La Selva Lodge - 4 Day Independent Adventure

At the Quito International Airport you will be met by a La Selva representative in the national departure area in order to assist you with the check-in process and give you a short briefing about the journey. Upon arrival at the lodge, you will have an introductory briefing and a short activity to introduce you to the rainforest.

See the canopy of the rainforest from a tower 43m (141 ft) in height, and choose from dozens of walks of varying lengths and difficulties; several routes can only be accessed by canoe. Pick from a variety of activities: wake up early for some bird watching or stay up late and go out on a boat to view caimans by flashlight. Learn about the environment and wildlife from a naturalist guide, who will accompany you to ensure you get the most out of the excursions. The opportunities for birding, botany, hiking, herpetology, canoeing, photography, entomology, fishing, relaxing, and swimming at La Selva Lodge are boundless.

Below is a sample of what may be available:

MATAPALO TRAIL: This trail was named after the Spanish name of the famous strangler fig (Ficus aurea) one of many remarkable trees that can be found during this short introductory walk. Native and naturalist guides will share their knowledge about the flora and fauna of the tropical rain forest.

NIGHT WALK: A flashlight and a camera will be the only things needed to enjoy all of the insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals that can be seen during an hour walk in the darkness of the forest.

NIGHT CANOE RIDE IN GARZACOCHA LAGOON: Guides will take you in a paddle canoe around the lagoon looking for caimans, boas, bats, owls, night mammals, and more nocturnal wildlife with the help of a spotlight. If the sky is clear, have the chance to do some star gazing.

DAY CANOE RIDE IN GARZACOCHA LAGOON: Observe the biodiversity around the Garzacocha lagoon on a 1.5 to 2 hour canoe ride, where the famous hoatzin stinkbird can be seen as well as monkeys, fish, and the beautiful trees that grow inside the black waters system.

CHAGUAMANGO TRAIL: The trail begins at the lodge and finishes at the edge of the lake. At the end of the walk, head back to the lodge by canoe. If lucky, see big troops of squirrel monkeys approaching the water and catch some great photos of wildlife.

CHARAPA TRAIL: This trail takes about 1.5 hrs, starting at the butterfly farm and ending on the edge of the lake. It's a wonderful loop that begins with a walk, returning to the lodge by canoe. Along the way, try to spot different groups of mammals, monkeys, and birds that get close to the lakeshore in the afternoon hours to look for food. If it is a clear afternoon, enjoy a beautiful sunset from the canoe.

OBSERVATION TOWER: A 20-min walk leads to the tower, which allows visitors to be 37m (120 ft) above the forest floor to enjoy the canopy of the tropical rain forest. Use a telescope to see birds from the canopy, and maybe even monkeys or sloths. On the way back, hike for about 2 hrs. A native guide will show some of the medicinal plants that natives still use, and a naturalist will provide information about the ecology and natural history as well.

PARROT CLAY LICK: Visit the most biologically diverse spot on Earth, the Yasuni National Park. A 20-min canoe ride plus a 15-min walk brings the group back to the Napo River. Take a motorized 10-min canoe ride to enjoy one of the most amazing displays of the wild world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets approach the treetops and later come down to a clay bank to eat the soil rich in minerals. It is essential to have binoculars to enjoy the experience.
After identifying the different species of parrots and parakeets, a naturalist guide will provide a lot of interesting information about the behavior of these spectacular birds. The motorized canoe ride will continue for approximately 30 more minutes of birdwatching along the river banks.

BUTTERFLY FARM: Learn about the biology of these amazing butterflies. A farm will show each of the different stages of the butterfly complemented with interesting information provided by a naturalist guide. Visitors will not want to leave the butterfly flying area without taking photos of the colorful butterflies.

PIRANHA FISHING: Enjoy fishing for piranhas in the Garzacocha Lake! Fishing lines will be provided by a native guide to let you catch your own piranha. Depending on the size of the fish, they are usually released back into the water. If the fish is big enough, give it to the gourmet chef and enjoy a tasty fish dinner. The fish is much more delicious when you catch it yourself!

SPECIFIC TOPIC TALKS: One of the naturalists will hold an optional activity to talk about a specific topic of the rainforest.

The lodge staff will assist with checked luggage. Take a motorized canoe ride upstream to go back to Coca, where a representative will take you to the airport and help with the checked luggage and boarding passes.