Napo Wildlife Center

The Napo Wildlife Center is located in Yasuní National Park (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), deep in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon. This luxury eco-lodge was established and built by the local Qichwa Añangu community. A wonderful example of how adventure, luxury comfort and nature protection can go together as one

The trip to your lodge is part of the entire experience. You can reach the lodge with a flight of only 30 minutes from Quito to Coca, where the staff of Napo Wildlife Center will pick you up. Then you board a motorised canoe for a boat trip of about 2 hours on the largest Ecuadorian tributary of the Amazon, the Napo River. Already during this trip you can taste the Amazon; you see indigenous communities and you can spot birds such as herons and vultures, while enjoying a delicious lunch. The canoe trip is followed by a 2-hour trip with a small canoe that will be guided by your guide. Paddling through the rainforest you will immerse yourself in the fairy-tale environment. All your senses are stimulated. You hear howler monkeys, see unknown birds and feel the tropical temperatures.

The lodge consists of 20 comfortable wooden cabañas (12 standard and 8 suites), which are built in harmony with the surroundings. The rooms are very spacious with a veranda where you can sit outside and relax overlooking the Añangu Lake. The central lodge is also located on this lake. You will enjoy delicious food here (buffet style) or you can relax on lounge chairs with a drink from the bar. The food is prepared with products from the area to also support the local community.

Accompanied by an experienced guide, Napo offers canoe and walking tours in small groups and meetings with the Qichwa Añangu Indians. The lodge has a central tower where you have a panoramic view of the surrounding area. In addition, a second lookout tower (also owned by the lodge) is located in the middle of the rainforest where you can look out over the canopy and spot animals that are virtually invisible from the ground. Your excursions are always accompanied by a local Qichwa Indian (after all, they know the area best) and an expert English-speaking guide. In the evening you are at home in your luxury cabaña and enjoy delicious meals.

We enjoyed our stay at this lodge. Our guide, Andres, was very knowledgeable and had a good sense of humour. I will always remember the evening walk through the rainforest; with flashlights on the way through this dense nature. When we extinguished the light we were embraced in a darkness that I have never experienced before, you could literally no longer see your hand in front of your face. During our last canoe trip on the way home we were accompanied by a giant otter family, mom and two little ones. I couldn’t have imagined a better farewell.