| La Selva Lodge |
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Selva Jungle Lodge is situated high on Lake Garzacocha on the Napo
River, deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon region. Guests fly to Francisco
de Orellana and are then taken to the riverbank to continue to the
lodge by motorised canoe.
In
1992 La Selva created the Neotropical Field Biology Institute, which
receives researchers from around the world. You can ask your guide
what investigations may be taking place during your stay. There
is also a butterfly farm just 5 minutes from the Lodge, designed
to present an ecologically sound, sustainable alternative to help
preserve the rainforest.
La Selva which in Spanish means “the jungle” is necessarily
remote but one of the most easily reached destinations in Ecuador's
Amazon and ideal for avid travelers. La Selva Jungle Lodge, is about
sixty miles down river from the town of Coca (the commercial and
main base for the fledgling oil industry).
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you get to La Selva Jungle Lodge’s isolated dock, a half
mile boardwalk of bamboo slats keeps you above a vast mysterious
palm swamp as you make your way to the lake. The boardwalk ends
at Garzacocha Lake where paddle canoes await you to take you
across.A
quarter mile along, La Selva Jungle Lodge begins to peek out
at you. |
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The
lodges of La Selva Jungle Lodge come of a native design: rustic,
authentic and comfortable. The lodges can be described as
private bungalows that are dry, cozy and clean.
The
lodge has been made entirely of secondary rainforest materials
and are designed to blend with Ecuador's Jungle.
Each
lodge has a private bathroom with hot water, a hammock and
a mosquito netting in each bed.
La
Selva Jungle lodge boasts 17 thatched-roofed cabins, and a
spacious dining room, aslo with a cone-shaped roof. There
is also an open-air bar and lounge area with a wrap-around
view of the lake. |
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Camping
Nights
With this new option of La Selva Jungle Lodge you will have the
opportunity to experience both, La Selva Jungle Lodge's camp site
in Ecuador's Amazon Basin and the lodge.
The
trail that is followed is constantly changed according to the physical
ability of the group, personal interests and the local weather.
Guests
who stay for the 4 night program at La Selva Jungle Lodge and the
two following nights enjoy camping at Mandicocha, a unique rainforest
highway.
La Selva Jungle Lodge camp site has a rustic kitchen / dinning room
constructed in the traditional style of the region.
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The
toilet facilities at La Selva Jungle Lodge are latrines.
All
tents at the camp site are set on a bamboo platform with a
thatched roof. The tents contain camping mattresses, each
with a comfortable pillow, clean sheets and towels are provided
daily.
Lanterns
light La Selva Jungle Lodge's campsite; however, a personal
flashlight is required.
A
logistical team of 7 make the whole thing possible. They will
have all in order by the time we get to camp. They will carry
your packs, and maybe even a song or two.
All of La Selva Jungle Lodge expeditions are very flexible
and La Selva Jungle Lodge will organize them day by day in
a democratic way between you and your guide. |
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 Expeditions
The
are daily excursions with differing levels of difficulty, as well
as night excursions either by canoe or on foot, to view nocturnal
animals such as caiman, monkeys, insects and owls. There is also
an observation tower near the Lodge from where you can observe many
birds flying by at eye level.
Please
find below a partial list of activities that La Selva Jungle Lodge
offers.
Trained Naturalist guides and Native assistants will accompany you
during all your adventure.
(picture on the right Effrain one of La Selva's Guide) |
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El
Salado
El Salado Excursion 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, parrots and parakeets, by the thousands
can be seen. |
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Walk
by a Native's House
Cross
Garzacocha Lake. La Selva Jungle Lodge takes you to a 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 Ecuador's primary rainforest and the
other half passes the huts of La Selva Jungle Lodge Indigenous neighbours
along the Napo River. |
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High
Forest Trail
The
duration of the High Forest Trail can vary between three to
five hours.
Cross
the Napo River and arrive at a challenging mountainous trail,
which offers yet another ecosystem. It is a chance to see
birds and wildlife nowhere else seen. Try the lemon ants!
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Mandicocha
Trail
An
easy trail close to La Selva Jungle Lodge which is usually
filled with wildlife, no matter what hour of the day you take
the Mandicocha Trail expedition.
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Pilche
Trail
La
Selva Jungle Lodge take you on the Pilche Trail where you
will cross the Garzacocha Lake and walk for one hour or more.
Through
the Pilche Trail you will see an enormous colony of leafcutter
ants and whatever wildlife may come your way. |
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Night
Excursions
La
Selva Jungle Lodge has canoe or walking trips after dark to
view nocturnal animals such as caiman, monkeys, insects and
owls.
Sample
the La Selva Jungle Lodge night life. |
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 Tree
Tower
Not
far from La Selva Jungle Lodge you can observe many birds flying
by at eyelevel, wildlife of all kinds, and, yes, a bird's-eye view
of it all, from the top platform of La Selva Jungle Lodge's observation
tree tower. |
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Bird
Watching
With
perhaps the highest species list in the neo-tropics, La Selva Jungle
Lodge uses native birding experts for those guests with this singular
passion.
The
Natives speak minimal English, but know the names of all the birds,
and, more importantly, how to find them.
Please
specify in advance if you are a birder and would like to take advantage
of this service that La Selva Jungle Lodge offers. |
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Pedro's
Trail
Two
versions are available at La Selva Jungle Lodge, a long version
and a short version.
Long
Version: Cross Garzacocha lake, La Selva Jungle Lodge takes you
on a walk through the virgin forest of Ecuador and arrive at the
tower - Four Hours.
Short
version: La Selva Jungle Lodge takes you through the Butterfly farm
and you will join Pedro's Trail in the middle - Two Hours.
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Chawamango's
Trail
At
Chawamango's Trail you will head east at Mandicocha trailhead and
walk along the Mandicocha lake to the Napo River.
You
will return to La Selva Jungle Lodge by an elevated walkway and
cross Garzacocha by canoe - Three Hours. |
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