Sacha Lodge is is location within a 5000-acre private ecological reserve in Ecuador’s Amazon region, an accessible yet pristine rainforest sanctuary where you and your family may enjoy a true jungle adventure. The lodge overlooks Pilchicocha lake which was hidden for millions of years, because of this, the flora and fauna has not changed since the beginning of time. The lodging at Sacha was carefully designed to offer comfort for the guests yet preserve the environment and rainforest ambience. Each of the 26 cabins comes fully equipped with two double beds with private bath and hot-water showers. All cabins are screened against insects and have high thatched roofs and modern amenities such as ceiling fans and electrical outlets. The cabins were constructed with traditional rainforest materials. In the rooms, guests may overlook the jungle from hammocks and often report seeing wild fauna such as Black-Mantle Tamarin’s. Enjoy a raised lookout area above the gorgeous bar and lounge. Three excellent buffet meals are served daily.
From Quito, there is a 35 minute flight to Coca followed by a two hour motorized canoe trip down the Napo River followed by a 10 minute walk and dugout canoe ride brings you to Sacha Lodge, a private reserve built on 5000 acres. After a brief orientation, we choose our rubber boots and are shown our assigned cabin. Sacha is home to one of Ecuador’s largest butterfly farm. Designed as a live exhibition conservatory, the Butterfly House is now successfully breeding nearly 40 species of local butterflies! Guests will be given explanation as to how these beautiful and unique insects are bred and raised, and later be free to wander through “the flying room”, where hundreds of these colorful butterflies can be seen.
A typical day begins at sunrise, in order to take advantage of the cool morning hours when animals are most active. Sacha’s guests will be split into groups of no more than six people per guide. Each group will be lead by a bilingual natural guides and a native Quichua guide with ancestral knowledge of the rainforest. Different tours through the jungle can be chosen by the visitor according to your interests and each group can decide on its own wake-up and breakfast time, as well as the difficulty and duration of their morning outings. Afternoon excursions begin around 3PM and often continue into the early evening, when the nocturnal insect and frog chorus beings. Our excursions proceed slowly in order to appreciate the fascinating details that our guides point out around you. Activities are spread out over a wide area and allow visitor to explore several distinct but equally fascinating habitats. Several trails lead through pristine terra firma forest, where 15-foot kapok trees tower above and roots form huge buttresses to give trees support. Other walks follow strategically raised boardwalks in seasonally flooded forests, where walking on the ground would be nearly impossible during most of the year due to groundwater. One trail may choose to follow even leads across fallen tree trunks and a steel cable zip-line through rich swampland.
Constructed around an ancient Kapok Tree, the 135-foot observation tower (with an amazing 360 degree view) is definitely one of Sacha’s highlights. Getting to the tower is half the fun. A favorite activity of our guests is to paddle dugout canoes along tannin0rich black-water creeks and lakes, where luxuriant lianas, orchids, bromeliads and palm trees thrive. And wherever an outing may lead the possibilities of spotting animals, from the tiny pygmy marmoset to the Capuchin and Squirrel monkeys jumping from branch to branch right over your head to the feared ocelot of puma. Over 500 species of birds have been registered in the area, and have on several occasions our guides have reported seeing over 80 species in a single morning!
A new addition at Sacha is the Canopy Bird Walk, one of only a few rigid, self-standing, suspension canopy walkways in the world. Two of the three towers of observation decks every 40 feet making them accessible for everyone. The 900 foot long canopy walkway, suspended 120 feet above the forest floor, gives guests a birds eye view of all the wonders and beauty the tropical rainforest has to offer. The canopy walk is designed as a sturdy walkway enabling guests to move casually at their own pace.
Our observation tower and unique canopy walkway allow us to explore the canopy layer above, while our trails and boardwalks lead us through multiple forest floor habitats. But have you ever wondered what goes on in the middle? Sacha Lodge is very proud to announce our newest attraction, the Treetop Walk, which allows us to explore the rich life of the rainforest understory: The cool, shady layer above the ground between the rainforest canopy and the forest floor. We have built 5 observation platforms around tree trunks under the canopy, at heights between 6 and 20 meters, all connected by bridges. Now open to all of our guests, the Treetop Walk leads us on an 80-meter long path through this rainforest layer so rarely observed by human beings before.
Sacha Lodge is home to one of the largest butterfly farms in Ecuador. Designed as a live exhibition conservatory, the Butterfly House is now successfully breeding nearly 40 local butterfly species! Guests will be shown how these beautiful insects are bred and raised, and later be free to wander through “the flying room”, where hundreds of colorful butterflies flutter from flower to flower. Transparent glass-wing butterflies, spectacular blue morphs, striking tiger longwings, bright yellow swallowtails and giant nocturnal owl butterflies are only a few of the species you’ll encounter here, up close and personal.
At a short distance from Sacha Lodge is Ecuador’s most accessible parrot lick, an exposed clay riverbank where brightly colored parrots of several different species gather in the early morning. In ideal conditions (sunny and dry) hundreds of parrots will perch on and eat the exposed clay in a spectacular show of sound and color! The lick is located on the edge of Yasuní National Park, which may be reached from Sacha by a short canoe trip down the Napo River. Recently, the park service has set up blinds in order to watch the parrots from very close. If weather permits (the parrots won’t be there in the rain!), and you would like to participate in this activity, the extra cost is $15.00 per person for entrance into the National Park (subject to change, and to be paid at the Lodge).
The day does not necessarily end with dinner. Night walks and canoe trips, with the aid of flashlights, often reveal creatures seldom seen during daylight. Caimans (of the alligator family) and giant insects rule the jungle after sunset – if you dare search for them!
Slide show taken by Mark Downey Photography: https://www.lucidimagesgallery.com/sacha
SACHA LODGE – ECUADORIAN RAINFOREST 2019 TARIFFS
| SACHA LODGE (Fri/Mon) 3 nights | ||
| SACHA LODGE (Mon/Fri) 4 nights |
Arriving or departing on any day (except Sunday) is possible
Rates are per person double occupancy in US Dollars.
RATES INCLUDE: Accommodations in double room with private bath, all meals, excursions with native and bilingual naturalist guides, aquatic transfers, water, tea and coffee, taxes and rubber boots.
CHILD DISCOUNTS: 30% discount offered for children 11 and younger for lodge rates.
NOT INCLUDED: airfare, gratuities, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, community interpretation center entrance fee $5 per person (optional).
AIRFARE: $ 240.00 per person round trip from Quito. Children age 11 and under get 40% discount. Luggage must be limited to one checked bag of 23 kilos (50 pounds) and one carry-on bag 8 kilos (17 pounds) per person.
FLIGHT SCHEDULE (Subject to change)
Monday to Friday flights:
Quito to Coca LATAM XL197 ETD 09:35AM – ETA 10:17AM
Coca to Quito LATAM XL196 ETD 10:53AM – ETA 11:28AM
Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday flights:
Quito to Coca LATAM XL197 ETD 9:48AM – ETA 10:30AM
Coca to Quito LATAM XL196 ETD 11:10AM – ETA 11:45AM
