Napo Wildlife Center
|
Thanks to the commitment of the Añangu Community, the lodge is open. They have developed a Biosafety and Sanitary Measures Protocol, which adheres to the guidelines of the World Travel and Tourism Council. From now on, visitors who already have a Vaccination Certificate against covid 19, can submit it in order to enter the protected area, without having to present a negative PCR test.
On the other hand, it is ratified that other visitors, without the vaccine, need to meet the requirement to present a negative PCR test a maximum of 72 hours before entry. |
The Napo Wildlife Center is the greatest and ultimate alternative luxury ecohotel in Amazonian Ecuador. This ecotourism project includes the conservation of approximately over 53,000 acres (over 21,400 hectares )of the most pristine Amazon Rain Forest within the Yasunì National Park, an important UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the largest tract of tropical rain forest in Ecuador. It is located by the Anangucocha lagoon, in the unique ancestral territory of the Añangu Kichwa Community. Thanks to their own initiative and supported by the Tropical Nature Conservation System, we have built in partnership the most carefully designed first class Amazon lodge in Ecuador.
|
Recent Recognitions
|
ACCOMMODATIONS Lodging at NWC has been designed to offer maximum privacy and comfort to the world traveler, providing lake and forest views from their private porches, as well as preserving one of the most pristine spots of Amazon forest in Ecuador. Each of our 12 individual large luxury cabanas and 8 suites are prepared for receiving guests in double occupancy or arranged in advance for a 4 member family visit. 4 interconnected suites have a jacuzzi and 4 independent suites have a jacuzzi and a glass floor in part of the room so you can see the water below. Rooms include a king size and twin size beds, private bathrooms with on demand hot water, a multi-speed ceiling fan, electricity provided by silent generators supplemented by solar panel power system, plenty of lights and 120 v outlets, screened windows and mosquito nets. Buildings keep the traditional native architecture with harmonious modern mixture inside providing cool shaded terraces with inviting hammocks and ample space from where visitors may observe the surroundings. While resting from activities people may get to see a group of giant otters investigating near the lodge dock or a large 4 meter (13 feet) black caiman crossing the lake or a capybara looking for rest near our lake edge, or experience the graceful often flights of blue and yellow macaws over the lodge area. The hall has a library with books on local birds and tropical ecology, next door the bar provides ice-cold beer, wine, soft drinks and other liquor selections. The calls of red howler monkeys will company the resting times before gearing up for the next excursion. Also they have invested in an environmentally sustainable sewage system, best and unique on the Napo region and probably best in the Amazon. All waste water is treated to the highest standards in order to keep the swamps clean of human activity. Quality of effluent water is higher than the lake environment!!. Power is generated by a top of the line hybrid system featuring solar panels, industrial batteries and noiseless generators. An efficient system that generates energy with almost no impacts.
|
ACTIVITIES
Visitors will be divided up into small groups, and lead by a native Añangu guide, who is also an official Yasuni Park Ranger, expert on the forest's secrets about medicinal plants and other useful items of the rain forest, and an excellent bilingual naturalist guide with great deal of knowledge in tropical forest biology. Both guides using their unmatchable enthusiasm will create informative enjoyable excursions every day providing an educative fun experience. Groups and guides will tailor their excursions while taking advantage of the highest peaks of activity and weather conditions in the forest. They will schedule their outings before dawn or at sunrise. This will maximize wildlife observation and of course each group will decide with their guides how extreme and intense they take their Amazon excursion, this applies for afternoon excursions and night outings, when an overwhelming concert of natural sounds will flood the atmosphere. Welcome and gear up to enjoy the best fauna attractions on the Napo!!! Guests are welcome to use our observation tower next to the dinning hall during free time other than the guided visit and simply relax with the great view of the Añangu lagoon. The not so distant canopy of the rain forest will be a good opportunity for birding or discovering more wildlife right next to the lodge. The dock area is a nice spot to receive that equatorial tropical sun or the base for a nice dip into the lake. Without fear you can swim around the dock and have a refreshing time, guides of course will jump in first and eliminate any doubts you may have in spite of the black caimans and piranha inhabitants!, believe me it is a very safe and rewarding cool water. Meals are carefully prepared to delight the variety of tastes and desires of the international visitor, including traditional Ecuadorian dishes, forest gifts or the preparation of vegetarian or special meal requirements. Reverse osmosis water filtration system is used in the kitchen (very safe).
|
UNIQUE PARROT CLAY LICKS
One of the highlights at NWC is going out on a very early excursion to reach two of Ecuador's most accessible parrot clay licks along the Napo region. These parrot clay licks are exclusive part of our reserve and lodge territory. They have a history of being visited by naturalists and are mentioned in The Birds of Ecuador (Ridgely and Greenfield, 2001). These are 2 of the over a dozen clay licks found in the Añangu Community territory. Our parrot clay licks can be reached by following the Giant Otter creek downstream on dugout canoe near the Napo river. The Napo Wildlife Center has exclusively constructed well established and comfortable blinds in each parrot lick in order to provide visitors best viewing and high quality photo/video opportunities. Activity kicks off at main lick between 7 to 8 in the morning and at second blind after midday. Species include: Mealy, blue headed, yellow crowned, orange winged and orange cheeked parrots, cobalt winged, dusky headed and white eyed parakeets, with the occasional rarities like scarlet shoulder parrotlet and scarlet macaws. This could be a full day excursion visiting both blinds equipped with a nice freshly made box lunch, or a half day visiting the main lick and returning for a served lunch at the lodge. Don't miss a superb natural event full of unique sounds and brightly colored plumages!!. The blind in the forest (Saladero de Pericos) is typically visited by a thousand or more Cobalt-winged Parakeets. The noise is incredible! From late October through early April, hundreds of Orange-cheeked Parrots are also found in the mix, as are rarities such as the Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet and occasional Scarlet and Red-and-Green macaws. It is almost certain that other small parakeets visit this clay lick, and new species for the region and Ecuador are just waiting to be discovered. [This is the site incorrectly listed as "La Selva" and "interior salado at La Selva" in The Birds of Ecuador (Ridgely and Greenfield, 2001)]. Access to this clay lick involves a 700m hike on an improved path with stairs and boardwalks where necessary. The blind itself will hold upwards of 20 guests and affords fantastic views. Birdwatchers will note that this is where one can find the famous "Manakin Trail" with 6 species of manakins.
CANOPY TOWERS
The community was able to achieve the inauguration of a 40 meter tower, located in the middle of Yasuni National Park which was celebrated on July 25th, 2015. This structure provides on its bottom floors, amenities such as comfortable living rooms, “canoe” bar, boutique, dining room, projection screen and a contemporary kitchen. The tower experience is culminated on the top floors, equipped with last technology telescopes, and with Añangucocha lagoon’s incomparable view. A perfect experience for bird watchers and nature lovers. Only 35 minutes away from the lodge there is the best and most professional canopy tower ever built in Amazonian Ecuador. This magnificent building, over 125 feet tall, is standing right next to a giant 155 feet Kapok tree where and ample platform provides great space for over 15 guests and their cameras, spotting scopes, tripods and binoculars gear, or other equipment ready to enjoy the canopy of the rain forest!! No one should miss this amazing highlight that provides great views of possible troops of howler, capuchins, monk sakis or spider monkeys in the nearest forest. In a clear day, the immense tropical scenery can reach views of the Andes where Gran Sumaco and the snow capped Antisana and Cayambe volcanoes are located, truly a one of a kind experience. LAKES, CREEKS AND TRAILS
The possibilities are great in finding more troops of other species of monkeys like squirrel, saddle-backed and white fronted capuchin monkeys or those that by natural distribution or best habitat occur only on our South side of the Napo and include: monk saki, spider, woolly and golden mantle tamarin monkeys. NWC is home to a total of 11 species of monkeys. All four species of cayman (alligator related) are found at NWC, as well giant otters On forest trails, guests can see monkeys, lizards, tortoises, frogs and army ants in addition to an array of birds, including toucans, macaws, parrots, manakins and hummingbirds. The largest mammals like jaguar, puma, tapir, giant anteater and giant armadillo have been spotted on our area. Night hikes are possible at NWC providing unexpected wildlife!! Over 562 species of birds have been recorded at the Napo Wildlife Center, more than 1/3 of all of Ecuador`s birds. A vast and rich bird-life that can reward the most avid birdwatcher with the unrivalled South Napo specialties. NWC and Anangu are a classic visiting location for someone travelling Ecuador seeking for the overwhelming bird diversity. Agami and ZigZag herons are found near the lake and creeks, including all 5 kingfishers. The large raptors like Harpy and Crested Eagles find healthy mammal food around the area.
THE AÑANGU COMMUNITY
Añangu is not only home to the great NWC lodge, it has been the ancestral territory of a Kichwa indigenous community that has the same name. Añangu people are active participants of the conservation and management of a large territory within the park as well as our partners in tourism. We would like to invite you see the community that had a dream and initiative long time ago to handle this vast rain forest territory by establishing their own lodge. We all now work together in a nature tourism company. You can join some families on their daily activities when harvesting bananas, coco, manioc, a starchy jungle root, staple food for Amazonian people, or maybe helping preparing chicha, a traditional drink based on cooked and fermenting manioc. GETTING THERE
The journey to NWC starts in Quito. From it's national airport an approximately 35 minute flight to reach the headwaters of the Amazon Basin near the Napo River at only 250 m.a.s.l (820 feet). After landing on the Puerto Francisco de Orellana town airport, locally known as Coca, NWC staff will greet passengers and take them for a short 5-7 minute transfer to embark on our covered motorized canoe. Here a comfortable breeze will company guests on an approximate 2 hours boat ride, 50 miles ( 80 kilometers ) downstream the largest Ecuadorian tributary of the Amazon: the Napo river. During this trip a good number of birds could be spotted along the way and they include: herons, kingfishers, ospreys, and many others as one travels away into a more pristine and remote area. Boat will arrive to the northwest boundary of the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve where NWC is located by the Anangucocha lake. To access the lodge guests may either start a guided 2 ½ km (1,5 miles ) hike on rich forest wildlife or embark on a quiet and enjoyable paddle dugout canoe ride with our staff for about 1 1/2 hours along a creek with dense flooded palm forest. Following any route, as people get deeper into this preserved area, they will be surprised by the often seen monkeys of several species, colourful birds and other amazing potential wildlife encounters. At the end of the walk and near the end of the paddle people will reach the Anangu Lake and have a superb view of the lodge waiting for them on the other side. |
Suite
2024 PRICES PER PERSON IN US$ :
standard room
Suite
Children under 12 get 30% discount on hotel prices in same parents room, children under 5 hotel free in same parents room. Air rates and national park fee subject to change without previous notice.
INCLUDES: Accommodation, all meals, pure water, river transportation and local Coca airport - boat in - out transfers, all excursions, including visits to our exclusive NWC`s parrot-macaw clay licks at $ 25 per person for all other lodges and visitors and subject to change. Native guide and naturalist bilingual guides, Yasuni National Park entrance fee, currently at $ 10 per person and subject to change without previous notice, purified water during meals, rain poncho and rubber boots provided when needed for excursions. NOT INCLUDED: Air tickets Quito-Coca-Quito (currently US$256 per person for adults and $205 for children under 12, subject to change) Drinks, gratuities, any other item not specified. Wifi is available at extra cost. Please note that airfare is subject to change without previous notice. There are no flights on Sundays, so packages can't start or end on a Sunday. Private Guide Costs, per day: Bilingual naturalist guide US$ 100. German or French guide US$ 110. Spanish speaking native guide US$ 34. Bilingual birding guide US$ 130. Bilingual herpetology guide US$180 Bilingual photography guide US$230 Private motorized canoe = US$600 per days "One word for Napo: Over the top! (That's three words, but they deserve it.) The room was large, comfortable, clean. The bath had hot water and was spacious. The meals were ample, hearty, and tasty. Potable water was accessible 24/7 from a dispenser in the dining room; we drank it with absolutely no ill effect. The dining room--a beautiful, open-air area--had a bar stocked with beer and wine for sale. The service--by everyone from the tour guides to canoe paddlers--was friendly and went as far as necessary to meet your needs. The organization and administration were efficient and impressive. Everything that anyone said he or she was going to do got done. The descriptions of the place, what to bring, how to dress--all on the money. The heat was nowhere near as bad as we'd expected; nor were the insects. In fact, we'd dealt with worse heat and bugs on some trails in the Northeast United States and out West. The best part is that Napo is owned and operated by the native peoples in the preserve. They benefit financially, culturally, and individually. The turistas have a wonderful place to visit, part of the Amazon is being preserved, and the native peoples are better off. Win-win-win. Jim, this is the place to recommend. If I have the time in the next couple of months, I'm going to approach The New York Times Travel section or some other national travel periodical to see if they want an article on the place. Those hardworking people deserve the recognition and reward. Thanks for getting us there!" Fred Dahl "I dont know really were to begin but everything was fantastic.The lodge was great clean & comfortable staff was attentive & the food was top notch.The place itself was wonderful & we saw plenty of things. Before when I came across your site you were not mis-quoting about not gouging you customer & we look forward in the future to being able to do more business with you.Could you please let me know where I can veiw other trips or areas you cover." Dean O'Dea |
"It was real nice. The place is well maintained. A lot of tourists from all over the world. All were a great company. The guides were fantastic,
so much info and places to see. Flora and fauna are just incredible variety. The food was great with an accent on the local Ecuadorian food.
All in all a very enjoyable and memorable experience." Leonid
"It was amazing! We absolutely loved it. Thanks so much for your help!" Melinda
"You were right in that we saw a lot more wildlife in Napo. And I think that Jorge was right in that there was only one room left..... I talked to people and a lot of them had booked a year in advance. We ended up with the only cabin that did not have a view. I of course complained but the rooms are assigned by the main company. Since they were full there was no where to change us anyway. But they treated us great. I felt like Cleopatra being paddled about with my slaves. We were assigned an Ecuadorian guide, a native Quechua guide and a native paddler. 6 of us had 3 people taking care of us. And the paddler and our native guide found the most hidden animals and reptiles in the bushes and trees. It was an amazing experience!" Katherine
so much info and places to see. Flora and fauna are just incredible variety. The food was great with an accent on the local Ecuadorian food.
All in all a very enjoyable and memorable experience." Leonid
"It was amazing! We absolutely loved it. Thanks so much for your help!" Melinda
"You were right in that we saw a lot more wildlife in Napo. And I think that Jorge was right in that there was only one room left..... I talked to people and a lot of them had booked a year in advance. We ended up with the only cabin that did not have a view. I of course complained but the rooms are assigned by the main company. Since they were full there was no where to change us anyway. But they treated us great. I felt like Cleopatra being paddled about with my slaves. We were assigned an Ecuadorian guide, a native Quechua guide and a native paddler. 6 of us had 3 people taking care of us. And the paddler and our native guide found the most hidden animals and reptiles in the bushes and trees. It was an amazing experience!" Katherine