LODGING
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 immaculately clean.
The lodges at La Selva Jungle Lodge are made entirely of secondary rainforest materials and are designed to blend with Ecuador's Jungle.
Each lodge has a private bathroom, a hammock and a mosquito netting in each bed.
La Selva Jungle Lodge has unexpected amenities such as hot water. Everything at La Selva Jungle Lodge is sanitary beyond your wildest expectations.
La Selva Jungle lodge boasts 17 thatched-roofed cabins, and a spacious dining room, aslo with a cone-shaped roof.
Other gathering spots at La Selva include an open-air bar and lounge area with a wrap-around view of the lake.
You can sneak a siesta (spanish for nap) in the hammock hut, or spend some lazing about and reviewing photos of the day on your digitial camera.
THE ITINERARY
DAY 1:
Visitors fly from Quito to Coca, where you will be met at the airport and provided with transport to La Selva Lodge.
DAY 2 - 3 (SEE INFO BELOW):
Optional Excursions (see information below)
DAY 4:
Transport will be provided to the airport in Coca, where you will be able to take the flight back to Quito.
EXCURSIONS:
TREK IN THE VECINITY OF THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY:
To begin the tour, we will cross Garzacocha Lake. We will then set off on a 2-3 hour walk on a purposely underdeveloped trail, which provides some physical challenge. Half of the walk takes place in primary forest and the other half passes the huts of our indigenous neighbours along the Napo River.
MANDICOCHA TRAIL:
An easy trail close to the hotel in an area 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.
MANDICOCHA-MANDIYACU:
A 3 to 4 hour trip. Follow the Mandicocha trail until you reach Mandicocha Lake, which has a completely different ecosystem from Lake Garzacocha (where the hotel is located). Board paddle canoes for a one and half hour glide down Mandiyacu stream. One easily sees the myriad of wildlife that presents itself along the shores of the stream. Arriving at the Napo River, board a motorised canoe for the trip back to LA SELVA.
EL SALADO:
This is a two-hour excursion often combined with a picnic lunch and trips across the Napo River (see following activities). Visit a site where, with a little luck, parrots, parakeets and macaws can be seen by the thousands.
HIGH FOREST TRAIL:
The duration of this trail can vary from 3 to 5 hours. Cross the Napo River and arrive at a challenging mountainous trail, which offers yet another ecosystem. This is a chance to see birds and other wildlife seen nowhere else … as well as a chance to eat lemon ants!
CHALLUACOCHA LAKE:
This is a motorised canoe trip down the Napo River, followed by a walk and a paddle canoe trip to Challuacocha for a picnic at a shelter overlooking the lake. You will then have the opportunity to enjoy some relaxing canoeing, fishing for piranhas, or a two-hour hike through yet another unique forest.
PILCHE TRAIL:
On this tour we’ll firstly cross Garzacocha Lake and then walk for one hour or more. We’ll see an enormous colony of leafcutter ants and whatever wildlife may come our way.
NIGHT EXCURSIONS:
There are opportunities to go on canoe or walking trips after dark to view nocturnal animals such as caimans, monkeys, insect and owls. Sample the LA SELVA nightlife!
135 FOOT OBSERVATION TOWER:
Not far from the lodge you can spend many hours observing birds flying by at eye-level, wildlife of all kinds, and yes, a bird's-eye view of it all.
BUTTERFLY FARM:
This activity is available every afternoon. Close to the lodge, you’ll be able to watch and photograph butterflies at close range. With a little luck, you’ll also witness the miracle of metamorphosis.
PEDRO'S TRAIL:
Two versions of this trip are available. You can either cross Garzacocha Lake, walk through virgin forest, and arrive at the tower in about 4 hours or pass by the Butterfly Farm and join the trail in the middle, which will take just 2 hours.
CHAWAMANGO'S TRAIL:
On this trip we head east at Mandicocha trailhead and walk parallel to the lake, arriving at Napo River. We’ll then return by elevated walkway and cross Garzacocha by canoe. This trip takes about 3 hours.
LITTLE CHAWAMANGO:
This is a short trip by foot around the edge of Lake Garzacocha. We return to the lodge by canoe.
RUTH'S TRAIL:
Across Mandicocha, the trail just goes on and on and on……. This is a very good place to look for jaguars. The trail is named after the owner's mother.
