La Selva Amazon Lodge

Amazing experience of the rainforest La Selva is an amazing Lodge. All the staff were very helpful and the food was one of the highlights of the tr... read moreLa Selva is an amazing Lodge. All the staff were very helpful and the food was one of the highlights of the trip. Our guide, Paul was very knowledgeable and knew all of the species names that we saw. The villa we stayed in at the lodge was beautiful and had everything we would need. We participated in the yoga which was lovely. The scenery around the lodge was stunning. Overall the stay was wonderful and I would definitely return here. read less

Advice for your trip 🙂 La selva is great- but here’s some advice to have the best stay possible: -invest in a good pair of binocular... read moreLa selva is great- but here’s some advice to have the best stay possible: -invest in a good pair of binoculars - I didn’t do this, brought a junky pair and was kicking myself. Seriously, spend a lot of money for a good pair. -the 2 hour ride down the Napo River is not that pleasant , so just prepare yourself and you’ll be fine, bring a jacket. - do 5 days 4 nights, BUT, don’t let them pull what they pulled on 2 members of our group (see below - request Omar and Enrique , they’re the best! A few things la selva could improve: - we had 5 people in our group and they told us on day 2 that the next day we would have 5 more - meaning we would have had 10. The agent told me no more than 8 in a group, so if this had happened (3 of the 5 cancelled) I would have been pretty pissed. Make sure of the group size before you go and make sure it’s adhered to- 10 would have been a lot less enjoyable -we did 3 nights and 4 days. At first I was sad we were leaving the night before our departure and wished we had sprung for the extra night, but then I found out that they were doing the same exact thing they did on day 2 for those that were staying 4... La selva is great- but here’s some advice to have the best stay possible:

-invest in a good pair of binoculars - I didn’t do this, brought a junky pair and was kicking myself. Seriously, spend a lot of money for a good pair.

-the 2 hour ride down the Napo River is not that pleasant , so just prepare yourself and you’ll be fine, bring a jacket.

- do 5 days 4 nights, BUT, don’t let them pull what they pulled on 2 members of our group (see below

- request Omar and Enrique , they’re the best!

A few things la selva could improve:

- we had 5 people in our group and they told us on day 2 that the next day we would have 5 more - meaning we would have had 10. The agent told me no more than 8 in a group, so if this had happened (3 of the 5 cancelled) I would have been pretty pissed. Make sure of the group size before you go and make sure it’s adhered to- 10 would have been a lot less enjoyable

-we did 3 nights and 4 days. At first I was sad we were leaving the night before our departure and wished we had sprung for the extra night, but then I found out that they were doing the same exact thing they did on day 2 for those that were staying 4 nights - so they essentially had to repeat one day. If I had this happen to us I would be pretty peeved, so make sure you ask about this first and ensure that it won’t happen

-the travel agency they use is slow to answer , but it’s not the end of the world

-La Selva: please put the sign to not flush toilet paper in front of the bowl when you’re sitting - not to the side - I can’t count the number of times I fished toilet paper out of the bowl because I forgot. Yuck . Small change and a big reward.

- the tipping process is insane. They should incorporate it into the price. It makes the last day awkward and adds unnecessary stress. Just add a certain % automatically to the bill and if someone has poor service they can ask for it be removed - this is the process in a lot of places and it’s a lot less stressful and awkward.

All that said - la selva is wonderful. The staff is great, the whole place is amazing and the activities are a blast.. definitely go- just take my advice above 🙂 More read less

Paul made it all happen We are seasoned travellers. We have been all over the world and know that much depends on the guide. He can ma... read moreWe are seasoned travellers. We have been all over the world and know that much depends on the guide. He can make or break your experience. We had a cautious beginning. But all our hesitations blew away as soon as Paul and Darwin started the excursions. Paul is a walking encyclopaedia, a first class photographer and an unbelievable astronomer! Thanks to Paul, the trees, the rivers, the sky, all came to life. We learned an amazing amount about the Amazon. He was kind, patient and ensured our safety at all times. Thank you Paul and Darwin for this unforgettable experience. read less

Exotic Location meets Luxury Lodging Getting to La Selva is part of the adventure! After a ride down the Napo River in a larger motorized canoe, yo... read moreGetting to La Selva is part of the adventure! After a ride down the Napo River in a larger motorized canoe, you travel the final leg in a small canoe, which is paddled by your 2 guides through the lush Amazon rain forest, echoing with exotic bird song! You are greeted with cool cloths and a tropical fruit drink. The rooms are lovely, the food is fresh and delicious, and the staff goes out of their way to make your stay one you won't forget. The guides are knowledgable, patient and kind. What an experience! Thank you to Dan Hicks, Ramon and Bernardo and the wonderful woman (whose name I forgot) that keeps everything running smoothly and is always working hard to make sure you have everything you need. read less

A must stay in the Amazon We LOVED our three night stay at La Selva Ecolodge. The room was huge, netted bed, large bathroom and fantasti... read moreWe LOVED our three night stay at La Selva Ecolodge. The room was huge, netted bed, large bathroom and fantastic little balcony looking over the lagoon. The food was fantastic, staff were very attentive and helpful including arranging a surprise birthday cake and bottle of champagne for me with my mum in Australia. The spa is a lovely touch for a massage and is secluded - just you and nature. Our local guide Henry was amazing and our main guides Robby was incredibly knowledgeable, funny and made our trip memorable. The guides join you for dinner each night which is a nice way to get to know them more too. The groups are small - no more than 5-6 people per guide so it is very personable and they will stay out exploring for as long as you’d like (within limits of course). It was the perfect way to see the Amazon and the wildlife spotting was beyond belief!! Do yourselves a favour and stay here - once in a lifetime, bucket list item! More read less

Amazing Amazon Experience We had booked our trip originally for March 2020, but the pandemic came and we had to cancel everything. Fortu... read moreWe had booked our trip originally for March 2020, but the pandemic came and we had to cancel everything. Fortunately, La Selva offered to give us a credit for when we could come, which we used after being vaccinated in early 2021. The first thing to know about La Selva is that they are determined to bend over backwards to make everything perfect for you. When the local airlines cancelled our flight into Coca, they quickly arranged for a driver to pick us up in our hotel in Quito. When our son was feeling a bit ill with traveler’s stomachs, they took great effort to make sure he was comfortable. The guides are amazing here. They can spot things that are completely invisible. We saw three kinds of monkeys, plus pigmy marmosets, dozens at least of bird species, caimans, turtles, and insects we never could have imagined. The cultural visit was amazing as well, with a hands-on experience in one of the local indigenous communities, with food and drink tasting, and a chance to understand how the local community lives. The kitchen gave us way too much food, but adapted to our tastes over the few days we were here. They were always at their best when showcasing local flavors. The spa (yes, an active spa during COVID!) was fantastic, offering professional, therapeutic sessions. We have been to the Amazon before, but THIS is the way to see it: close... We had booked our trip originally for March 2020, but the pandemic came and we had to cancel everything. Fortunately, La Selva offered to give us a credit for when we could come, which we used after being vaccinated in early 2021.
The first thing to know about La Selva is that they are determined to bend over backwards to make everything perfect for you. When the local airlines cancelled our flight into Coca, they quickly arranged for a driver to pick us up in our hotel in Quito. When our son was feeling a bit ill with traveler’s stomachs, they took great effort to make sure he was comfortable.
The guides are amazing here. They can spot things that are completely invisible. We saw three kinds of monkeys, plus pigmy marmosets, dozens at least of bird species, caimans, turtles, and insects we never could have imagined.
The cultural visit was amazing as well, with a hands-on experience in one of the local indigenous communities, with food and drink tasting, and a chance to understand how the local community lives.
The kitchen gave us way too much food, but adapted to our tastes over the few days we were here. They were always at their best when showcasing local flavors.
The spa (yes, an active spa during COVID!) was fantastic, offering professional, therapeutic sessions.
We have been to the Amazon before, but THIS is the way to see it: close to nature, guided by experts, close to the indigenous communities, and yet pampered and comfortable. Good for guests of all stripes - families, couples, singles, whatever.
This is the Amazon adventure you are looking for! More read less