The Amazon Rainforest
Sacha Lodge
Imagine yourself drifting down a narrow, winding creek surrounded on all sides by a lush, endless sea of tropical greenery, and all that separates you from the deep black Amazon waters in a canoe hand-carved out of a single tree trunk. As you maneuver around a bend something unidentified crashed off into the underbrush, and you catch a glimpse of two magnificent Blue and Yellow Macaws startled into flight.
Sacha Lodge is found within a 5000-acre private ecological reserve in Ecuador’s Amazon region, an accessible yet pristine rainforest sanctuary where you and your family may enjoy a true jungle adventure in safety and comfort.
Double/Triple Room: US$ 1190 Single Room US$ 1488 Double/Triple Room: US$ 1490 Single Room: US$ 1863 After making your reservation, Sacha Lodge will book your flight from Quito the Coca. From the moment you set foot at Quito airport you will be in the safe hands of one of our bilingual team members, and will be guided all the way to the Lodge. After arriving at Sacha Lodge around lunchtime and meeting your guide – who stays with you for the entirety of your trip – you will take your first excursion into the forest. Once you have returned and had dinner, you will set out for your first nighttime adventure. A typical day at Sacha begins at sunrise or earlier, taking advantage of the cool morning hours when the rainforest’s animals are most active. Each group agrees on a wake-up time, when their guide will knock on their door for a rude awakening! Breakfast will begin half an hour after that. Wherever the destination, our excursions proceed slowly in order to appreciate the fascinating details that our guides point out around you. You might begin the day paddling dugout canoes along tannin-rich black-water creeks and lakes, where luxuriant lianas, orchids, bromeliads and palm trees thrive, always with the possibility of spotting animals, from the tiny pygmy marmoset to the feared ocelot or puma. Then, you could board the motorized canoe for a short ride along the Napo River to visit the Providencia Community of Yasuní, learning about their jungle way of life and testing out their cooking techniques, stopping to watch the parrot disco of the clay lick along the way. You will return to the Lodge in the late morning, in time for a 1PM lunch. In the time between lunch and your afternoon adventure, you are free to enjoy the Lodge, lounging on sun chairs with a book on the Balsa, or cooling off in the Lake Pool. Activities begin again between 3:00PM and 4:30PM and often continue into the evening, when the nocturnal insect and frog chorus begins. An afternoon excursion might see you trekking through pristine Terra Firme forest, where 150-foot kapok trees tower above and roots form huge buttresses to give trees support, your guide pointing out the crest owl territory and calling to the howler monkeys. You could then climb 94 feet (30 meters) up to the Canopy Walk, a 940-foot (275-meter) bridge across the treetops from where you can spot dozens of animals and birds. Days at Sacha Lodge do not end with the fading of the light, or even with dinner. Night walks and canoe trips, with the aid of flashlights, often reveal creatures seldom seen during daylight. Caimans (of the alligator family) and giant insects rule the jungle after sunset. Do you dare search for them? *Please note: activities are subject to weather, though Forest Walks, the Kapok Tower, and Canopy Walk are the keystones of the Sacha Lodge experience. *Special Note: Sacha Lodge operates from Monday to Saturday Ecuadorians and residents 25% discount in hotel rate Children under 5 Hotel Free Children under 12 30% off on Hotel Prices Tababela´s Airport National Terminal – Quito If your flight is on any day from Monday to Friday: Tame Airlines Flight EQ211 Departing Quito 11:00am – arriving to Coca 12:50am If your flight is on Saturday: Tame Airlines Flight EQ211 Departing Quito 12:10am – arriving Coca 12:50pm (Subject to change) *Please note luggage must be limited to 20 kilos (44 pounds) per person At the airport, a representative would be there for any help, she will have passes, help check luggage and give a brief explanation of the itinerary. Once arriving in Coca, other Sacha representatives and a naturalist guide will help retrieve luggage and get you in transportation to be taken to our private house where you will be served a quick lunch. Please be at Tame´s counter two hours before departure time, on departure day. Tababela´s airport National Terminal – Quito If your flight is on any day from Monday to Friday: Tame Airlines If your flight is on Saturday: Tame Airlines The lodging at Sacha was carefully designed to offer comfort to the traveler, yet preserve the environment and rainforest ambience. All of their cabins, with high thatched roofs and private shaded terraces, are constructed with traditional materials and nestle well concealed into the lush surroundings. Each of the 26 rooms include a single, double and (upon request) triple rooms that include a private bathroom with flushing toilet and hot shower. All cabins are screened against insects, and contain ceiling fans above two comfortable double beds. During free time, visitors may overlook the jungle from hammocks and often report seeing wild fauna such as toucans, agoutis and monkeys right from their own cabin! Guests may also enjoy a raised lookout above our main bar and lounge, which offers a scenic view of Pilchicocha Lake and excellent opportunities to bird-watch. All meals are prepared to please the international traveler, and three buffets each day offer a wide variety of tastes to choose from. Vegetarians are more than welcome, and our chefs will be happy to cater any special needs you may have upon request. During at least one evening we will even enjoy a barbecue at our outdoor dining area, right on the edge of the lake! And for those who would like a drink, our bar offers a wide variety of cocktails, liquors, wine and beer to enjoy after an active day. Staff : We take pride in our friendly staff, who are always available to cater any special needs you may have. On average, there are three staff members on duty for every two guests at the lodge. Electricity : Throughout the Lodge, 24-hour electricity is provided by a distant, nearly inaudible generator. Drinking water : All the drinking water provided at Sacha (including ice) comes from a local well and is purified with both porcelain filters and ozone treatment, the most thorough purifying systems available. This water is tested regularly and has proven perfectly safe for human consumption. If you prefer, however, you may purchase bottled water from the bar. Amenities : In your shower you will find dispensers of biodegradable soap and shampoo. Although all runoff water is treated with ozone, we recommend the use of these amenities as an extra measure to protect the environment. You will also be provided with fresh towels each day. Laundry : Sacha Lodge now provides laundry service (washing and drying) for our guests. Please consult costs with our lodge administrator. Boots and ponchos : Rubber boots and rain ponchos are available for all of our guests at the Lodge, free of charge! Communications : In case of emergency, both cellular telephone (Movistar) and radio communications are available from the lodge. In addition, each of our guides maintains permanent radio contact with the lodge during all excursions and activities. First Aid : We keep a complete first aid kit for any minor injuries or ailments you may experience. However, please take any special medications you might need with you. In case of a serious injury or illness, there is a modern medical center located in 20-minute reach of Sacha Lodge. Security : At all times we have five staff members on duty patrolling of our reserve as park rangers to keep both the lodge and the surrounding environment safe. Bar : Drinks are not included in your package, and may be paid on the last night of your stay in cash (U.S. dollars), travelers checks or credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express). There is no minimum charge for credit card payments Packing list: Passport Binoculars Flashlight Camera, film, flash Insect repellent Lightweight long pants and long sleeve shirts Shorts and short sleeve shirt Bathing suit Comfortable shoes and extra socks Small day pack Light weight rain jacket Water bottle Sunblock, sunglasses and hat If you cancel at least 30 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel between 20 and 15 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50% cancellation fee. If you cancel within 7 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100% cancellation fee. Last minute bookings are non refundable. Cash (Offices – PACHAJOURNEYS) Wire Transfer Bank Deposit Credit Cards (8% – 12%)4 Days | 3 nights
Prices per person
5 Days | 4 nights
Prices per person
SAMPLE DAY
40% off on Airfare
40% off on Airfare
DEPARTURE TIME
RETURN TIME
Flight EQ212 Departing Coca 12:20am – arriving Quito 13:00pm
Flight EQ212 Departing Coca 13:30pm – arriving Quito 14:10pm
AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY
The journey to Sacha Jungle Lodge begins in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city. From here, a 25-minute flight takes you over the Andes Mountains’ majestic snow-covered peaks and down over 8500 feet (2600 meters) into the Amazon Region. The flight destination is the port town of Puerto Francisco de Orellana, locally known as Coca, where you will be met by a bilingual guide and taken to a private dock. Here we will pause for a snack and to use the rest rooms before boarding our covered motorized canoe for a 2-hour, 50-mile (80-kilometer) trip down the sediment-rich waters of the Napo, the largest river in Ecuadorian Amazonia.
During the ride it is easy to spot handsome shore birds such as herons, kingfishers, spoonbills and ospreys between the scattered native huts as you travel steadily away from civilization. Upon arrival to Sacha Lodge’s 5000-acre (2000-hectare) private reserve, our guests will take their first walk along a raised boardwalk through dense flooded palm forest where several species of monkeys are often sighted. But don’t worry… we will carry your luggage for you!
The path leads to Pilchicocha lake, a blackwater paradise where you’d least expect to find any sign of people, but dugout canoes (and even paddlers) await to carry you even farther. As you cross the lake, the cries of tropical birds lead you to your final destination and home base for an exciting jungle experience.
