For a comprehensive immersion into an Ecuadorian rain forest, spend 4 to 5 days
at La Selva Jungle Lodge. Situated high on Lake Garzacocha, deep in the
Ecuadorian Amazon region, La Selva offers very comfortable accommodations while
experiencing the magic of the rain forest. Many exciting excursions give you a
genuine feeling for this important, beautiful and richly diverse region of the
world. Your stay at La Selva will give you an experience of, and a relationship
with the jungle which you will never forget.
Each day you choose from a variety of day hikes on forest trails, and/or canoe
rides on the quiet rivers and lagoons. You’re always accompanied by a resident
English-speaking naturalist guide who will explain the wonders of this exquisite
environment.
About the lodge:
Besides its small size (which will remain unchanged despite great demand,) La
Selva also offers you as much world class efficiency as you want.
Each of the 17 thatched cabanas are constructed in typical local design: rustic,
authentic, comfortable. You enjoy amenities such as private bathroom with hot
water, a hammock, and mosquito netting at each bed. The cabanas could be
described as private bungalows that are dry, cozy and immaculately clean,
although made entirely of secondary rainforest materials and designed to blend
with the surroundings.
Common areas include a spacious dinning room, an open-air combined bar and
lounge area with a wrap-around view of the lake, and the hammock hut --
available for afternoon siestas. A large English-speaking staff are eager to
help you.
La Selva is very proud of its food. It blends Ecuador’s finest ingredients with
French, North American and Ecuadorian culinary skills. Expect to try most of
these fruits: uvillas, guayabas, guanabanas, naranjillas, morete, obos, taxo,
granadilla and tomate de arbol. La Selva makes Amazonian pizza that will rival
any; veal milanesa a l'Amazon; and local fish, when available, prepared with one
of its numerous original recipes (Vegetarian and special diets are available on
request).
There are no fixed itineraries at La Selva. Rather, each person can choose
activities of his/her preference from the many available options.
Possible Excursions:
Walk by a native's house: Cross Garzacocha Lake. Two and a half to three
hour walk on a purposely underdeveloped trail which has some physical challenge.
Half of the walk takes place in primary forest and the other half passes the
huts of our indigenous neighbors along the Napo River.
Mandicocha Trail: An easy trail close to the hotel which is usually
filled with wildlife no matter what hour of the day you do it. The excursion can
last as long as you want.
El Salado: This is a two hour excursion often combined with a picnic
lunch and trips across the Napo River. Visit a site where, with a little luck,
you'll see parrots and parakeets by the thousands.
High Forest Trail: The duration can vary between three to five hours.
Cross the Napo River and arrive at a challenging trail which offers yet another
ecosystem. It is a chance to view birds and wildlife seen nowhere else. Try the
lemon ants!
Pilche Trail: Cross Garzacocha Lake then one hour or more of walking. See
an enormous colony of leafcutter ants and whatever wildlife may come your way.
Night Excursions: Canoe or walking trips after dark to view nocturnal
animals such as caiman, monkeys, insects and owls. Sample the La Selva
nightlife.
Observation Tower: Not far from the lodge you can observe many birds
flying by at eye-level, wildlife of all kinds, and a bird's-eye view of it all.
Pedro's Trail: Two versions available. Cross Garzacocha lake, walk
through the virgin forest and arrive at the tower; four hours. Short version:
Pass butterfly farm and join the trail in the middle; two hours.
Chawamango's Trail: Head east at Mandicocha trailhead and walk along the
lake. Arrive at Napo River. Return by elevated walkway and cross Garzacocha by
canoe; three hours.
Little Chawamango: Short trip by foot around the edge of Lake Garzacocha.
Return by canoe to the lodge.
Ruth's Trail: Across the Mandicocha lake, it goes on and on and on. Good
place to look for Jaguars.
COMBINATIONS OF THE ABOVE ARE LIMITED ONLY BY THE NATURALIST'S IMAGINATIONS
-- WHICH ARE, OF COURSE, UNLIMITED.
You can go to La Selva Lodge any time throughout the year. Flights from Quito to Coca are daily except Sunday.
Typical programs are 4 days/3 nights and 5 days/4 nights. You can enter on any
day but Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday. You can extend your
stay for as long as you wish.
4 days/3 nights, Wed-Sat & Fri-Mon
$697 per person sharing a double
$906 single accommodations
5 days/4 nights, Mon-Fri & Sat-Wed $832 per person sharing a double
$1082 single accommodations
Internal Airfare: $120, Quito-Coca round-trip, subject to change.
Yasuni National Park Entrance Fee: $25
Single supplement: No charge. If you are traveling singly and
prefer to share accommodations, we will try topair you with another person
of the same gender. If we find a roommate, there will be no supplementary charge;
if no roommate is found, you may be charged the single rate.
Children's discount: under age 12, 30% discount on the
land and airfare.
Once your deposit is received, we send you up-to-date—and very
complete—pre-departure information which tells you what you need to know to
prepare for your adventure; including packing list and tips, health issues,
reading lists, tipping guide, information on weather, climate, cities, museums,
etc.
Included in the land cost:
accommodation in double cabin with private hot water
shower; all meals at the lodge; services of professional naturalist guides on
walks and canoe rides; transportation from Coca to the lodge and back to Coca
via motorized dugout canoe; round-trip airfare Quito/Coca, subject to change.
Not
included: tips to guides & staff; soft drinks and alcoholic
beverages; laundry, phone calls and other personal matters, insurance, airport
taxes.
Additional Expenses:
Yasuni National Park fee $25 per person payable at the lodge.
Optional Extras:
Additional nights at La Selva: $170 per person per night, sharing double
accommodation
One night camping: $230/person. Flexible departure days, on
request, except Sundays
Add-ons
La Selva Lodge is a wonderful program as a
stand-alone, or combined with a Galapagos cruise (see our Galapagos section)
or other land arrangements in Ecuador.
Misc.
Extra nights at La Selva, $170 per person,
per night, double occupancy
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