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| Kapawi is the newest
of the eco-lodges in South America. It is
located on the Pastaza River, on the most
remote area of the Ecuadorian Amazon basin.
Accessible only by small aircraft, Kapawi
is the most spectacular place in the tropical
rain forest. Built in cooperation with the
indigenous organization OINAE, Kapawi is a
state of the art project. The lodge was created
in accordance with the Achuar concept of architecture
without a single metal nail. Environmentally
-friendly methods such as solar energy, biodegradable
soaps, and trash recycling systems are also
being utilized. |
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Kapawi
is home to:
• More than 500 bird
species
• Many insect species including
bright colored butterflies most of which have not
been identified by scientists
• Several
thousand plant-species, many are used for medicinal
purposes by the Achuar
• Mammals such
as fresh water dolphins, monkeys, bats and several
kinds of rodents (including capybaras) that you
may see depending on the time of year
•
Animal tracks from mammals like jaguars, ocelots
and jaguarundis and other big cats. (since these
cats are mainly nocturnal, mammals like they are
difficult to spot)
• It is possible to
see amphibians and reptiles such as frogs, caimans
and snakes. Certain reptiles, like snakes are rather
hard to find because they run away when they feel
ground vibrations. |
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Kapawi
Jungle Lodge |
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Ecotourism |
The entire eco tourism operation takes
place within a 300 sq. Km. area between
the Pastaza, Ishpingo and Capahuari rivers.
The area embodies different landscapes and
vegetation types such as big and small rivers,
lakes and lagoons, flooded forests, Terra
Firme forest as well as six Achuar communities.
Due to the system of hikes and river trips,
extensive and varied, we have four big advantages:
1. Avoid overuse of the trails, due
to the possibility of alternating hikes.
2. Offer appropriate activities to all
kinds of clients according to their physical
condition and specific interests.
3. Reduce the cultural impact in the communities.
4. Provide opportunities in all communities
for being visited by tourists.
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Activities |
Kapawii is known for its flexibility. Guests
are able to design their own, with your
guide and group experienced based on your
own interests and physical condition. All
tours have a combination of Bird Watching,
Rain Forest Hikes, and Visits to Indigenous
Communities.
Easy - Programs that include
short hikes in the rainforest (up to 3 hours)
on well defined trails, visits to Achuar
communities as well as trips in canoes.
Meals are served in the lodge or light meals
are taken for the trip. Typical Achuar meals
are also offered in their communities. Overnight
stays in the lodge, occasionally in tents.
Moderate - Programs that
include medium-distance hikes in the rain
forest (up to 5 hours), sometimes crossing
flooded areas. Trips in canoes and visits
to the Achuar communities are also covered.
Light meals are taken for the journey or
typical Achuar dishes are served in their
communities. Overnight stays in the lodge,
in the Achuar communities and occasionally
in tents.
Difficult - Demanding hikes
of many hours or days in poorly defined
and often flooded trails. Porters will carry
food and supplies. Overnight stays are in
tents or in the Achuar communities. Exploration
journeys to virgin areas are occasionally
offered. Trips on inaccessible rivers are
done in inflatable rafts. Excellent physical
condition is required. |
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Price |
4
day price: From $670 per person based
on double occupancy. Children under 15 sharing
accommodations with their parents are half
price. 3 nights / 4 days programs operate
Friday to Monday
5 day price:
From $895 per person based on double occupancy.
Children under 15 sharing accommodations with
their parents are half price. 4 nights / 5
days programs operate Monday to Friday |
|
Included |
Transportation
via Canoe, Accommodations at the Lodge, Meals,
Excursions with a Native Guide and a Bilingual
Guide. |
|
Not Included |
Air
Ticket to Kapawii $224 per person, Aschuar
Community Tax $10 per person, Items of a Personal
Nature, Gratuities, Soft Drinks or Alcoholic
Beverages while at the Lodge |
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| One of Sacha Lodge's
highlights is our 130-foot observation tower,
which allows guests to climb into and above
the rainforest canopy for a magnificent view
of the surrounding area. From the tower's
ample platform it is possible to observe toucans,
parrots, and dozens of other colorful bird
species in the treetops. With some luck, noisy
howler monkeys or the gentle three-toed sloth
may also be seen, especially with the aid
of a powerful telescope provided by your guides.
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The tower
may be reached on foot via a half-hour walk through
terra firma forest, although no one can miss out
on at least a one-way trip to or from the tower
along Orchid Creek, Pilchicocha Lake's natural
black water runoff to the Napo River. In a dugout
canoe guests may follow this winding stream through
untamed palm forest for about an hour, a trip
that many choose to repeat.
In recent years Sacha Lodge has become a favorite
destination of both professional and amateur ornithologists.
Over 500 species of birds have been registered
in the area, and from the tower platform our bird
specialist guides have on several occasions reported
seeing over 80 species in a single morning!
A short distance from Sacha Lodge is Ecuador's
most accessible parrot lick, an exposed clay bank
where brightly colored parrots of several different
species gather in the early morning. In ideal
conditions (sunny and dry), the parrots will often
perch on and eat the exposed clay.
On an ideal morning thousands of parrots can be
seen gathering around this bank between 7:00 and
8:00 for a spectacular show of sound and color.
The lick is located on the edge of Yasuni National
Park, which may be reached from Sacha by a one
half-hour motorized canoe trip down the Napo River.
Sacha Lodge is home of one of the largest butterfly
farms in Ecuador. Designed as a live exhibition
conservatory, the Butterfly House is now successfully
breeding nearly 40 local butterfly species. Guests
will be shown how these beautiful insects are
bred and raised, and later be free to wander through
"the flying room", where hundreds of
colorful butterflies including spectacular blue
morphs flutter from flower to flower.
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Sacha
Jungle Lodge |
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Day 1 |
After a 45 minute flight over the Andes
to Coca, you will be met by a guide from
the lodge and taken across town to the Napo
river in a "Chiva" bus, a traditional
vehicle of the region. At the dock our covered
motorized canoe will be waiting to take
you on a 2 1/2 hour trip down the Napo River,
the largest river in Ecuadorian Amazonia.
Here the guides will explain the surroundings
in detail and a box lunch will be served.
Although the Napo river is a kilometer wide
in some areas, it is often surprisingly
shallow.
The motorist will zigzag his way down the
river following the deepest channels and
avoiding trees that have fallen during floods.
Small Quichua communities live along the
riverbanks, where thatched roof houses are
built on stilts and surrounded by small
gardens called chacras. Upon arrival to
Sacha Lodge´s property, guest will
take their first walk through flooded palm
forest to Pilchicocha lake.
Here dugout canoes await to paddle across
the lake to the lodge itself. The staff
will welcome you with a cocktail and snacks,
and after a brief orientation guests will
be shown to their rooms. There is usually
opportunity to swim, bird watch or visit
a small lookout with a scenic view of the
lake and lodge before sunset. |
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Day2 |
Once visitors arrive at Sacha they will
be divided into small groups and the naturalist
guides will organize an itinerary to fit
to each group´s specific interests
and physical abilities. A typical day at
Sacha begins at sunrise or earlier, and
each group may decide on its own wake-up
and breakfast times.
In the afternoon, visits begin between
3:00 and 4:00 and often continue into the
evening, when the nocturnal insect and frog
chorus begins. Activities are spread out
over a wide area and allow visitors to explore
several distinct but equally fascinating
habitats. Several trails lead through pristine
terra firme forest, where 150 foot kapok
trees tower above and roots form huge buttresses
to give trees support.
Others follow strategically raised boardwalks
in seasonally flooded forests, where walking
on the ground would be nearly impossible
during most of the year due to groundwater.
One trail many choose to follow even leads
across fallen tree trunks and a steel cable
zip-line through rich swampland! For adventurous
souls, the day does not necessarily end
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...
One of Sacha Lodge´s highlights is
our 135-foot (43 meter) observation tower.
Situated on a hill and constructed around
a giant kapok tree for stability, this tower
allows guests to climb into and above the
rainforest canopy for a magnificent view
of the surrounding area. With some luck,
noisy howler monkeys, foraging squirrel
monkeys or the gentle three-toed sloth may
also be seen, especially with the aid of
a powerful telescope provided by your guides.
Every evening at dinner the naturalist
guides discuss the following day´s
activities with their group. There are different
trails the groups could follow: Andén
("walkway"), Liana trails, Lagartococha,
Garza ("heron"), Pantano ("swamp"),
Orchid creek-observation tower, Danta ("tapir"),
the Butterfly house, "Loros" the
parrot clay lick. |
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Day 3 |
Each
group will decide on the activities depending
on the specific interests and physical abilities
of the group. |
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(Day 4 of 5 Day Tour) |
Each
group will decide on the activities depending
on the specific interests and physical abilities
of the group. |
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Day 4 of 4 day tour or
Day 5 of 5 day tour |
After
breakfast we will walk back out to the Napo
River along the boardwalk, where with some
luck the local wildlife may appear to see
you off. The motorized canoe will be waiting
at the shore of the Napo for the trip to Puerto
Francisco de Orellana, and from here it´s
a 40-minute flight back to Quito. |
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Price |
4
day price: $661 per person based
on double occupancy; $862 single.
Children under 15 sharing
accommodations with their parents are half
price. 3 nights / 4 days programs operate
Friday to Monday
5 day price:
$810 per person based on double occupancy; $1015 single per person based on double occupancy.
Children under 15 sharing accommodations with
their parents are half price. 4 nights/ 5
days programs operate Monday to Friday |
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Included |
Transportation
via Canoe, Accommodations at the Lodge, Meals,
Excursions with a Native Guide and a Bilingual
Guide. |
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Not Included |
Air
Ticket to Coca $120 per person, Items of a
Personal Nature, Gratuities, Soft Drinks or
Alcoholic Beverages while at the Lodge |
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The adventure begins with a 45-minute flight from Quito crossing the Andes and flying to Coca. From here you will travel by motorized dugout canoe on the Napo River , one of the major tributaries of the Amazon until coming to the Yuturi river . During the trip you will have many opportunities to enjoy the jungle scenery along the streamside. The tour will also include a stop at Monkey Island and a visit to the Archeological Museum at Pompeya . |
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The Yuturi complex is located on the shores of a beautiful series of lakes.
It is surrounded by the jungle and all it's wonderful sounds...
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 Early morning bird watching is also a real treat. |
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The resort includes 15 tropical cabanas (double occupancy) with private bath. Cabanas are constructed using local materials and native styles to fit in with the surrounding ambience. Lodging is comfortable and food service is good .
Amongst the various activities and programs are piranha fishing, hiking and canoeing. Especially interesting is the night time canoe cruise in search of caimans. |
 You may observe dozens of species in a very short period of time. |
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2007 Rates
4 days Fri to Mon $350
5 days Monday to Friday $450
8 days Mon-Mon ro Fri-Fri $700
Add $132 for the Quito-Coca-Quito air
Single supplement add 50%
Price includes: Transportation from Coca airport to Yuturi (and vice versa), English-speaking guide, accommodation in double cabins, full board
All rates in US dollars. Itineraries subject to change
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Sacha
Jungle Lodge |
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Day 1 |
Flight from Quito To Coca. Transfer to a motorized dugout canoe and navigation along the Napo and Yuturi rivers. During the trip a light lunch will be served. We shall arrive approximately at 5 p.m. After dinner a night hike around the Parahuaco Lake to observe nocturnal animals completes the day's activities. |
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Day2 |
Get up early. Canoe trip through Yuturi Lake in order to observe the transition between the terrestrial and aquatic vegetation, the diversity of birds and their morning concert. Nearly 500 species of birds have been found in the area. Return to the lodge for breakfast. Afterwards, canoe trip through the rain forest where you will have the opportunity to observe the exhuberant vegetation, some plants like " chontillas ", anthuria , and a diversity of aquatic birds. In the afternoon, piranha fishing and dinner. |
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Day 3 |
After breakfast, walk by the way of Huarmi Yuturi in order to observe many plants and animals. We will visit the indigenous community called Samona Yuturito learn about their customs and traditions. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, native guides will show you how to use a blowgun. Afterwards visit the Chorongos Island ( monkey island ). Dinner. |
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Day 4 |
Early departure to Coca. Breakfast will be served in the canoe. Transfer to the airport to take the flight back to Quito . Arrival time in Quito is approximately 1:30 PM. |
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Price includes |
Airport Assistance in Quito
Transfers in Coca
All meals and accommodation
Naturalist Guides
Guided Hikes and other excursions |
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Not Included |
International or local flights
Additional transfers, tours or meals in the cities
Laundry , liquor , tips
Personal Items
Items not mentioned
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You should bring |
Day Pack
Binoculars
Camera
Sunblock
Rain gear
Water bottle
Head Lamp or Flashlight
Hat
Personal clothing
Insect repellent
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