The ultimate experience!
Deep in the Amazon Rainforest
Deep in the Amazon Rainforest
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No vaccinations are required to enter Ecuador or the La Selva Amazon Ecolodge & Spa. 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 most up-to-date information and advice.
Any time of the year is the best to visit 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.
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 the 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.
Kids are welcome at La Selva Amazon Ecolodge & Spa. 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 with less of 12 years old at the time of stay, we grant a 30% of discount on La Selva Amazon Ecolodge & Spa program as well as the airfare. We require a copy of the child’s passport at the time of confirmation (page showing birthday) in order to justify the discount.
The cabanas are of native design and are built with the same material that native people in the region use for their housing. They are comfortable, spacious, and equipped with mosquito nets and private bathroom. There are fifteen double cabins, a triple cabin, a four-passenger cabin and our new family cabin that holds seven guests.
The ventilation of each cabin is completely natural, in the upper part of the cabin there is a screen which allows hot air to go up and out maintaining a nice temperature in the cabin.
Electricity is available at the bar and dining areas (110V) to recharge batteries. At the cabins we provide each night two kerosene lamps, one inside and the other outside the cabin, which last until the following day. We suggest that guests bring a flashlight as an aid to walk around the lodge at night.
The plugs for recharging batteries have three holes, two plane prongs and one circle prong just as most American plugs. However, we recommend that you bring a transformer of two plane prongs plug.
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.
We recommend that passengers bring zip-lock plastic bags for your lenses and camera equipment. An “impermeable” or water-proof backpack will also help you to protect your camera gear or anything else you wish to keep completely dry.
A rain poncho is also recommended for rainy weather, this will assist you to cover yourself and your backpack if you are caught in downpour during a hike.
The humidity is high in the rainforest, however, if you follow the advice about packing appropriate belongings it should not be an issue.
For taking pictures at La Selva Amazon Ecolodge & Spa, we recommend using ASA 400 for the dark areas (on trails where there are many trees) and also ASA 100 for the clear areas. To ensure quality of the photos, you may also wish to bring a tripod. Sophistication of your choosing but to get close-ups of anything in the trees you need a lens of at least 135mm. Very good souvenir pictures can be taken with almost any point and shoot camera just make sure the flash is working for shots deep in the forest.
La Selva Amazon Ecolodge & Spa serves Vegetarian meals: the food is our pride. Do not hesitate in requesting a special diet. Our culinary background is French and we have applied these skills to local ingredients and dishes. Fresh tropical fruit juices accompany each meal. Note: Vegetarian and special diets are served upon request and we handle these requests with great care.
Rubber boots are very good for hiking in the rain forest, 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 6 to size 12.
La Selva is located at the Garzacocha Lake in the Province of Sucumbios, with exact coordinates:
Latitude: 0.5026°
Longitude: 76.3821°
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 losing 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 loss of trip.
Unfortunately, pink dolphins are only present at the National Reserve of Cuyabeno. La Selva Amazon Ecolodge & Spa is located at the edge of Garzacocha Lake, along the Napo River. Nevertheless, please be sure that our programs will provide you visits to the riches 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.
