Yachana Lodge - 5 Days

Itinerary

Day 1 Quito/Yachana Lodge

Your journey into the Amazon Jungle starts in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. You will take a 30 minute flight over the Andes from Quito to the jungle city of Coca, and if weather conditions are optimum, you will have an amazing view of snow covered mountains of the Andes and the Amazon rainforest as you begin your descent into the rainforest.Upon arrival to the city of Coca airport, you will be greeted by your Yachana guide, transported by bus to the river port and then board our 57 foot (18 meter) motorized canoe for the 2.5 to 3 hour trip up river. A box lunch will be served on the way as we navigate up the Napo River (please advise us of any dietary restriction in advance). For your safety, life vests will be provided for every passenger so you can fully relax and enjoy your ride along one of the largest tributaries to the legendary Amazon River. Depending on river conditions (weather dependant), the trip might take up to three hours. Once you arrive at Yachana Lodge, you will have a warm welcome by our native staff accompanied by a refreshing beverage and a brief introduction to the Lodge facilities.After a rest from your journey your guide will take you to an overlook where you can see the splendor of the rainforest spread below you. On clear days you can see the Sumaco Volcano rising up in the distance. Watch the colors of the forest change as the sun sets into the distant clouds. One can also visit our interesting and beautiful Butterfly house if they don’t want to take the hike up the hill to the overlook.

Day 2 Yachana Lodge

After breakfast, take a journey into the rainforest. Your indigenous guide will explain to you the uses of the plants and will amaze you with the diversity of birds and animals that inhabit the rainforest. This will be your first introduction to the incredible rainforest. You will return to the Lodge for lunch. After lunch, we normally recommend taking a siesta to rest up from the morning activities, and to reflect on the activities. Later in the afternoon, you can visit a traditional healer for a cleansing ceremony. This is an interesting cultural experience where you will also have the opportunity to practice your skills at using a blowgun and spear. You will have time to rest and clean up before dinner. Dinner is served at 7:00. On one of your evenings, you will have the opportunity to take a night walk to discover a totally different side of the forest. On this walk, you will experience the small insects, amphibians, reptiles and other animals that only come out at night. A traditional Amazon lunch will be served at the Lodge. Following you will hike into primary forest and discover the immense biodiversity of the jungle. Although it takes time to tune into the jungle, many of the rainforest secrets are easy to discover with the aid of the guides keen eyes. Photo opportunities are endless.

Day 3 Yachana Lodge

The day can start with an optional birding excursion before breakfast. This day is when you will be able to try many of the Amazon culinary delights. You breakfast is your first experience. After breakfast, you can visit the endemic hoatzin, a prehistoric bird found only in select areas of the Amazon. You will then go to visit the Yachana Technical High School. This will take most of the morning and will give you an opportunity to see how a meaningful education is making a difference in the lives of many young people from the Amazon region. You will return to the Lodge before lunch and participate in a Amazon cooking class. Then lunch. After lunch, there is time for a siesta and then you can learn directly from a native how to make natural fiber baskets and create a traditional ceramic bowl from Amazon clay.After dinner there is free time for leisure activities or an optional activity

Day 4 Yachana Lodge

In the early morning you can go for an early morning bird watch (optional activity) and after breakfast you will enjoy a forest hike to a different area. Your guide will show you native flora species which have been used for medicinal purposes for years and also for building indigenous peoples homes, making baskets, twine, weapons, clothing, and food.After lunch you will have time to relax. Then you have the option of visiting a family doing gold panning in the river, using inner tubes to float on the Napo River or return to the high school for further interaction with the students.

Day 5 Yachana Lodge/Quito

Breakfast and then depart from Yachana Lodge by canoe to the city of Coca. You will navigate downstream along the Napo River and have one last opportunity to appreciate the Amazon Rainforest vastness and intensity before the flight back to Quito. Take this moment to reflect on your experience, the people you have met and to savor what you have experienced at Yachana Lodge – A Place for Learning!