YACHANA LODGE (LUXURY CLASS)

Ecotourism is of vital importance for the conservation of the Amazon Tropical Rainforest. To meet this goal, The Yachana Foundation built Yachana Lodge on more than 405 hectares near the tiny community of Mondaña. Yachana presents a window into the reality of the life and culture in the Ecuadorian Amazon; it offers a comfortable lodging and employment to local people, constantly training to students and local residents in hotel administration, restaurant and environmental interpretation. Along with the Yachana foundation, the lodge gives incentives to create a conscience of the importance of true ecotourism.

FACILITIES AND SERVICES:

The Yachana lodge has an availability of 18 cabins for a total capacity of 40 guests. CASA QUEST is a special Housing for students with shared and external bathrooms with a total Capacity of 20 guests. Some of the services, equipment and amenities included while you stay at Yachana are the following: indigenous naturalist & native bilingual guides, 3 meals per day, guided excursions into the rainforest, community visits, access to fluvial transportation along the Napo River, life jackets, rain poncho, rubber boots, walking sticks, hot water showers, biodegradable soap and shampoo, triple-purified drinking water, LED lighting and ceiling fans, solar energy (12v) during the day and 110v energy from 6pm-10pm. First Aid and clinical attention are available as well as a safety deposit box and an artisan and souvenir gift shop. Another assets are the wine bar, resources and reading library, washer and dryer and wireless Internet.

JUNGLE ACTIVITIES:

Among some of the activities that you will find at Yachana, they offer: hikes deep into primary and secondary rainforest accompanied by our naturalist guides. Traditional cleansing from a local medicine man. You can test your skills at the indigenous arts of blowguns and spears used for hunting. Tour the Yachana Technical High School's campus and Model Farm. Explore The Yachana Foundation's Protected Forest and visit our biological research station.

You can also learn about ceramic pottery-making from a local woman and weave your own basket from locally-collected fibers, search for nocturnal species on a night walk through the forest, visit the local community, elementary school, and the foundation-sponsored Health Clinic. You will observe a local family panning for gold, and identify tropical plants and flowers in our gardens and visit our butterfly house. You can enjoy a refreshing swim in the Napo River, one of the largest tributaries to the Amazon River.

Reccomendations:

There is no presence of malaria or yellow fever at our location although some doctors recommend to take precautions. Don't forget to bring medicine that you will need. Use Light sandals when traveling in the canoe. It is advisable to go hiking with rubber boots and long light pants as you will find mud and insects along the trails. You can use sandals and shorts within the lodge premises. Take a water bottle on your hikes and fill it with water. The climate can be very hot. Photography: Use high speed films and take a flash as inside the forest it shadows can be very dark. Laundry service: Although there is laundry services in the hotel please remember that in the humid tropical rainforest drying clothes takes a long time.

YACHANA LODGE Prices 2012:

THE PACKAGE INCLUDES
• Canoe round trip Coca - Yachana Lodge - Coca
• 3 or 4 nights with three daily meals at Yachana Lodge
• Guided excursions and activities with English speaking guide
• Rubber boots, life jackets, rain poncho
• Hotel services
• Country Tax 12% (I.V.A.)

DOES NOT INCLUDE
• Soda drinks, alcoholic drinks, personal expenses and unspecified services
• Additional night USD 175
• Single supplement 30%
• Charge for extra canoe (should you travel on days other than Friday or Tuesday)
USD140 per canoe trip