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

A memorable and travel safe place in the real Amazon! If I could give them another star I would do it!!
We were the first group they received since they re-open a... read moreIf I could give them another star I would do it!!
We were the first group they received since they re-open after the country’s shut down for coronavirus. They have a complete security protocol which made us feel confident that they care a lot about ensuring the safety of their guests during this special Period.
We felt very lucky to have Paul as our naturalist guide and Dario as the native guide. Both made a great team and gave us all the complete details about the jungle, the animals, plants, trees and even more. We got to do a canoe trip at night and had the fortune of having a completely clear night full of stars and Paul explained all about them.
We have done other trips to the jungle, since we live in the country, and by far this is the most memorable in many aspects: the amount of animals we saw, the knowledge of the guides, the quality of the food, the friendliness of the staff and the confort and details of the rooms.
The food was great and they had the gesture, especially the chef and Bernardo of preparing special food for my daughter that has to follow some food restrictions due to a health situation. They were on every detail of it.
The spa and the jacuzzi is a superb experience since you get to have the massages with the sounds of the jungle. This has definitely been one of the best trips we have done with my family. Highly recommended!! read less

Fantastic guides brought the jungle to life! My wife and I spent 6 days / 5 nights at La Selva Jungle Lodge as part of our honeymoon. While the lodge acco... read moreMy wife and I spent 6 days / 5 nights at La Selva Jungle Lodge as part of our honeymoon. While the lodge accommodations and meals were wonderful, the real highlight of our time there was learning about the plants and animals of the jungle. Our guide, Omar, was outstanding. A native of Quito, he spoke perfect English, and for 6 days he kept our attention as he explained all about the diversity of the jungle, and always had interesting things to say about the plants and the animals. Not only on our walks and paddles, but also at meals.

But we didn't go to La Selva for the food or the lodging -- we went to experience the biodiversity of the "lungs of the planet" and Omar was the perfect teacher! You can find great lodging and great food in many places, but there is only one Amazon. If you get the chance to go to La Selva, my wife and I highly recommend bilingual Omar & native Dario as exceptional guides -- we learned far more from them than we'd ever imagined. Muchas gracias, amigos! (We were there Jan. 20-25, 2020). More read less

Great Birding My wife and I were on a private birding trip July 21 - July 28th 2021 booked through La Selva Lodge. We had hi... read moreMy wife and I were on a private birding trip July 21 - July 28th 2021 booked through La Selva Lodge. We had hired a private guide through La Selva booking. We had requested Rodrigo and Sergio as they had been recommended to us. They were both outstanding guides and very helpful to us in every way possible. We really enjoyed our stay at La Selva and Mario was a very gracious and helpful host. It was a wonderful experience to be in such a wonderful setting in a very remote area read less

Secluded, quiet unfathomable experience! My husband and I were in search of an adventure that would take us away from city lights, the roaring of motor... read moreMy husband and I were in search of an adventure that would take us away from city lights, the roaring of motors, airplanes and in general noise. La Selva Lodge is so remote and gave us EVERYTHING we wanted and more. Indescribable the experience you have when arriving to the lodge. The scenery is magical and right away you see so many birds, insects, reptiles and monkeys. The food is plentiful, beautifully presented and delicious. The staff has a great attitude and you can tell they love their job. Our guides were so knowledgeable and I have a deeper appreciation of all living things. Take advantage of the spa which is fantastic and make sure you explore with a kayak. There is honestly not one negative comment or constructive criticism I have to say. Highly recommend if you want an experience with less people which was important to us. read less

Heart experience I and my husband stayed four days in La Selva. Our Ecuadorian travel agency organised our trip in Ecuador and ... read moreI and my husband stayed four days in La Selva. Our Ecuadorian travel agency organised our trip in Ecuador and choose this location for Amazon experience.
The lodge is amazing, in the lagoon, very peaceful and silence, only sound of animals, birds, monkeys.
Our room was very clean, nice and comfortable. The food is refined and of quality. All staff is very kindly and careful. We felt pampered and relaxed. The Selva is also Spa and the massage was very invigorating for us after an activity in the forest.
The activities in the forest are heart experiences. Our nature guide Anna and native guide Sergio were fantastic, we learned a lot of thing about animals and plants and helped us to walk in the forest and create a feeling with nature.
We are very glad to have spent wonderful days in La Selva. More read less