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UK: 01473 890499US: 1-800-608-4651
Rating: Mid-range
Yachana Lodge is on the banks of the Napo River near the tiny community of Mondaña, 2 hours by motorized canoe from Coca. The lodge was set up by the local community and a non-profit foundation and is a particularly good location to learn about the pressures and opportunities facing the rainforest and its inhabitants.
There are 18 rooms with either two or three single beds. Rooms are screened with mosquito netting and have private bathrooms with warm showers. Each room also has a balcony overlooking the Napo River with chairs and hammocks.
Meals are predominantly vegetarian with a mix of local and international dishes. Chicken or fish is occasionally served. The bread is home-made, and the juices freshly squeezed. There is a small library and a balcony overlooking the river. The lodge bar serves beer, wine, soft drinks and bottled water and a small gift shop sells local handicrafts as well as basic supplies such as insect repellent and toothpaste.
Activities include rainforest hikes accompanied by a bilingual guide, night walks and sunset cruises on the Napo River. There is also an opportunity to visit community development projects, practise using blowguns, spears and fishing nets, learn basket weaving and participate in a cleansing ceremony with a traditional healer.
Open: Yachana Lodge is open all year.
Location: Yachana Lodge is on the banks of the Napo River in the Amazon rainforest. From Coca there is a 2-3 hour motorboat ride along the Napo River to the lodge.
Rooms: There are 18 guest rooms, each with an en-suite bathroom and a balcony with a hammock. 8 of these rooms have a double bed and a single bed or bunk beds, so work well for families. Rooms are brightly furnished and have ceiling fans. There is a limited supply of electricity, so you can charge batteries.
Activities: You will hike in the rainforest with a naturalist guide, go for early morning bird watching walks, paddle a canoe in the Napo River or enjoy a trip in a motorised canoe, stroll in the gardens and go on night hikes to discover nocturnal species. At Yachana, you can visit the local Kichwa community of Mondana, the school and health centre. There is an organic farm nearby that you can visit. This provides much of the food that you will eat here.
Facilities: Meals are served in the thatched, open-sided dining room, overlooking the river. Food is predominantly vegetarian, but is sometimes supplemented by chicken and fish. The bar offers a range of alcoholic and soft drinks and there is a viewing deck. There is a conference room and videos about the Amazon for you to watch. The gift shop sells local handicrafts, T-shirts, caps and various souvenirs. The lodge provides Wellington boots and ponchos for your forest exploration. Electricity is supplied by solar power for guest rooms and communal areas. Water comes from a natural spring and is purified and is safe to drink.
Dining: Meals are eaten at separate tables.
Children: Children of all ages are welcome, but there will be age limits on certain activities. Special activities can be arranged for children.
Health: This is a malarial area.
Communication: There is free high speed internet access.
Known worldwide for being of the pioneers of tourism that can make a difference, Yachana benefits both the environment & wildlife of its reserve as well as the local community. Smart Voyager, certified through the Rainforest Alliance.
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0"Wendys favorite part of our honeymoon! I reccomend the nightwalk if you have nerves of steel and dont have a problem with spiders. I dont know where to start all of it was amazing. The guide was very good. It was very interesting seeing the work they are doing."
Tribes Travel, The Old Dairy, Wood Farm, Ipswich Road,
Otley, Suffolk, IP6 9JW.
Office hours: Monday - Friday: 9am to 5.30pm
Telephone: 01473 890499
