Sacha Lodge and Casa del Suizo

The trip to la Casa del Suizo will depart from Quito early this morning, and the first leg of your journey brings you to Papallacta, a small mountain village famous for its natural hot springs. Take some time to visit these springs for a soothing swim in their thermal waters before lunch. You will continue your journey along a scenic stretch of road which takes you out of the majestic Andes highlands and down into the “Oriente”, or Amazon region. Along the way there will be several opportunities to stop for photographs overlooking lush green valleys and beautiful sparkling waterfalls.

The road ends at Punta Ahuano, a tiny port town on the North bank of the Napo River, where canoes await for a late-afternoon 20 minute ride downstream to la Casa del Suizo. This evening get settled, and enjoy a sunset from your swimming pool with a refreshing welcome cocktail.

Today guests will have a choice between several morning, afternoon and full day activities at la Casa del Suizo. The programs will begin after an early breakfast, and will be led by both native and bilingual guides. At all times these guides will be on the lookout for tropical birds while pointing out important aspects of the surrounding vegetation. You'll hike through the shadowed jungle canopy learning about the medicinal uses of various plants, or visit the celebrated animal shelter, AmaZoonico, where you can get better acquainted with the local exotic wildlife. Your time in the rainforest can also include a float down the peaceful Rio Arajuno.

After breakfast board a motorized canoe for the journey down the Napo, taking you farther and farther away from the Andes and deeper into the pristine Amazon rainforests. During the ride it is easy to spot handsome shore birds such as herons, kingfishers, spoonbills and ospreys between the scattered native huts as the river slowly widens to a kilometer across! At a little more than halfway you will stop along the riverbank for a break and enjoy a box lunch before continuing on to Sacha.

Upon arrival to Sacha Lodge’s 3200-acre (1300-hectare) private reserve, guests will take their first walk along a raised boardwalk through dense flooded palm forest where several species of monkeys are often sighted. This path leads to Pilchicocha lake, a black water paradise where you’d least expect to find any sign of people, but dugout canoes (and even paddlers) await to carry you across the lake to the Lodge. The cries of tropical birds lead you to your final destination, which magically materializes out of the jungle at the last possible moment. You will arrive with time to settle in, birdwatch, swim, or take a walk under the canopy before dinner.

Your stay at Sacha Lodge is filled with discovery.  Upon arrival, visitors are divided into small groups (max 6), each with its own naturalist/guide that stays with their group for the duration of their stay.  This allows each hike, each canoe ride, and each exploration to build on the species seen or the lessons learned in the previous experience.  

Twice-daily activities are centered around paddling dugout canoes along blackwater creeks and lakes - past luxuriant lianas, bromeliads, and enormous palms. There are points along many of these blackwater creeks where travelers will be able to get out and hike for a bit to further explore the Amazon ecosystem and see more wildlife.  

Sacha Lodge also offers a number of very unique ways for visitors to get up high in the Amazon.  A 130-foot-high observation tower and a 940-foot-long canopy walkway both give visitors a chance to get above the rainforest canopy for incredible views of the area. The Kapok tower climbs right into the highest reaches of one of the tallest trees in the Amazon, and a crane hoists travelers directly into the sky in an open-air basket - without all those pesky steps/stairs.  These are great places to observe toucans and other tropical birds and, with luck, spot noisy howler monkeys, potoos, or three-toed sloths.

Swimming and piranha fishing are also popular (the piranha here are harmless, really!). And for the adventurous Ecuador traveler, there are nighttime walks and nighttime canoe trips in search of caiman and other nocturnal creatures. Finally, if staying in the rainforest long enough, travelers are also able to travel by the Yasuni Parrot Lick, on their way to a cultural experience at the Yasuni Community across the river from Sacha Lodge, just a short distance via motorized canoe.

After an early breakfast, you'll head back up the Napo River for the flight back to Quito to complete your Amazon tour. At the airport, you'll be picked up and transferred to your hotel and have the evening free to enjoy Quito.

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