Burrowed in the very core of the Ecuadorean Amazon, Napo Wildlife Centre is a lodge owned and run by the local Kichwa Anangu community.
The accommodations are spread between 20 rustic cabins, most of which are set slightly inland from the lake, built and decorated in a traditional style. Do not expect air conditioning, locking doors or glass windows at Napo Wildlife Centre – visitors will receive a truly authentic Amazon experience where luxury lies in the exquisite location, world-class guiding and an unimaginable abundance of raucous wildlife. Eight of the cabins are suites, each built on stilts over the lagoon and complete with private jacuzzis and an enviable lakefront location.
Since they have existed in this territory for more than 500 years, the local Kichwa Anangu people know the forest and its secrets like the backs of their hands. Guests at Napo Wildlife Centre are introduced to the community, which is located about an hour away by canoe, to learn their ancestral customs and traditional practices. To find out more, read An Education in the Amazon.
The aboriginal community use a sustainable eco-tourism model, whereby all proceeds are re-invested into renewable energy, education, and health care. A truly unique project, the community has invested in an advanced waste water management system to maintain the lagoons, as well as solar panels, industrial batteries and silent generators to provide energy efficiently and with minimal environmental impact.
Venture out into the dense rainforest on foot or by canoe to truly discover what is the most biodiverse place on Earth. The Ecuadorean Amazon is home to more than 600 bird species, so the forest is truly alive with a symphony of bird calls – there really is nothing like waking up to thousand-strong birdcalls.
Spy on clay licks teeming with macaws, parrots and countless other species of birds, or climb the steps to the top of a 36-metre tower built around a giant Ceiba tree to observe flocks of colourful birds as they dart between trees and take refuge as the sun sets above the canopy. Night walks and canoe rides are a truly magical experience – with absolutely zero light pollution, the nights in the Amazon are truly pitch-black dark and welcome a host of nocturnal creatures.
Positioned on a small ridge at the edge of a great jungle, surrounded by the Amazon Rainforest and the sounds of exotic birdcalls, the Napo Wildlife Centre can be found on a lagoon off the Napo River. Reaching the property is an adventure in itself, involving a 30-minute flight from Quito, a one-hour trip in a motorised canoe, and a two-hour paddle canoe navigation.
Some of the wonderful places to stay that we frequently recommended.
Perched on the edge of Lake Garzacocha within the Amazon Rainforest, hours removed from the nearest town, La Selva Jungle Lodge offers a unique experience within an extraordinary habitat. Made up of 19 spacious suites, each with private porches or balconies and some with rainforest showers and lake views, the accommodations at La Selva Jungle Lodge are set within traditionally constructed cabins. Large gauze-covered windows provide a steady flow of fresh air in the absence of air-conditioners, and the rooms are pierced with memorable sounds of the jungle.
Offering a rainforest lodge experience on the banks of Pilchicocha Lake, Sacha Lodge is nestled deep within a private 5000-acre reserve. An elevated boardwalk leads to 26 individual thatched cabins, each with a shady terrace and personal hammocks, which are decorated in a bright and spacious style with sustainable wood furnishings. An incredible base for explorations of the jungle and swims in the lake pool, guests can join birds and monkeys on the delightful canopy walkway.
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