An Ecuador Amazon lodge like no other

A magical privilege I was in La Selva in October 2019, but to this day I still dream of the jungle I experienced there. In the fir... read moreI was in La Selva in October 2019, but to this day I still dream of the jungle I experienced there. In the first couple of months I had very frequent dreams at night, seeing the birds and the trees, jaguars and monkeys. My actual experience was not too far from these dreams. I saw the most spectacular nature I could ever have wished for, and I was deeply touched to see the animals I've known of since childhood, in their natural habitat. Alligators, anaconda, monkeys (ti-ti monkey <3 ), turtles, parrots, toucans, spiders and insects and some of the other guests saw a jaguar! Most of all, it was a huge impression to see and feel how the jungle with all of its life, is a massive organism, where everything is in harmony. How foolish the norms of civilization seems, when standing still in this paradise. Even the dangerous aspects of life seem to have their place, without violating the harmony. Now the ecolodge experience was equally magical! -Wonderful people there -I feel so lucky to have had Paul as our guide -everything he showed & told us was captivating. Enrique (Pajarito!) was with us on our jungle walks and the canoe, he too was amazing. Across the lagoon he was able to identify the types of monkeys (not visible from the distance), just from the movement of the trees, to mention but one of our guides expert knowledge.... I was in La Selva in October 2019, but to this day I still dream of the jungle I experienced there. In the first couple of months I had very frequent dreams at night, seeing the birds and the trees, jaguars and monkeys. My actual experience was not too far from these dreams. I saw the most spectacular nature I could ever have wished for, and I was deeply touched to see the animals I've known of since childhood, in their natural habitat. Alligators, anaconda, monkeys (ti-ti monkey <3 ), turtles, parrots, toucans, spiders and insects and some of the other guests saw a jaguar! Most of all, it was a huge impression to see and feel how the jungle with all of its life, is a massive organism, where everything is in harmony. How foolish the norms of civilization seems, when standing still in this paradise. Even the dangerous aspects of life seem to have their place, without violating the harmony.
Now the ecolodge experience was equally magical! -Wonderful people there -I feel so lucky to have had Paul as our guide -everything he showed & told us was captivating. Enrique (Pajarito!) was with us on our jungle walks and the canoe, he too was amazing. Across the lagoon he was able to identify the types of monkeys (not visible from the distance), just from the movement of the trees, to mention but one of our guides expert knowledge.
In the beautiful dining area (where all meals were beautiful and delicious), we always felt at home, with the hearty greetings of Juanito and Bernardo -I will never forget this!
Also our hostess with the mostess was so helpful and friendly -unfortunately I don't remember her name. Last but not least, on our last night I had the best massage ever, just at the edge of the jungle. The masseuse had serious skills!
In just 4 days, this place really left its imprint on me. Going back to Coca in the morning (5am) with the canoe, was a very poetic and magical farewell. Hopefully I will have the honor to go back to Amazonia -I'm forever humbled & enchanted! Anyway, I lost my Aries zodiac patch in my room! Maybe I need to go back and get it! More read less

Wonderful lodge I ended up here after multiple changes to my itinerary so I was not sure what to expect - I was incredibly imp... read moreI ended up here after multiple changes to my itinerary so I was not sure what to expect - I was incredibly impressed. The lodge aligns flights with the Coca pick up and canoes so that is great - would have been great if my agent told me if the changes but it all worked out. You are checked in at Quito and greeted at Coca and ushered onto a bus and then eventually onto a motorised canoe for a 2 hour journey down the river. It is then a 20 minute paddle canoe to the lake where the lodge is perched! It is a gorgeous place with a fantastic layout from the dining area and the jetties to the rooms. I was in room 14 which I could not fault except for the noisy people upstairs - get a room with no one above you is my tip if you want peace. My guides - Dan and Henry were lovely. So patient and helpful at all times. We did everything that I had hoped to do and my dream of seeing a sloth was met thanks to some other guides who knew I was hoping to see one. The food is magnificent and the bar has everything you could want. We went out for a whole day one day and the box lunch was roasted chicken and veggies! No crappy sandwich. There are early starts but you can rest... I ended up here after multiple changes to my itinerary so I was not sure what to expect - I was incredibly impressed. The lodge aligns flights with the Coca pick up and canoes so that is great - would have been great if my agent told me if the changes but it all worked out. You are checked in at Quito and greeted at Coca and ushered onto a bus and then eventually onto a motorised canoe for a 2 hour journey down the river. It is then a 20 minute paddle canoe to the lake where the lodge is perched! It is a gorgeous place with a fantastic layout from the dining area and the jetties to the rooms. I was in room 14 which I could not fault except for the noisy people upstairs - get a room with no one above you is my tip if you want peace. My guides - Dan and Henry were lovely. So patient and helpful at all times. We did everything that I had hoped to do and my dream of seeing a sloth was met thanks to some other guides who knew I was hoping to see one. The food is magnificent and the bar has everything you could want. We went out for a whole day one day and the box lunch was roasted chicken and veggies! No crappy sandwich. There are early starts but you can rest in the middle of the day before going out again. All of the staff were super friendly and I would totally recommend La Selva Lodge. The return journey was as painless as the way in. A great place to stay. More read less

Amazing place - highly recommend We are just now heading home after a few days at La Selva, followed by a week in the Galapagos. La Selva was t... read moreWe are just now heading home after a few days at La Selva, followed by a week in the Galapagos. La Selva was truly remarkable. Our accommodations were superb, and the food was really excellent (it's amazing how they do it, given it's remote location). Our naturalist guide, Daniel, is easily the best guide we've had anywhere in the world. His knowledge of tropical forest ecology was phenomenal. And our local guide, Sixto, added the perspective of local people that really made our experience complete. We can't recommend this place highly enough. read less

An Enjoyable Rainforest Visit We spent 4 nights at La Selva, and enjoyed it very much. While the journey to get there is a bit long, it's we... read moreWe spent 4 nights at La Selva, and enjoyed it very much. While the journey to get there is a bit long, it's well worth it for what you get in return. The lodge itself is beautiful, with clean and comfortable rooms and glorious grounds and surroundings. My only complaint about our room was that the king-size bed didn't leave enough room on one side to actually walk, Other than that, the room was spacious and housekeeping did a wonderful job cleaning things up each morning.

Our guides, Dany and Dario, provided us with an amazing experience of the rainforest, that was also highly educational. We saw so many amazing things (3 types of monkeys, sloths, a caiman, a capybara, and more birds than you could possibly count) during our stay, and we have Dany and Dario to thank for that. Our trip to a local Kichwa community was one of the highlights of our visit, and included a sampling of local foods. You haven't lived until you've eaten a roasted grub! We also got to use a native blow gun, which was fun.

The food was good and plentiful and the chef did a great job of accommodating the special requests of guests.

Overall, we would definitely recommend La Selva if you are wanting to experience the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador. read less

Memorable Rain forest experience La Selva is a wonderful lodge to stay at. The staff are so helpful and welcoming, the cabin was so lovely and ... read moreLa Selva is a wonderful lodge to stay at. The staff are so helpful and welcoming, the cabin was so lovely and the food was delicious. We went out 2x a day either on walks in the rainforest or out in canoes- We had the most knowledgeable guides, Julio and Dario who taught us so much about the widelife and the birds. One day we went up to a tower overlooking the forest and saw over 25 spies of birds, several species of monkeys and frogs to name just a few. Whether you are walking in the forest or canoeing down the river at sunset, the experience is magical and we truly left with a greater appreciation for conservation of the rainforest.

La Selva is a real find! read less

Vacation at La selva lodge Just finishing 3 days at the amazing lodge la selva.
This vacation was perfection : the service was kind, th... read moreJust finishing 3 days at the amazing lodge la selva.
This vacation was perfection : the service was kind, the accomadation was beautiful and the guides were so nice. We’ve seen so many different animals and beautiful nature.

We recommend it highly!!! read less