Introduction
Imagine
yourself drifting down a narrow, winding creek surrounded on all sides by a lush, endless
sea of tropical greenery. All that separates you from the deep black Amazon waters is a
canoe hand-carved out of a single tree trunk. As you maneuver around a bend something
unidentified crashes off into the underbrush, and you catch a glimpse of two magnificent,
colorful macaws startled into flight. Suddenly, the forest erupts with a roar so loud that
all you can imagine is some giant, fierce predator on the prowl. But as you turn to face
your destiny, the menace is revealed as a family of furry red howler monkeys huddled
together in a treetop. With a sigh of relief you continue onward, deeper into the unknown.
The journey to Sacha Lodge begins in Quito, Ecuador's capital city. From here, a 45-minute flight takes you over the Andes Mountains' majestic snow-covered peaks and down over 8500 feet (2600 meters) into the town of Puerto Francisco de Orellana. Here, a covered motorized canoe will be awaiting you for a 21/2-hour, 50-mile (80-kilometer) trip down the Napo, the largest river in Ecuadorian Amazonia. Upon arrival to Sacha Lodge's 3200-acre (1300-hectare) private reserve, guests will take their first walk along a raised boardwalk through dense flooded palm forest to Pilchicocha lake, a blackwater paradise where dugout canoes (and even paddlers!) await to carry you to the Lodge.
Since it's opening in 1991, Sacha has bought large expanses of pristine land
around the Lodge and has so far accumulated a private reserve of 3200-acres of primary
rainforest. In order to increase the buffer zone around this area, there are plans to
purchase more land in the future. This area is being used exclusively for ecotourism and
scientific investigation: All guests are led by both a biologist guide and a native guide,
and activities are designed to educate guests on rainforest flora, fauna, ecosystems,
cultures and their fragile balance. Several ornithologists have used our installations as
a research base, and studies are also being done on several species of Lepidoptera at the
Lodge's butterfly farm.
Sacha Lodge's maximum capacity is 40 guests, and this number will not grow. During walks
in the forest, groups are kept small (6-8 people) and follow several well-dispersed trails
where very few guests pass each week. No motors are used on the Lodge's lakes or creeks,
and the building materials necessary for maintenance are brought in from the town of
Puerto Francisco de Orellana, located at a distance of 50 miles. Drinking water is treated
with filters and heat (rather than chemicals), and plastic garbage and dead batteries are
sent out the way visitors come in.
Sacha
Lodge takes pride in the international quality of its meals, and our chefs will be happy
to prepare special dishes for vegetarians.
The lodging at Sacha was carefully designed to offer comfort to the traveler yet preserve
the environment and rainforest ambience. Each of our 10 double cabins, with high thatched
roofs and private shaded terraces, is constructed with traditional materials and nestles
well concealed in the lush surroundings.
Guests may use free time to enjoy a raised lookout above our bar and lounge, which offers
a scenic view of Pilchicocha Lake and excellent opportunities to birdwatch.
Electricity is provided from 4:30am until 10:00pm by a distant, nearly inaudible
generator.
Private, modern bathrooms provide hot showers.
All cabins are screened against insects and contain two comfortable double beds.
Sample 5D Program at Sacha Lodge
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, birdwatch or visit a small lookout with a scenic view of the
lake and lodge before sunset.
Day 2: 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.
Day 3: Each group will decide on the activities depending on the specific interests and
physical abilities of the group.
Day 4: Each group will decide on the activities depending on the specific interests and
physical abilities of the group.
Day 5: 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.
UP
| Rates are Per Person | |||
| 4D/3N Fri-Mon |
5D/4N Mon-Fri |
||
| Single | $862 | $1015 | |
| Double | $661 | $810 | |
Airfare
Quito/Coca/Quito: $120 |
|||
Rates do not include beverages, gratuities, personal
items and are subject to change. Discounted rates available for children under 12 sharing
with parents.
