Imagine yourself walking across a bridge suspended over the rainforest canopy, paddling through creeks in search of monkeys and river otters, climbing to the very top of a giant kapok tree or swimming in a black-water lake, threading your way through trees in search of the world’s tiniest money. You’ll experience this and more, at Sacha Lodge, situated in a private 5000-acre ecological reserve in Ecuador’s Amazon region. Sacha Lodge is an all-inclusive rainforest sanctuary that is remote, yet accessible, unspoiled yet comfortable. A 30-minute flight from Quito is followed by a two-hour journey up the Napo River in a motorized canoe. You will be listening to the chatter of tamarind monkeys and arrive by lunchtime.  

Twice-daily guided excursions on trails through pristine forest, exploration along the black-water creeks and lakes by dugout canoe, swim in the Lake Pool or fish for piranha, and search for caimans at night by flashlight.  There is a 940-foot  canopy treetop walkway perched 94 feet above the ground and a 135-foot kapok observation tower for birdwatching, and zip-lining through rich swampland. Visit the Butterfly House that breeds nearly 40 local species, the largest in Ecuador.  Hundreds of parrots and macaws provide a show of sound and color at the Yasuni parrot clay lick.  There are 587 species of birds found here including parrots, toucans, monkeys, bats, frogs, and insects.

There are 26 duplex rooms with high thatched roofs, two double beds, for single, double and triple accommodations, and three family cabins that accommodate 4-5 guests based on standard room rates.  The lodge has a covered al fresco lounge area “La Balsa,” restaurant, and a safari lodge bamboo bar.