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Travel to South America’s particularly beautiful Ecuadorian Amazon to discover the Yachana Eco-lodge, an award-winning ecotourism destination that inspires hundreds of international and national visitors each year. Each of the lodge’s 14 cabins is located within the Yachana lodge’s 2,500-acre nature reserve, with these accommodations including porches with hammocks, comfortable furniture and private bathrooms. Activities during this 5-day/4-night Amazon jungle tour at the Yachana Eco-lodge include guided hikes through the rainforest of the Yachana Ecological Reserve, river rafting, nocturnal safaris, early morning birding and exotic wildlife tours, blowgun practice, a visit to the home of a local shaman for a traditional spiritual cleansing ceremony, and much more!
“We loved the time at the lodge in Cuyabeno. It was so genuine and natural there and the crew was so knowledgable and helpful. Thank you so much for the recommendation of the real Amazonia-experience.”
AM: Your journey into the Amazon jungle begins at Quito, the capital of Ecuador. During the 30-minute flight from Quito over the Andes to the jungle town of Coca, on a clear day, you’ll enjoy amazing views of snow-covered mountains and the endless green expanse of the rainforest as you begin your descent into the Amazon. At the Coca airport, you’ll be met by your Yachana guide, and then transported to the port on the river to board a 57 ft. (18 mt.) motorized canoe for a 2-1/2 hour trip upriver.
PM: A box lunch will be served as we navigate the Napo River. Life vests are provided so you can fully relax and enjoy your ride along one of the largest tributaries to the legendary Amazon River. At Yachana Lodge, you’ll receive a warm welcome from indigenous staff members who will serve you a refreshing beverage and snack while you are introduced to the lodge facilities and issued rubber boots for use during your stay at the lodge. After you’ve had a chance to rest up in your room, your guide will take you on a short excursion: first on board the open bus, and then hiking to a beautiful and very large Ceibo tree, while your guide explains many fascinating details about the forest along the way. Upon your return to the lodge, you can enjoy a cocktail or another refreshing beverage while witnessing a spectacular sunset from your balcony or the dining hall. Dinner is served between 7:00 – 7:30 PM.
AM: You have the option to start your day early by participating in a birdwatching excursion or by sleeping in a little longer before enjoying another splendid breakfast, the first of the day’s culinary delights. After a traditional breakfast from the Amazon, you will board a "ranchera" (typical local bus) and accompany your guide as he leads you on a journey into the rainforest, stopping to observe birds and possibly monkeys along the way. During your rainforest trek, your guide will explain the uses of various medicinal plants and amaze you with his knowledge of the several species of birds and animals that inhabit the rainforest, which he calls home. Return to Yachana for lunch and an opportunity to rest before the next activity.
PM: In the afternoon an administrator will give an explanation about how the Yachana Training Center and the Yachana Foundation operate. After this, you will take the ranchera to Agua Santa community to then board a raft and head downriver to observe a local family panning for gold. From there, using either inner-tubes, a small rubber raft or just life jackets, you can let the current take you as you float downriver while enjoying the spectacular scenery that surrounds you. At some point, you will get back on board a motorized canoe return to Yachana.
Dinner is served at 7:00 – 7:30 PM. In the evening your guide will offer to take you on a night walk to discover a totally different side of the forest that only comes alive after dark. On this walk, you have the chance to see many small insects, amphibians, reptiles and other animals.
AM: After breakfast, you will re-board the ranchera to go to a farm where you can see and harvest some many products you have probably never seen or prepared before, like cacao beans. You can prepare your own typical lunch from the Amazon under the supervision of the lodge's chef.
PM: In the afternoon, after lunch, you will travel by canoe to the home of a shaman and his family to learn about local Kichwa culture and traditions, and to participate in a spiritual cleansing ceremony. Afterwards, try your skills in the arts of using a typical blowgun and spear. This is a wonderful cultural activity to interact with a local family and learn more about Kichwa culture.
Return to Yachana for dinner. Rest before dinner and enjoy the sunset from or dining hall. In the evening you can learn how to make dark chocolate using organic cacao harvested by local families. Turn cacao beans into delicious jungle chocolate, one of the main ingredients for several of the delectable desserts served at the Yachana Lodge.
AM: After a hearty breakfast, and depending on weather conditions, you may choose from: a) a hike deep into the lodge's 1000 hectares of protected forest, b) a visit to a community bank (for this activity, you will be asked to donate $50 USD per person), c) a canoe trip to explore the Napo River further. After whichever activity, you will return to the Yachana Lodge for lunch.
PM: In the afternoon, we will take the ranchera bus to visit the Cacao Collection Center and then hike for about 10 minutes to the La Paz Waterfall. While enjoying the waterfall, if you're are lucky you will see a lot of parrots! Later we will hike back to the main road where the ranchera will be waiting to take us back to Yachana for dinner. Then, after dinner, we will sit around the campfire to brew up some delicious coffee. Note that you will have to roast and grind it before enjoying it while your guide tells you stories and legends of the Amazon. At the same time, you'll be amazed by the sounds of the jungle at night.
AM: After a hearty breakfast, we will travel by private car from Yachana Lodge back to the town of Coca for your return flight to Quito. If traveling by land, you’ll have the chance to observe Amazon life from a different prospective.
NOTE: *Please be aware that because of the unpredictable nature of animals and due to the fact that the area around the Lodge has been impacted by human presence, theYachana Lodge cannot guarantee that you will see all of the wildlife mentioned above. Also, lodge activities may vary due to weather conditions, but rest assured that your guide will do everything possible to maintain the established itinerary whenever possible.
| Days | ||||
| Jungle View | River View | |||
| Single | Double | Single | Double | |
| 5 | US$ 756 | US$ 540 | US$ 938 | US$ 670 |
