Yachana Lodge Amazon

Ecotourism is of vital importance for the conservation of the Amazon Rainforest. The Yachana Foundation built the lodge on more than 405 hectares near the tiny community of Mondaña. It offers comfortable lodging and employment to local people and constantly trains students and local residents in hotel administration, restaurant and environmental interpretation.

The Yachana Lodge has 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. The eco-friendly cabins are nestled above the Napo River and within the Lodge’s own 2500-acre nature reserve. 14 comfortable and tranquil cabins are tucked within the lush landscape. All rooms have large porches with hammocks, hardwood floors, private bathrooms with hot water. Furniture, doors and flooring have been fabricated from native woods and handmade locally by the Yachana Foundation.

Among some of the activities that you will find at Yachana are 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.

• Indigenous naturalist & native bilingual guides
• 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 ozone treated safe 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
• Safety deposit box
• Wine bar
• Artisan gift shop
• Resources and reading library
• Washer and dryer
• Wireless high-speed Internet

Day 1

Your journey into the Amazon Jungle begins at Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Your journey into the Amazon Jungle begins at Quito, the capital of Ecuador. During the 30-minute flight over the Andes from Quito 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 Coca airport you’ll be meet by your Yachana guide, and then transported to the river port to board our 57 ft. (18 m) motorized canoe for a 2-1/2 hour trip upriver. 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 our native staff that will serve you a refreshing beverage and snack while you are introduced to the Lodge facilities and issued rubber boots to use during your stay with us.

After you’ve had a chance to rest in your room, your guide will take you on a short hike; first onboard the open bus, then the hike to a place where there is a beautiful and very large Ceibo tree. Your guide will be explaining a lot of things along the way. Enjoy a cocktail or other refreshing beverage while witnessing a spectacular sunset from your balcony or dining hall. Dinner is served between 7:00 – 7:30 PM.

Day 2

After breakfast, you will board our 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 the lodge for lunch and an opportunity to rest before the next activity.

In the afternoon you take our ranchera to Agua Santa community in order to board a raft 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 float/swim as you continue down river to the Puerto Rico port for pick up to return to the lodge, a relaxing way to enjoy the spectacular scenery that surrounds you. On your way to the river you will have a chance to visit the Yachana Training Center. The Administrative will give an explanation of the activities to be carried out there.

After dinner on one of your evenings at the lodge 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.

Day 3

You have the option to start your day early by participating in a bird watching excursion or sleep little longer before enjoying another splendid breakfast, the first of the day’s Amazon culinary delights.

After breakfast, you will board our ranchera to go to a farm where you can see and harvest some products you have probably never seen or prepared before. Return to the lodge and learn how to make chocolate using organic cacao harvested from the local families. Turn the cacao beans into delicious jungle chocolate, one of the main ingredients for several of the delectable deserts served at the lodge and drink a delicious coffee made with the roasted coffee beans picked by you. You will be fixing your own lunch.

After lunch, you will travel by canoe to the home of shaman and his family to learn about local Kichwa culture and traditions, and to participate in a cleansing ceremony. Afterwards, try your skills at using a typical blowgun and spear. This is a wonderful cultural activity to know a local family. Return to the lodge for dinner. Rest before dinner and enjoy the sunset from your balcony or dining hall.

Day 4

After breakfast you will board our canoe for the way back to Coca to take your flight back to Quito.

NOTE: *Please be aware that Yachana Lodge cannot guarantee that you will see wildlife because of the unpredictable nature of animals and due to the fact that the area around the Lodge has been impacted by human presence. Lodge activities may vary in order or due to weather conditions but rest assured your guide will do everything possible to maintain the established itinerary whenever possible.