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Sani lodge community experience 4 days
Suggested Itinerary
Sani Jungle Lodge is a first class Rainforest lodge located about 3 ½ hours downstream from the rainforest frontier town of Francisco Orellana (Coca) wedged between the Cuyabeno Reserve to the North and Yasuni National Park to the South. The lodge started business in 2002 in and is the only lodge in Ecuador that is owned to a 100% by the Quichua (a local indigenous tribe) community Sanisla. The lodge is located on the brim of a mysterious black water lagoon, the Challuacocha, offering great views from the bar as well as the dining room to watch the wildlife on the lake and the mesmerizing sunsets. The 15,000 hectars of primary rainforest around the lodge are owned by the Quichua community and feature a biodiversity that is hardly found elsewhere. Among the animals you can see at Sani are: black caimans, manatees, 13 different kinds of monkeys (including howler monkeys and wooly monkeys), sloths, armadillos as well as over 550 different species of birds (including blue-and-yellow macaws, hoatzins, king vultures, parrots and many more).
You will forever remember the captivating shades of green and the strikingly intense colors of the rainforest flora - ranging from orchids to the famous strangler figs - and the departure from Sani will definitely not be an easy one.
That's what your stay at Sani Lodge could be like:
Day 1: Quito - Coca - Napo river - Sani Lodge
Upon your arrival from Quito at the airport in Coca you will be met by a bilingual guide who will accompany you on your 3 ½ hour journey to the lodge (3 hours on a motorized canoe downstream on the Río Napo, Ecuador's largest river, as well as ½ hour in dug-out canoes on the Challuayacu, the small stream leading to the lodge). On the boat ride you will be served a light lunch and you will be given information about the area. After a welcome drink and having settled in at the lodge you will canoe the lagoon and take in the sunset before enjoying our international cuisine. -/L/D
Day 2: Sani lodge Jungle exploration
After an early breakfast you will leave the lodge by canoe, catching the morning action on the lagoon before engaging in a rainforest hike learning about and seeing wildlife at its best while being accompanied by the roaring cries of the howler monkey. After lunch and a siesta break you will go piranha fishing and return to the lodge as the sun sets to look at the caimans in the water. Dinner will give you time to relax and reflect on the experienced. B/L/D
Day 3: Sani lodge Jungle exploration
The canoe ride to the beginning of Coto Trail will give you time to gather your strength for the upcoming hike. After an easy 2 hour walk through the forest you will be picked up by canoe on the other end of the trail and begin the return to the hotel on "hoatzin alley", a little side stream of the lagoon, looking at the abundance of birds and checking out the marching wasps. During the afternoon you will ascend our 30m tree tower (only 20 minutes from the lodge) and look at toucans, macaws, parrots and maybe even a group of monkeys before hiking back to the lodge at night to look at spiders, night monkeys, frogs and other nocturnal animals. Dinner at the lodge. B/L/D
Day 4: Sani lodge - Napo river - Coca - Quito
Departure from Sani Lodge watching dawn on the Napo and catching the last glimpses of wildlife. Breakfast on the 3 ½ boat ride back to Coca where, upon arrival, your guide will take you to the airport to see you off and make sure everything works out as planned. B/-/-
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