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Frequently Asked Questions

Vaccinations and diseases:

No vaccinations are required to enter Ecuador or La Selva Amazon Ecolodge. There have not been any cases of tropical diseases (malaria, yellow fever, cholera) reported in or near the lodge. However, we always suggest that our passengers consult their physician to get the most up-to-date information and advice.

The best time to visit La Selva Amazon Ecolodge:

Any time of the year is perfect for visiting the lodge since the weather varies only slightly from month to month. Expect some rain but equal periods of bright sunshine. The most frequent comments from tourists about the weather are that the jungle is not nearly as hot, not nearly as bug-infested and not nearly as wet as they expected.

The weather in La Selva Amazon Ecolodge:

Year-round temperature average is 82°F (28°C), however nights can be cooler. Since Ecuador is located right on the equator, the country does not experience extreme weather changes, and the weather is surprisingly comfortable all year around. Regarding the Amazon region, in 4 or 5-day visit you will see more or less the same amount of rain and sunshine.

About kids:

Kids are welcome at La Selva Amazon Ecolodge. In fact, the hotel is every kid’s fantasy: a place to hike, swim, fish, row and generally play around. We have had kids as young as three months and groups of up to 15 at a time. Bring the kids!

For children less then 12 years old at the time of stay, we grant a 30% of discount on La Selva Amazon Ecolodge programs, as well as airfare. We require a copy of the child’s passport at the time of confirmation (page showing birthday) in order to justify the discount.

About our cabins:

The cabanas are of native and mixed design and are built with the same material that native people in the region use for their housing. The cabanas are comfortable, spacious, and equipped with mosquito nets and private bathrooms. There are eight cabins that have a capacity for between 1-4 people. There are eight new suites with king size beds; four new suites with double beds; two scenic suits with king size beds; and one scenic suite with a double bed. All rooms have ceiling fans.

Electricity:

Electricity is available in the bar, dining areas, reception areas and rooms (110V) to recharge batteries. We suggest that guests bring a flashlight or headlamp.

The plugs for recharging batteries have three holes, two plainprongs and one circle prong just as most American plugs. However, we recommend that you bring a transformer of two plain prongs.

Airline luggage restriction:

Each passenger is allowed luggage up to 20 kilos (44 pounds) for checked luggage, as well as a carry-on item such as a backpack.

How to keep things dry:

We recommend that passengers bring zip-lock plastic bags or dry sacks for your lenses and camera equipment. A waterproof backpack will also help you to protect your camera gear or anything else you wish to keep completely dry.

The humidity is high in the rainforest, however, if you follow the advice about packing appropriate belongings it should not be an issue.

Rain Ponchos:

You will be given a rain poncho upon arrival to Coca while traveling aboard our boat down the Napo River. Please keep in mind that these ponchos are not for you to keep. If you are interested in purchasing a rain poncho during your stay you can find ponchos at the lodge.

Please feel free to bring your own raincoat or poncho for extra rain protection. This will be handy for you to keep yourself and your backpack dry if you are caught in a downpour during a hike or other outdoor activities.

Photography:

For taking pictures, we recommend you bring a tripod to ensure quality of the photos and cameras with at least 12x zoom for close up shots of faraway wildlife. Very good souvenir pictures can be taken with almost any point and shoot digital camera; just make sure the flash is working for shots deep in the forest.

Vegetarian/special diets:

La Selva Amazon Ecolodge can serve Vegetarian meals and can cater to special diets upon request. Do not hesitate in requesting a special diet, but please do so in advance upon confirmation of your reservation. Our culinary background is French and we have applied these skills to local ingredients and dishes. Breakfast is accompanied by fresh tropical fruit juice.

Rubber boots are a must:

Rubber boots are very good for hiking in the rainforest, they help protect feet from plants and insects close to the ground as well as deep water. The lodge offers use of boots as a courtesy to our guests, available from size 5 to size 12. At the time of making your reservation inform your sales representative of your rubber boot size, and we will be sure to have your boots waiting for you in your room.

Location of the lodge:

La Selva is located on the border of Yasuni National Park on Garzacocha Lake in the Province of Sucumbios, with exact coordinates:

Latitude: 0.5026°
Longitude: 76.3821°

Flight connections and schedules:

We strongly recommend that our guests arrive in Ecuador a day prior to the lodge visit and that they do not have international connections on the same day as departure from the lodge. Passengers risk missing out on their jungle program due to unexpected delays in flights. Please plan to stay in Quito the night before and after of the jungle trip to avoid missing your trip.

Other wildlife:

Our programs will provide you visits to the most biologically diverse primary forest on earth with the opportunity to see a vast array of wildlife. Moreover, we own a Butterfly Farm for breeding and observation, the only one in the world located in a primary rainforest. One Entomologist has told us he believes this to be one of the richest forests in wildlife anywhere.