Napo Wildlife Center

Location:
Ecuador

Hotel

By Dawn Wohlfarth Arteaga

The Napo Wildlife Center is located on the Napo river about two hours by motor canoe from Coca. As jungle lodges go, Napo Wildlife Center is one of the more deluxe ones. They boast 10 cabañas, with large, pleasant rooms. Every cabaña has a porch, private bath, ceiling fan, and is well-screened to keep insects out. There is a communal area, with a library, a bar, and a fifty-foot viewing tower attached for those who wish to bird watch from the lodge itself.

The Napo Wildlife Center is far enough away from "civilization" that it is possible to see many birds and animals: 565 species of bird have been seen in their reserve, and a fortunate tourist can also hope to see monkeys and river otters. It is also near a parrot lick: on a sunny day, hundreds of parrots will visit the lick to get certain nutrients they cannot get elsewhere, making for a memorable experience.

A modern, responsible eco-lodge, 49% of the Napo Wildlife Center is owned by the nearby Quichua Añargu community, members of which work in the lodge as support staff and guides. The community produces handicrafts such as traditional pottery which are then sold in the lodge, which does not charge a commission and passes the profits directly to the artists.

Activities included guided hikes, canoe rides, bird watching tours, night hikes and visits to the local community. Guides are provided by the lodge.

Napo Wildlife Center offers package tours through Ecotours. Usual stays are Monday-Friday (5 days/4 nights) and Friday-Monday (4 days/3 nights). Their packages are all-inclusive, and include all meals, transportation, park fees, guides, boots, etc. Not included is the flight from Quito to Coca (about $120 round trip), alcoholic beverages, and tips for guides and staff.

Contact Information:
Phone: 593-2-289-7316
URL: www.napowildlifecenter.com

Traveler Reviews of Napo Wildlife Center

Excellent Jungle Lodge!

Rating: 100%

We spent four nights here April 21-25, 2007. Overall, it definitely satisfied our requirements for adventure with comfort!

Wildlife sightings are outstanding. We saw 5 kinds of primates, several frogs, butterflies & insects, 3 kinds of snakes, black caiman, tent bats, 3 kinds of Macaws, parrots, parakeets, raptors, and many, many other birds. We are not “birders”, but many of our fellow guests were, and I can not imagine that they were disappointed! The parrot-licks are awesome, as is the canopy tower. Just paddling in a canoe with your guides down the creek is an amazing spectacle.

Your group is assigned a naturalist, as well as a native guide, who remain with you on all organized activities throughout your stay (the naturalist also dines with you). Both were outstanding (Santiago and Mariano). In our case, our “group” consisted of my wife and me, so we had the luxury of our own “private” guides the whole time. They work really hard to plan outings according to your interests and abilities, and are simply amazing at spotting wildlife.

You may also feel good that the lodge is at least partially owned and run by the local indigenous community. It provides a means by which they can preserve this beautiful setting while making a living from eco-tourism rather than being absorbed by the oil companies that are aggressively exploiting the area.

The accommodations are comfortable given the setting. We’ve stayed at a similar jungle lodge in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula (Bosque del Cabo) that was a more luxurious, but NWC met expectations – king bed, ceiling fan, private hot shower & toilet, nice view from the cabin’s balcony.

Days start early (typically 5am or 5:30am wake-up) to take best advantage of wildlife activity. There is typically a post-lunch siesta, followed by a late-afternoon activity. It is generally warm and humid, so be prepared to be sweaty and hot. A fast-turnaround laundry service is available, and was most welcome. Mosquitoes are not as much an issue as you might expect (they don’t like the acidic “black water” in the lake or creek), but there were a few, and we took anti-malarial drugs on our doctor’s advice. Others in our group did not, on their doctor’s advice.

The food is adequate and substantial, although not especially creative. Breakfast is standard fare, while lunch and dinner seemed to lean a little heavily to fried things. They will accommodate special dietary needs, e.g., vegetarian, or (in my case) no fish or seafood. Bar prices were reasonable.

The Napo Wildlife Center offers a program that will give you an unforgettable experience. You’re there for the wildlife, and you won’t be disappointed! On our trip, NWC compared well with our 5 days in the Galapagos. It is highly recommended!

By V!VA User from NC, USA, May 09, 2007

A nature lovers dream come true !!!

Rating: 0%

I was totally in awe and throughly amazed at the natural beauty and abundance of wildlife!! My trip was most memorable and will forever be a cherished experience. The entire staff and naturalist guides at NWC were friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and very accommadating. I would highly recommend this adventure to all bird and nature lovers. NWC should be on everyone's "..Things to Do Before I Die..." list! I only wish it wasn't so far far far away from my home town in Northern California!

By V!VA User from Placerville, CA, Feb 22, 2006

Giant Otters!!

Rating: 100%

It was incredible. We saw Giant Otters and lots of other great wildlife. The community members are totally involved and very friendly.

By V!VA User, Oct 04, 2005