Sani Lodge is a first class lodge dedicated to eco-tourism, environmental conservation and community projects - it is owned and operated by members of the Sani community with profits reinvested to improve the life of the locals. Located on the Chawllacocha Lake, set in over 100,000 acres of untouched rainforest between the Cuyabeno Reserve and Yasuni National Park, you have access to an extensive diversity of flora and fauna (the lake itself is home to the giant otter and black caiman) as well as the opportunity to interact with and get to know the Sani people!
Sani Lodge offers 13 first class cabins: 10 double/single cabins, 1 mini suite cabin, 1 family cabin, and 1 multi-cabin with 4 rooms and 5 beds. All cabins are built with local wood, have window openings covered with mosquito nets and roofs made of toquilla straw leaves, and are equipped with fans, running water, single and double beds, electric lights and a modern bathroom with shower. Guests can also count on an open-air dining area, bar and a 100-foot canopy tower for birdwatching. These facilities are truly in harmony with the jungle and will allow you to live an unforgettable dream!
The 4 and 5 day tours can start and end on every day of the week except on Sundays. Please note that you will be combined with other passengers for the activities. Sani Lodge is the only ecolodge in Ecuador 100% owned and run by an indigenous community!
ITINERARY
Day 1:
Your journey starts with a 35 minute flight from Quito to Coca where the staff will pick you up and transfer you to the banks of the Napo River. Your bilingual guide will explain about safety before embarking for a 3 hour motorized canoe trip on the largest Ecuadorian affluent of the Amazon, the Napo River. During the journey you get a taste of the Amazon: ancestral communities and birds such as herons, egrets and vultures can be spotted while enjoying a packed lunch. The journey continues with a short walk to Challwacocha Creek, where you will board paddle canoes for a trip through a primary flooded forest of black tea colored waters teeming with wildlife. Don´t be surprised to see black mantled tamarin squirrel monkeys on the way to the lodge. Upon arrival you will be served a welcome cocktail and snacks, followed by an introductory talk about the lodge and its facilities before settling into your cabin. The guide will explain the activities for the rest of the day. One option is to walk along the nearby trails or take a canoe ride. During these activities you will be able to observe primates, endemic birds, black caimans, the Amazonian flora, including giant Kapok trees, cedar, orchids, bromeliads and palms. At dinner time, our chef offers various national and international cuisine options that cater to celiacs, vegetarians and vegans. The lake is a refuge for the endangered black caiman. After dinner, the naturalist and local guides lead a canoe excursion in search of these large South American alligators, which can measure up to 6 meters (18 feet).
Accommodation: Sani Lodge
Meals included: -/Box Lunch/Dinner
Day 2:
Experience the upper canopy from our 36 meter (118 foot) tower built around a millennial Kapok tree. After breakfast we take a paddle canoe to cross the lake and observe the first signs of wildlife. Upon reaching the lake’s end, a small channel opens up, allowing navigation through a unique forest of freshwater mangrove. This area is the habitat of howler, capuchin and squirrel monkeys, as well as some species of kingfishers, capped herons, woodcreepers and woodpeckers. Finally we reach the mainland and continue with a 10 minute walk through a terra firme forest trail leading to the tower. The canopy is a haven for wildlife viewing. Colorful birds such as macaws, toucans, parrots, honeycreepers, tanagers and cotingas fly by while monkeys and sloths forage in the treetops. The tower provides a unique perspective, offering a glimpse into the diverse world of the Amazon that is impossible to appreciate from the forest floor. After returning to the canoe we will go piranha fishing, one of the symbolic creatures of the Amazon. Following the fishing we will head back to the lodge for lunch. During a break from guided activities, you can enjoy the lodge’s facilities, such as wildlife watching from the three story dock overlooking the forest, having a cold beverage at the bar while enjoying the lagoon view, or simply relaxing in the hammocks with a book. Take an afternoon nature walk through the primary forest to discover the intrinsic relationships between living creatures and their roles in this complex tropical ecosystem. The rich flora includes orchids, lianas and medicinal and useful plants used by locals. You will also see ancient trees adorned with lianas and bromeliads. After dinner, a different world awakens. It is time for a night walk to listen to the chorus of bats, frogs and crickets while observing dozens of insect species, tarantulas, frogs, and, with a bit of luck, snakes, armadillos and night monkeys.
Accommodation: Sani Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 3:
In the morning you return to the Napo River to board a motor canoe and visit the parrot clay lick in Yasuni National Park. This is a visible landslide from the river where clay is exposed for parrots and parakeets to digest as part of their nutrition detoxification process. You can spot five species: mealy-amazon, blue-headed, yellow-crowned parrots, dusky-headed and white-eyed parakeets. The adventure continues with a walk at the foothills of Yasuni, which scientists consider the most biodiverse area in the world. The flora is spectacular, with centenary trees and traditional medicine, including species that can only be found south of Napo, such as the golden mantled tamarin, spider monkeys and scarlet macaws. The hike in this unique ecosystem offers much to be discovered: footprints of jaguars and pumas, encounters with deer, white lipped peccaries or white collared peccaries. Leave the Yasuni National Park and head to the Sani Isla Community Center. Here the women of the Sani Warmi Organization will share their customs and teach the use of medicinal plants of the Amazonian Kichwa culture. This unique experience will help you understand why this way of life is environmentally sustainable. Experience an Amazonian cooking class at midday; follow their instructions to prepare your lunch using local ingredients. Additionally guests can support the local economy by shopping for handicrafts the local women make using natural fibers and forest products. This income allows them to invest in education and boost the local economy. After a full day of adventure, wildlife and culture, you return to the lodge to enjoy the Amazonian sunset from the bar or the dock.
Accommodation: Sani Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 4:
This day is ideal for nature enthusiasts who wish to experience the Amazonian environment fully. Experience the hidden areas of Sani Lodge with a full day adventure that includes a two hour canoe ride through the lake and flooded forests, followed by a 6 hour hike on the Chorongo Largo trail. This trail is home to wildlife, including jaguars, pumas, ocelots, capuchin monkeys, wooly monkeys, tapirs and even peccaries. The canoe glides through the habitat of giant river otters, anacondas and large caimans, surrounded by the magical landscape of the Amazon. It is a truly unique experience. Lunch is served amidst the forest’s towering centenarian trees, lush ferns, climbing vines and exquisite flora. The return trip to the lodge by paddle canoe provides another opportunity to spot wildlife.
Accommodation: Sani Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 5:
After an early breakfast you take a final canoe ride through Chawllacocha Creek, accompanied by the Amazonian wildlife and the sunrise. Board the motorized canoe on the Napo River to depart this magical land, back to Coca, for your flight to Quito.
Accommodation: -
Meals included: Breakfast/-/-
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Price (2024)
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Included
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Not included
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Additional information
• 4 day / 3 night tour:
- USD 979 p.p. (based on double or triple accommodation)
- USD 1321 p.p. (based on single accommodation)
• 5 day / 4 night tour:
- USD 1187 p.p. (based on double or triple accommodation)
- USD 1602 p.p. (based on single accommodation)
• The lodge also has a suite and a family cabin available. Please contact us for more information
• Children under 12 years receive a 50% discount
• Accommodation with private bathroom
• Transportation Coca - Sani Lodge - Coca (canoe)
• All meals (breakfast-lunch-dinner) from box lunch on the first day to breakfast on the final day
• Snacks
• Water, coffee and tea
• Excursions (shared)
• Bilingual naturalist guide
• Rain poncho, rubber boots (up to size US Men 12) and life jackets
• Assistance at Quito and Coca airports
• Airfare Quito - Coca - Quito (approx. USD 270 p.p. - needs to be booked through Sani Lodge)
• Meals before and after the tour
• Additional beverages
• Tips
• Personal expenses
• Prices for 2025 are subject to change.
• The 4 and 5 day tours both can start and end on every day of the week except on Sundays.
• Please note that you will be combined with other passengers for the activities.
• The surcharge for a private English speaking naturalist guide is USD 120 per day and for a private English speaking birding guide the surcharge is USD 150 per day. If you wish to book a private guide, it has to be for the entire tour.
• Please note the first and last days are basically travel days. On the first day you will arrive in the afternoon to the lodge and you will do a night activity. After breakfast on the last day you will start the trip back to Coca.
• Any mention to specific wildlife in the itinerary or trip details is not a guarantee that it will be seen during the trip.
• The operator reserves the right to change the itinerary without previous notice due to weather, National Park regulations or notifications and unforeseeable circumstances.
• For tours in the Yasuni National Park we mostly work with Sacha Lodge and Sani Lodge, but we also can help you with tours staying at Napo Wildlife Center, Napo Cultural Center, La Selva Lodge, etc. Please contact us for more information.
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