Introduction
The Jungle Lodge El Jardín Alemán was opened in January 1996 and is surrounded by 125
ha primary and secondary rain forest. The Lodge is located on the banks of Misahuallí
River, a tributary of Napo River , which forms after about 1400 km, in Perú, the Amazon
River.
In the Upper Napo River live the indigenous Quichua. The main cultivation is among others
the Yuca (the most important local staple food, a starch root), several species of bananas
and rice (both imported from Asia, nowadays staple food), corn (mainly for feeding
animals), coffee and cocoa (for sale) and fruits such as pineapple, papaya, citric fruits,
avocado and chirimoya.
The plants, which will be presented by your guide during the jungle tours can only be a
part of the unbelievable botanical diversity of this region. They are chosen because of
their importance and utilisation as food, medicinal plant, colouring, drug or building
material for the natives.
Lodge facilities include 20 double rooms with private bathroom, restaurant and bar,
jacuzzi with sun terrace, river beach, pool-billiard, satellite Tv in the hall, chapel,
laundry service, jungle tours in canoe and by foot
Sample 5-Day Program at El Jardin Aleman
Day 1:
Transfer in private vehicle from hotel in Quito to the lodge "El Jardín
Alemán". In the afternoon tour in the gardens of the Lodge to observe the free
living animals as parrots, red, yellow-blue and green macaws, spider and woolly monkey,
caimans, turtles and boas. Accommodation and dinner.
Day
2: Canoe ride on the Misahuallí and Napo Rivers,opportunity to observe gold panning. Hike
into the jungle in the protected forest of the Lodge. Admire the extraordinary flora and
the exotic sounds of the primary rainforest. Opportunity to see tucans, oropendolas,
parrots and monkeys. After the hike lunch in a typical indian hut. Embark the canoe
upstream to visit a Quichua Indian village and see how they live and work. Learn about the
preparation of "chicha", a fermented yucca drink. Visit the local witch-doctor
and experience a magical world. Learn about the medicinal plants, see a special ceremony
and experience the blowpipe, a traditional hunting tool. Return to the Lodge by canoe.
Accommodation and dinner.
Day 3: Jungle hike, where you can see traps used by the natives for hunting. Admire the
labyrinth of high rocks and virgin vegetation. Visit a native hut and learn about their
life style. See how the Indians construct their houses using natural materials. Lunch.
Walk on the banks of the Misahuallí river to the suspended bridge and visit a ceibo tree,
the largest species of the rainforest. On the way back visit a typical "colonos"
village. (Colonos = migrants from the highlands). Return to the lodge for overnight and
dinner.
Day 4: Tour to the "Cascaditas" (small waterfalls). Hike along the
river, where you can observe by sunshine a huge variety of butterflies as morpho, monarca
etc. In the rocks you can find different types of fossils: sea snails, shells and others.
Passing the primary forest you arrive at the waterfalls, enjoy a bath in the natural
pools. Coming back, have lunch at the river and relax in the fresh water. In the afternoon
visit the silice mine, where you can see the oldest geological formations of the region.
These superficial layers were also found in Coca during oil drillings at 10.000 mt depth.
Further up the Misahuallí River, pass though a narrow river gauge, where the noise of
water is spectacular. Walk back to the Lodge for overnight and dinner.
Day 5: After breakfast return to Quito with private vehicle.
UP
Rates 2003 include all meals, local excursions, services of bilingual and native guides, transportation from/to Quito
| Rates are Per Person | |||
| Daily Departures |
3D/2N |
4D/3N |
5D/4N |
| Single | $505 | $628 | $752 |
| Double | $325 | $415 | $499 |
