Napo Wildlife Center, Amazon lodge, Amazon family adventures

Napo Wildlife Center

Overview

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Napo Wildlife Center is a premier eco-lodge that offers an authentic experience for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Located in the Yasuni National Park, one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, this luxurious haven provides an intimate encounter with the wonders of the Amazon.

The Napo Wildlife Center is a community-run lodge, operated by the indigenous Kichwa Añangu community, ensuring that your stay directly supports the conservation of the rainforest and the local culture. The lodge itself features spacious, comfortable cabins with private balconies overlooking the lush jungle or the serene Añangu Lake. The eco-friendly design seamlessly blends with the surrounding environment, providing modern amenities without compromising sustainability.

Your adventure at the Napo Wildlife Center begins with a scenic canoe ride along the Napo River, where you’ll be greeted by the sounds and sights of the vibrant rainforest. Expert naturalist guides lead daily excursions, offering a chance to explore the diverse flora and fauna. Spot colorful parrots and toucans, watch playful monkeys swing through the trees, and perhaps catch a glimpse of elusive creatures like jaguars and giant otters.

One of the highlights of the Napo Wildlife Center is its canopy observation tower, which rises above the treetops and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the rainforest. From this vantage point, you can witness the morning activity of countless bird species and appreciate the vastness of the Amazon.

In addition to wildlife tours, the lodge offers cultural experiences with the Kichwa Añangu community. Learn about their traditional practices, participate in a ceremonial dance, and understand their deep connection to the land.

Dining at the Napo Wildlife Center is a delightful experience, featuring fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and a fusion of traditional Ecuadorian and international cuisine. Enjoy meals in the open-air dining room, surrounded by the sounds of the jungle.

Whether you’re trekking through lush trails, paddling along hidden streams, or simply relaxing in a hammock with the sounds of the rainforest as your soundtrack, the Napo Wildlife Center offers a truly immersive Amazon experience. This unique eco-lodge provides the perfect blend of adventure, luxury, and sustainability, ensuring an unforgettable stay in one of the world’s most extraordinary natural environments.

River transportation to Coca –Napo Wildlife Center-Coca
Accommodation in Napo Wildlife Center
All meals
Entrance to Yasuni National Park and parrot claylicks
Community and naturalist bilingual guide
Impermeable poncho and rubber boots
All excursions and activities like program detail

Activity details

DAY 1:

Departing from Quito, 30 minute flight to Coca over the eastern Andes mountain range.

After landing, about midday, and airport procedures a 5 min transfer in local chiva (hired bus) or local taxi from airport to Port Francisco de Orellana will drive us to embark onto a comfortable covered motor boat.

Here we start a canoe ride along the Napo river for about 2 ½ hours approx, lunch box in route.

Along the way birds like herons, kingfishers and others can be spotted. After arriving at NWC’s entry dock we disembark for restroom then take a majestic and peaceful 1 ½ hours dugout canoe ride surrounded by trees overhead, paddling along a narrow creek that connects to the lake where the lodge is located.

Good possibilities of monkeys sights of various species as well as large birds like toucans, parrots or even macaws.

Late afternoon arrival to the NWC lodge by the overwhelming view of the Añangu lake, welcome drink and facilities. After dinner optional cayman (alligator) observation around the lake and natural sounds at night.

DAY 2:

Early wake up to reach the best and easy access parrot clay licks in Ecuador, about 1 hour away from the lodge, guests reach there just before parrot activity kicks off at the clay lick between 7:30 to 8:30.

A total of 11 species of parrots, parakeets and macaws can be seen. A visit that depends on weather conditions but usually successful.

Later, hike along forest trail to visit to the Quichua community of Añangu and sharing time with a family on their activities.

Return to the creek and hike through a Terra Firme Forest for about 30 minutes until we arrive to the second parrot clay lick where if the weather conditions help will be able to find different species of parrots, parakeets and even macaws.

Box lunch at the parrot clay lick observatory. Late afternoon arrival to the lodge.

DAY 3:

After early breakfast, depart from the lodge to the finest experience at a canopy tower on the Napo. A 36m high canopy tower opened to guests in November 2004, a great way to experience the life above the forest floor. This is the second tower at the Napo Wildlife Center (the first is attached to the dining hall and allows great views of the lake).

The canopy tower is located about 20 minutes from the lodge deep within the terra firme forest. As you ascend the 12-story tower, you pass through different levels of the forest and emerge on top of a huge Ceiba tree.

Here you cross onto a wooden platform that is actually built into the tree and experience the view formerly reserved only for the birds.

The metal tower itself was constructed to the highest standards, galvanized, and carefully inspected by engineers. Safety is the priority.

The platform in the top of the tree was constructed by tree platform specialists brought from EcoEcuador’s Peruvian partner organization Perú Verde. From top to bottom, there is no finer canopy experience in Eastern Ecuador.

Flocks of colorful tanagers passright through the canopy of the tree, Blue-and-yellow Macaws fly past, in nearby trees Spider Monkeys search for fruit, two species of large toucans call in the early mornings and afternoons, and the life of the forest canopy opens before you.

Birds that are virtually impossible to see from the forest floor far below are suddenly right beside you, oblivious to your presence.

The canopy tower opens a whole new world to guests of the Napo Wildlife Center!! Served lunch at the lodge. Afternoon visit to a terra firme trail, hike along primary forest to discover the forest interior, possibilities of finding lizards, colorful manakins or the unique and endemic Golden mantle tamarin monkeys. After the hike, explore the lake and creeks by dugout canoe with great possibilities of running into a Giant Otter family on the way…

DAY 4:

Early departure and last excursion canoeing back to the Napo river, the creek may reveal new sights of Giant Otters, Monk Saki monkeys or many other rare birds. Entry dock arrival, restrooms and embarking on motorized canoe in order to return back to Coca, arrival approx around 11:00 am in order to check for Quito flight scheduled 12:10 pm.