firme, the land of anything is possible, expect the unexpected. The largest mammals like jaguar, puma, tapir, giant anteater and giant armadillo have been spotted on the area. Night hikes are possible at Napo Wildlife Center providing unexpected wildlife!!
Birdwatching
Over 562 species of birds have been recorded at the Napo Wildlife Center, more than 1/3 of all of Ecuador`s birds, a vast and rich bird-life that can reward the most avid birdwatcher with the unrivalled South Napo specialties. Napo Wildlife Center and Anangu are a classic visiting location for someone travelling Ecuador seeking for the overwhelming bird diversity.
Agami and ZigZag herons are found near the lake and creeks, including all 5 kingfishers. The large raptors like Harpy and Crested Eagles find healthy mammal food around the area. The active calls of forest floor mixed species flocks with the largest numbers of the surprising ant birds can be found. Canopy flocks are normal to run into, chances are birds provide an hour or so of a multitude of wows. Gear up with the best binoculars for the most superb views and active excursions helped with the expertise of the top native bird guide along the entire Napo: Jiovanny Rivadeneira. He is the head of a number of native guides that will eagle eye sight and successfully find for you that great plumaged world. The canopy tower provides unrivalled opportunities for birding at the best rain forest in the country.
The Añangu Community
Anangu is not only home to the great Napo Wildlife Center lodge, it has been the ancestral territory of a Quichua indigenous community that has the same name. Anangu people are active participants of the conservation and management of a large territory within the park as well as the partners in tourism. We would like to invite you to see the community that had a dream and initiative long time ago to handle this vast rain forest territory by establishing their own lodge. Helped by EcoEcuador Foundation part of the Tropical Nature Conservation System, a world leading group of ongoing ecotourism projects, all now working together on a nature tourism company. You can join some families on their daily activities when harvesting bananas, coco, manioc, a starchy jungle root, staple food for Amazonian people, or maybe helping preparing chicha, a traditional drink based on cooked and fermenting manioc. Try this unique time with the Anangu locals, masters of the tropical forest.
Trip Arrangements
Napo Wildlife Center operates with fixed departures every Monday and Friday, thus making itineraries Mon-Fri 5day trips and Fri-Mon 4 days trips. However, Napo Wildlife Center will operate and provide departures and programs on any other day of the week (except Sunday, when there are no reliable flights in routes Quito-Coca). A longer Napo Wildlife Center stay is possible for particular interest groups with an 8 day trip. They count with specialized naturalists that can delight those really focused guests. No problem leading hard core birding groups, botanical or insect workshops. Please contact us to tailor a unique Amazon experience.
Safety
The lodge counts with fire extinguishers of various sizes at cabañas, public areas, staff and power room. Also HF radio and mobile phones are in contact with the operations office in case of emergency. In case of serious emergency they can call helicopter assistance to evacuate from the lodge. For minor emergencies and if ever needed a medical center, around 30 minutes away from the lodge is also ready to provide attention.
Please keep in mind that the above contact for Napo Wildlife Center lodge is a phone located at very remote place where signal may not provide high quality communication, nevertheless they have mentioned a 24 hour contact mobile cell number.
Motorized canoes count with life vests and comply with all river safety standard regulations and all operation systems checked at scheduled maintenance plan.
Baggage Allowance
Passengers in flights Quito – Coca are allowed to check in a maximum of 20 kg per person plus a carry on – hand luggage with reading material, camera, binoculars and personal documents. Additional or excess baggage is charged directly by the airline by pound.
Prices 2010 per person:
| Days |
Double Room |
Single Room Supplement |
| 4 Days |
USD 760.- |
USD 1.140.- |
| 5 Days |
USD 950.- |
USD 1.425.- |
| 8 Days |
USD 1,520.- |
USD 2.280.- |
Flight Quito – Coca – Quito USD 130.- per person
Includes:
Accommodation, all meals, water, river transportation and local Coca airport - boat in - out transfers, all excursions, including visits to the exclusive Napo Wildlife Center`s parrot-macaw clay licks, native guide and naturalist bilingual guides, purified water during meals, rain poncho and rubber boots provided when needed for excursions.
Does Not Include:
flight Quito – Coca – Quito, beverages, Yasuni National Park entrance fee currently at USD 25.- per person and subject to change without previous notice, international flight airport tax Quito (USD 41.- per person), tips, personal expenses, travel insurance.
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