La Selva Ecolodge
One of the first Amazon rainforest lodges in Ecuador, the award winning La Selva was completely remodeled and reopened in July of 2012 and has since become the premier eco lodge in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
La Selva Amazon Ecolodge & Spa is located in a rainforest paradise bordering Yasuni National Park in one of the most biodiverse areas of the planet. The Lodge Overlooking the glassy waters of Lake Garzacocha, the new main lodge and restaurant is our guests’ favorite spot. You can watch birds and other wildlife as you sip a cocktail from our fully stocked bar in comfort. When night falls, you’ll enjoy fine cuisine in the restaurant, prepared by our famous chefs, as the birds and animals of the Amazon serenade you with their unique song. The breezy, stylish cabanas are inspired by native bamboo designs. Many have tubs, rainforest showers and lake views. The sounds of the rainforest soothe you to sleep at night, and the singing of birds awaken you in the morning.
Most people visit La Selva on a 4-day or 5-day all-inclusive tour from Quito, Ecuador.
La Selva Amazon Ecolodge has nineteen spacious suites, including three scenic suites with a view of Lake Garzacocha and roomy family suites for those who have brought their children along on their jungle adventure. The Scenic and Superior Suites include exclusive rainforest showers, private balconies and great panoramic views, while the Family Suites include extra-spacious bathrooms, hammocks and a tub on a private porch. The design of our suites is inspired by local homes used by the natives for generations: the airy, shady layout keeps things cool even in the hottest hours of the day. In the bathrooms, amenities such as hairdryers and shampoo, conditioner, and soap are included. Hot showers, ceiling fans and electricity are provided in each suite.
La Selva Lodge is deeply committed to sustainable ecotourism and keeping it’s impact on the environment to a minimum. Therefore, there are air conditioners in the rooms. There are, however, large windows and a ceiling fan which keeps the air in the suites circulating. We think you’ll find that the rooms are quite comfortable. As an added bonus, the fans are fairly quiet, allowing you to hear the soothing sounds of the jungle at night!
Room Types:
Family Suite
• Accommodation for 4 guests
• King bed and two double beds
• Private porch, hammock & tub
• 4 cabins available
• 7.5 X 7.5 m.
Superior Suite
• Private balcony
• King bed or two double beds
• Exclusive rainforest shower
• Luxury bed linens
• 12 suites available
• 37 sq. m.
Scenic Suite
• Private balcony with lakeviews
• King bed or two double beds
• Luxury bed linens
• Exclusive rainforest shower
• 3 suites available
• 25 sq. m.
38 Meter Observation Tower
The observation platform of our 38 meter (125 ft.) high observation tower sits on sustainable steel. The platform offers a 360° view for world-class birdwatching.
Parrot Clay Lick
Guests visit clay licks where parrots and other birds frequently gather to eat salty clay to aid their digestion of seeds.
Kichwa Community Visit
Several indigenous communities live near La Selva and guests are able to visit to learn about their way of life.
Charapa Turtle Adoption
This is a new initiative within the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve in which La Selva participates in. Guests can adopt an endangered Charapa Turtle and set it free into the wild once hatched. Guests MUST mention this activity when booking. The program can only be arranged ahead of time in order to properly coordinate with the organization. Amount of donation at the end of the activity is decided by guest.
Night Excursions
Grab your flashlight or headlamp and join your guide to see the forest come alive in the darkness.
Star Gazing
The night sky at La Selva is perfect for viewing constellations in the Southern Hemisphere. Ask your guide to help point them out! We are currently working on new star gazing kits for the Junior Naturalist Childrens Program.
Night-time Canoe Excursion
You'll go out with the guides in canoe with a spotlight onto Garzacocha Lagoonto spotcaimans, bats, owls and more. Kayaking: This is a great way to do some exploring on your own time. The kayaks are kept by the dock. Ask reception for the paddles and life jackets to go out on your own. You'll have the opportunity to see monkeys, Hoatzins and many other tropical rainforest birds.
Swimming
Please inform reception you will be going for a swim. You can ask them for a towel instead of using one from your suite. The water is very refreshing after a jungle hike and feels silky smooth due to the blackwater.
Common Trails at La Selva:
Strangler Trail
The name is derived from the famous strangler fig (Ficus Aurea, in Spanish “Matapalo”). A remarkable plant which grows around surrounding trees, suffocating it in the process.
Chaguamango Trail
Beginning at the lodge, the trail winds through dense forest and finishes at the lagoon.
Sacha Huagra Trail
Our longest and most challenging trail is also our most spectacular one. The Sacha Hugra trail goes for four to five hours through some of the only surviving original primary rainforest in the area. It’s your best chance to see some of the larger, more spectacular wildlife.
Charapa Trail
The Charapa Trail goes along a winding path that most groups can walk in about an hour and a half. At the end of the trail, you arrive at the lagoon, where the canoe will be waiting to return you to the lodge or explore Lake Garzacocha.
Note: All of these activities are included in the regular program prices.
La Selva Amazon Ecolodge is located in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest.
The lodge is located just off the Napo River, which eventually flows eastward and joins the mighty Amazon on its way to the Atlantic Ocean. Our lodge is within the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve and next to the Yasuní National Park. This region is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, home to literally millions of species of plants, animals, birds and insects.
The lodge is located about five hours from Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, via a series of flights, canoe trips and walks. There are no roads to get to the lodge and the nearest city is Coca (Francisco de Orellana). From here, the best way to get to the lodge is by a two hour motorized canoe ride down the Napo River. You will travel down river aboard a locally crafted canoe, experiencing a typical ride to the lodge just like the locals. On the way you will be able to see your first glimpses of the Amazon rainforest and you can appreciate the houses and way of living of the local people as they go on about their daily routines by the riverside.
If you’re looking for La Selva on your GPS, you’ll find it here:
Latitude: 0.5026° Longitude: 76.3821°
La Selva Amazon Ecolodge is a proud member of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers to make a long and lasting impact to those in need at your travel destination. Saving a few kilos of space in your suitcase and bringing needed supplies will create a priceless difference in many lives.
Guests traveling to La Selva and participating in the program will be supporting the Kichwa Pilchi Community school. The local people of this area, the Kichwa, live along the Napo River and have trails interconnecting their homes up and down along the river banks. The Pilchi Community is found in the middle. This is where they meet for family celebrations, holidays, school, and other events. The children who attend the school are between the ages of 5 and 13. In order to attend some must walk up to an hour from their homes to the school. Others who live across the river must go by canoe, taking half an hour or more.
You can read more about Pack for a Purpose at La Selva Amazon Ecolodge HERE.
To see a video of La Selva Eco-Lodge & Retreat click HERE
