Ecuador’s Amazon Jungle

Upon arrival to Coca airport you will be met by our representative who will explain the logistics and give you your details for the duration of your trip. You will then begin the journey to your accommodation. 

Coca is a bustling oil town located in the Amazon Basin. You will have a stop for lunch at Sacha´s private house and then its off to the town docks where you will board Sacha´s private canoes for the 2 hour journey down river to Sacha´s Lodge.

A 30 minute hike through the rainforest leads you to lake Pilchicocha. Here, you are met by native workers to paddle you across the lake to your final destination. Arrive at Sacha Lodge around 15:30 or 16:00 pm (subject to change) check in and get settled into your surroundings. 

You can go for a swim in Lake Pilchicocha, which is a black water lake home to many species of fish and animals. A refreshing swim after arriving may be just what you need after being in the equatorial heat all day. You can also do some bird observing from the mini tower which offers guests an excellent opportunity to view several species of birds found commonly around the lodge. It is also a great place to watch the sun set.

After dinner, accompany your naturalist guide on a night walk (or canoe ride) through the rainforest to view the hundreds of different species of animals that can only be found at night. You may get the chance to view the black caimans with their glowing orange eyes as you silently paddle across the lake to get a closer
view.

Imagine walking across a bridge suspended over the rainforest canopy, paddling through creeks in search of monkeys and river otters, climbing to the very top of a giant kapok tree or swimming in a black-water lake, threading your way through trees in search of the world’s tiniest monkey… You‚’ll find these exclusive experiences, plus many more, only at Sacha Lodge, within our pristine 5,000-acre (2,000-hectare) ecological reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon. 

All of our cabins, with high thatched roofs and private shaded terraces with hammocks, are constructed with traditional materials and nestle subtly into the lush surroundings. Each of the 26 the rooms, which include single, double and (upon request) triple accommodations and three family cabins, provides a spacious private bathroom with flushing toilet and hot shower – some even feature floor-to-ceiling windows for an immersive jungle shower experience! All cabins are screened against insects, and contain ceiling fans above two comfortable double beds. 

There is a unquie al fresco lounge experience. Named after the Spanish word for a “raft”, the Balsa is at the heart of the Sacha Lodge experience: a covered al fresco lounge area with a breath taking view over the shimmering Pilchicocha Lake. It is the perfect place to read a book with a glass of wine, spot birds, caiman and giant otters, or to watch the crimson sunsets and tremendous thunder storms.

The rustic, airy restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere for dinner with its windows open, allowing the cicadas evening song to circle. An a la carte dinner is served in the restaurant, bringing fine dining to the jungle. Using fresh and sustainable products, our chef prepares meals to delight the tastes of a world traveler while satisfying the appetite of an adventurer! The safari-lodge style bar is found above the restaurant and fitted with snuggly sofas and stools propping up the bamboo bar.

Adventure is a given at Sacha Lodge, and all guests, from those happy to relax in their own comfort zone to the most intrepid will be reap tremendous rewards from our spectrum of activities. The water is the thread that links each experience: you’ll become an expert at hopping in and out of the canoe and manning the oars, and will come to love the surreal peacefulness of paddling down streams through virgin wilderness. Expedition groups are never larger than six, and are always accompanied by a naturalist guide and a local guide. We strive to match guests with others of similar ages, interests and abilities in expedition groups. See below for a list of activities you may choose from:

CANOPY WALK: Imagine crossing the rainforest across a bridge 36 metres high over the treetops. This 275-metre sturdy walkway is fixed to the ground by three metal towers, and offers an astounding opportunity to spot dozens of animals and epiphytes seldom seen from the ground, immersed in the canopy. You might even follow along with troops of monkeys as they forage through the forest canopy. 

KAPOK TOWER: You’ll feel like you’re on the very top of the world on our 135-foot (43-meter) observation tower, a platform built on the highest branches of a giant kapok tree. From here there are magnificent and panoramic views of the forest unfolding all around you. 

YASUNI PARROT LICK: A short distance from Sacha Lodge is Ecuador’s most accessible parrot lick, an exposed clay riverbank where technicoloured parrots of several different species gather in the early morning. In ideal conditions (sunny and dry) hundreds of parrots will perch on and eat the exposed clay in a spectacular show of sound and colour! 

THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE: Sacha Lodge is home to 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 may roam through ‚”the flying room” where hundreds of colourful butterflies flutter from flower to flower. 

FOREST WALKS: Creeping along the jungle paths through the spotlights of sun filtering down through the canopy, careful not to tread on an army of marching ants, your nature guide will point out plants and insects and the fascinating symbiosis between them. He might take you through the territory of the crested owls or spider monkeys, expertly mimicking the creatures’ call to win their trust and coax them out of hiding. When darkness falls, have your flashlight ready to spot creatures of the night, from tarantulas and boas to stick insects and frogs.

CREEK PADDLING: Besides being your means of transport between expeditions, creek paddling in dug-out canoes is a fabulous adventure in itself, with the bonus that it requires little physical exertion. Paddling down the streams is like entering into a tunnel leading to a lost world. 

CAIMAN SPOTTING BY NIGHT: A night-time expedition to look for caiman on the lake is perhaps the most magical experience of an adventure already filled with wonder. Under cover of darkness, you will take a canoe out onto the water, your way lit by glittering stars. The eyes of the caiman glow ghoulishly red in the torchlight.

BIRDWATCHING: Of the incredible 1,600 bird species registered in Ecuador, 600 (37 percent) have been seen at Sacha Lodge. That’s almost 7 percent of the species found in the entire world!

VISIT THE INTERPRETATION CENTER OF PROVIDENCIA COMMUNITY: Our visit takes us to Shipati Warmi project, an initiative run by and benefiting the women of the Providencia community of Yasuní. Through an unobtrusive dialogue, we learn about their day-to-day lives: how they dry clothes in the jungle and the challenges of getting to school, before helping to prepare and trying traditional food. It’s an intimate, unique experience, in which we discover both the differences and similarities between our own and another culture.

LAKE POOL: Ideal for families, the Lake Pool is the only one of its kind in the Amazon region. The plunge pool, protected by a mesh cage, allows you to cool off and relax in the black shallows of the Pilchicocha Lake, without the fear of encountering the unknown. You could even spot caiman and giant otters swim by the other side of the net…

Wake up late or rise early — the choice is yours. You have the full day to enjoy the activities of the lodge. Maybe it's spotting some exotic and wonderful birds or a forest walk, today is yours to explore and enjoy. 

After one last delicious breakfast, you will check out and begin your journey back to Coca this morning. One last walk on the boardwalk to the river, and from there a 2 hour canoe ride back to Coca airport.