La Selva Jungle Lodge

Location:
Quito office: Mariana de Jesús E7-211 y Pradera
Ecuador

Hotel

By Dawn Wohlfarth Arteaga

La Selva Jungle Lodge is 60 miles down the Napo river (two and a half hours by canoe) from the town of Coca. Located within Yasuni national park, it boasts 17 thatched cabins and a dining room with bar/lounge area.

Each of the cabins has a private bathroom, mosquito nets, and a hammock for relaxing. One of the more deluxe jungle lodges, each of the cabins has filtered water and hot water in the showers. They also take great pride in their food: the restaurant at La Selva is one of the better ones as jungle lodges go.

Remote enough to be located in primary forest, La Selva offers many activities common to jungle lodges. There are various trails, day and night guided hikes, canoe trips and even a 135 foot canopy observation tower. Nearby is a salt lick where parrots and macaws congregate. There is also a butterfly farm. It is also possible to visit the home of a local indigenous family, and learn how residents of the rainforest commonly live. If guests wish, they can spend the night out deeper in the wilderness at a camping facility.

Native guides are included to show guests the hundreds of species of birds in the park, and it is also common to see monkeys, caimans and a variety of insect life. Guides are available in English, French, and German.

A four day/three night stay at La Selva costs $634/person, and a five day/four night stay costs $756. Prices include transportation to and from Coca, guides, all meals and needs such as rubber boots and rain ponchos. These rates do not include transportation from Quito to Coca and back. They do occasionally offer promotions or discounts for large groups or students.

Check their web site or contact their helpful Quito office for details.

This Hotel is: Expensive

Getting There:
Coca is 25 minutes from Quito by plane ($120 round trip) or about 10 hours by bus ($20 round trip). Lodge staff will pick you up in Coca and take you to the lodge.

Room Prices:
Price Description:4 days/3 nights - $697/person

5 days/4 nights - $832/person.

Prices include transportation to and from Coca, English speaking and natural guides, all meals and needs such as rubber boots and rain ponchos.

These rates do not include transportation from Quito to Coca and back.

They do occasionally offer promotions or discounts for large groups or students.

Contact Information:
Phone: 593-2-2 550 995 / 2 545425 / 2 225154
E-mail: info(at)remove-this.laselvajunglelodge.com
URL: www.laselvajunglelodge.com

Traveler Reviews of La Selva Jungle Lodge

Based on My Experience

Rating: 100%

I've been in many lodges of the neotropics in my avocation as a birdwatcher. La Selva is by far the Best in Birding both in species and knowledgeable guides and accomodating food schedules. But I travel with my wife who takes the normal excursions and never have I heard her rave in the way she has about the quality and courtesy of the guiding, the attentiveness of the staff, the delicious and sumptious foods with a different fresh fruit juice at every meal and the comfort of the cabins. While I was in bed by 9 every night, she found the bartender most inventive with the fruit and vegetable creatures he would carve every night to decorate the featrured cocktail of the evening and she also enjoyed the number of free time activities between the morning and the afternoon excursions like visiting the butterfly farm and taking out a kayak in the beatiful lake. Of course we will be returning. I got about half of the over 650 documented species of birds- but that leaves the other half.

By V!VA User from Chicago, Il, Jun 21, 2007

LaSelva Jungle Lodge

Rating: 100%

I liked everything about LaSelva! What a wonderful experience!

By V!VA User from Massachusetts, Jan 18, 2008

High Adventure Family

Rating: 100%

It became clear to my family and I within an hour that we were all going toi have the times of our lives. We were not treated like touruists in the worst sense of that bword but like guests (In paradise) we werte aware and notice a number of single women travelling alone who also felt at ease and rewarded and birders and tough adventure types. How they are able toi be all things to all people is truly a magic trick. But they do it to perfection. We will return !

By V!VA User from Los Angeles, Jan 31, 2008