La Selva Amazon Lodge

Ecuadorian Amazon experience at first rate lodge 4 night stay at La Selva. Room-excellent with great bathroom products
Arrangements to get here-smooth and str... read more4 night stay at La Selva. Room-excellent with great bathroom products
Arrangements to get here-smooth and streamlined and great boat rides-makes it really feel like an adventure from the start
food-amazing and they go above and beyond to respond to dietary requirements if you have any
Pisco sour-excellent, with Laos many cocktails and wine
Snacks-welcome back drinks from excursions -excellent
All staff-excellent
The most amazing thing is the the rainforest and the guides-we has Rodriguez and Ramon- they had an incredible ability to find animals, birds, monkeys, bugs, mammals in the jungle. They could do monkey and bird calls to entice them out. They even took a photo of a TOucan for me through a telescope
Rain is not a problem as when it rains they carry and instantly provide industrial strength ponchos as well as gumboots
The canoe rides at day and night are an amazing way to experience, see and hear the changing mood of the jungle across the day read less

An Amazing Rainforest Adventure We enjoyed our boat rides on the Napa River going to and from La Selva. The motorized canoe is steady and tra... read moreWe enjoyed our boat rides on the Napa River going to and from La Selva. The motorized canoe is steady and travels fast. It is piloted by a skilled driver who knows exactly where the sandbars are both above and below the water. On our way to the resort we saw dark clouds and a wall of rain ahead. The boat stopped and we were given heavy ponchos that covered us completely. The rest of our luggage had already been placed in heavy plastic bags so nothing got wet. Don’t worry about the weather ~ the staff will take care of you. Our trip back was sunny and smooth. Both times we saw amazing trees and spoonbills & egrets fishing on the sandbars. We also saw barges of heavy equipment used by the oil companies that have mineral rights in places along the river. The resort fits perfectly into its surroundings. The lodge holds a reception area, an open-air restaurant & bar, and an observation platform. There were no mosquitoes or other insects to bother us around the lake. We only needed to put on insect repellent when we went into the jungle. Large fans kept us cool and we always had access to water coolers and tea and coffee. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. The food was plentiful and delicious. It included a huge breakfast buffet each morning and then three course meals or buffets at lunch... We enjoyed our boat rides on the Napa River going to and from La Selva. The motorized canoe is steady and travels fast. It is piloted by a skilled driver who knows exactly where the sandbars are both above and below the water. On our way to the resort we saw dark clouds and a wall of rain ahead. The boat stopped and we were given heavy ponchos that covered us completely. The rest of our luggage had already been placed in heavy plastic bags so nothing got wet. Don’t worry about the weather ~ the staff will take care of you. Our trip back was sunny and smooth. Both times we saw amazing trees and spoonbills & egrets fishing on the sandbars. We also saw barges of heavy equipment used by the oil companies that have mineral rights in places along the river.

The resort fits perfectly into its surroundings. The lodge holds a reception area, an open-air restaurant & bar, and an observation platform. There were no mosquitoes or other insects to bother us around the lake. We only needed to put on insect repellent when we went into the jungle. Large fans kept us cool and we always had access to water coolers and tea and coffee. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. The food was plentiful and delicious. It included a huge breakfast buffet each morning and then three course meals or buffets at lunch and dinner. The staff took allergies and food preferences into account. At breakfast and dinner we sat with our small group (5) and our interpretative guide. This allowed us to plan our day and talk about what we had seen. The tiny gift shop has an excellent booklet on birds and common mammals that are seen around the lodge.

Our room was lovely. It was fully screened and had a private balcony and a modern washroom. The overhead fan did a great job of keeping us cool at night. While it is hot and humid in the daytime we actually appreciated the comforter over night.

The quality of the interpretive naturalist guides and the local guides make the programs at La Selva world class. Omar and Darwin were our guides. This partnership provides a great balance. Omar had an encyclopedic knowledge of the flora and fauna and Darwin had incredibly sharp eyes and the local expertise needed to help us spot wildlife. The programs start early in the morning, provide you with free time during the heat of the day, and then resume in the late afternoon. This pattern matches the activity of wildlife. We went on day & night hikes, canoe rides, visited a local Kichwa village and climbed the 35 m observation tower. Free time can be spent catching piranha, practicing yoga, relaxing at the spa, socializing with other guests, kayaking around the lake, or napping.

In our four days at La Selva we saw 55 different species of birds well enough for us to identify them on our own and 19 species of animals. We didn’t even try to keep track of the number of species of insects and plants. We could easily have doubled the length of our stay and continued to have new experiences. More read less

Clean property, authentic experience, and great staff What can I say? The best Amazon has to offer. The only drawback is that the rooms do have AC but it is surpr... read moreWhat can I say? The best Amazon has to offer. The only drawback is that the rooms do have AC but it is surprising cool at night with fans. And unlike other ecolodges, the rooms are well sealed so the mosquitos do not get in. Nature guides are very knowledgeable and unfailingly polite. Canoe rides in the quiet jungle is magical. read less

Couldn't have been better. Had a wonderful experience at La Selva. Staff and facilities were outstanding. Our family ventured out twice a... read moreHad a wonderful experience at La Selva. Staff and facilities were outstanding. Our family ventured out twice a day with a well informed naturalist and local guide. We explored Ecuador's Amazon jungle by canoe and by foot, day and even at night. Good balance of excursions and free time. Well made food and a full bar to have a beer and talk about the adventures at the end of the day, Flights and transportation handled efficiently and professionally from beginning to end by La Selva. read less

A magical place We just returned from the Galapagos, where the critters were in plain sight and arm’s reach. Here the critter... read moreWe just returned from the Galapagos, where the critters were in plain sight and arm’s reach. Here the critters were in abundance but a little more difficult to pry out of the foliage but with our expert guides we found three species of monkey, seeing most every day as we learned their habits and habitats. A different three toed sloth was spotted every day, high in the canopy. There were a myriad of birds from the prehistoric looking hoatzins to the jewel like purple honeycreeper and the cacophonous orandopandola. Omar and Ramon were excellent guides, identifying creatures where at first we saw only shadows. An amazing Amazon adventure! read less

Great place! A very, very nice place! Beautiful lodge and surroundings, great food and staff! But absolutely best are the g... read moreA very, very nice place! Beautiful lodge and surroundings, great food and staff! But absolutely best are the guides!!! Our naturalist guide, Robby, and our native guide, Sixto, were outstanding! Very professional, yet extremely warm and funny, felt like family. Robby was teaching us in a very interesting and interactive way that kept the whole family spellbound. And just an example of how the staff really care; on the day we left, the housekeeping found out that our son had left his sunglasses behind. To give them back to him, they sent a guy in a canoe, paddling really fast for like 30 minutes to catch up with us before entering the motorized canoe! More read less