Getting to Napo Wildlife Center is part of the adventure itself. The journey begins with a short 45-minute flight from Quito to Coca, where guests enjoy lunch before boarding a motorized canoe for a scenic two-hour ride along the Napo River. Upon reaching the community territory, travelers switch to a paddle canoe and continue for about 45 minutes through a tributary leading to Añangu Lake, arriving at the lodge surrounded by pristine rainforest.
Parrot Clay Licks
The clay licks at Napo Wildlife Center are among the highlights of any Amazon experience. The day begins early with a peaceful canoe ride through the jungle waterways, followed by a quiet wait as nature comes to life. As flocks of parrots gather, guests can observe a remarkable variety of species—often with the guidance of expert naturalists. With dozens of parrot species inhabiting the region, each visit offers something unique. Guides typically explore several sites, increasing the chances of sightings while embracing the unpredictability of wildlife. It’s a truly memorable encounter that captures the essence of the rainforest.
Observation Tower
Just a short hike from the lodge, the Observation Tower offers an extraordinary perspective above the rainforest canopy. From this elevated vantage point, guests can look out over endless treetops and spot a wide range of birdlife. Knowledgeable guides help identify species that may be difficult to recognize on your own. Among the most sought-after sightings is the harpy eagle, a powerful predator occasionally seen resting high in the canopy. Adapted to the dense forest environment, it relies on exceptional vision to detect prey hidden among the foliage.
Community Visits
A visit to the Napo Wildlife Center also provides meaningful insight into the local Kichwa community. Over the years, the lodge has become a successful community-led initiative, empowering residents through sustainable tourism. Today, it supports local development, including schools and healthcare facilities. During guided visits, guests can interact with community members and learn about their traditions, daily life, and ancestral practices. These experiences offer a deeper cultural connection to the Amazon and a better understanding of its people.
Rainforest Hikes
Guided hikes from the lodge take you deep into the Amazon, beneath the dense layers of the forest canopy. These walks reveal the incredible biodiversity of the region, where countless plant and animal species coexist. Towering trees, such as the impressive Kapok, rise high above the forest floor, creating a complex ecosystem below. Along the trails, you may encounter monkeys moving through the branches, colorful birds overhead, and a wide variety of insects and amphibians. Each step offers a closer look at the intricate balance of life in the rainforest, leaving visitors with a lasting appreciation of this unique environment.
Day one on your adventure to the Amazon is spent traveling. Far from a routine trip, the journey takes you from Quito by air to Coca, the “Gateway to the Amazon”, where you are met by a guide from Napo Wildlife Center. After a short trip to the docks, you travel by motorized canoe down the Napo River-enjoying the encroaching jungle while your guide stops the boat to point out communities along the way.
After the second leg of the journey, you reach the boundary of the Napo territory, where you transfer to paddle canoes for the last part of the trip. Journeying up a peaceful tributary of the Napo River where monkeys hide in the trees, you arrive at Añangu Lake and the Napo Wildlife Center, a thatched roof collection of buildings that complement the beautiful natural surroundings.
After storing your gear and a tour of the complex, the staff at Napo Wildlife Center introduces you to the lodge and community, detailing how it was created with the goal to help the local community through eco-tourism. Dinner is served and there is time to relax before turning in for the night.
Day 2 sees you waking up early in the morning at the luxury eco lodge. After breakfast, you will board canoes and embark for an hour’s journey to the nearby Napo clay lick, arriving in time to witness a flock of macaws and parrots descend from the canopy in a blur of movement and color.
The Rainforest adventure continues with a hike to the Kichwa Añangu community, an immersion into the way of life of the indigenous people of the Amazon. As the community welcomes you, the jungle and the people who live there come further into focus, shedding a new light on one of the most bio-diverse places in the world.
The picture of the Ecuador Amazon Basin gets brighter as the day continues with a walk through the forest to a second clay lick, where dozens of species of parrots, macaws, and parakeets join you for lunch, after which you return to the lodge for dinner and relaxation.
After another early breakfast, day three takes you by canoe to a landing point where a short hike finds you climbing 36 meters in the air to the observation tower of the Napo Wildlife Center Community lodge.
High up and above the canopy, the guide’s passion for their home comes to life. Soon, guests and guides alike are darting hither and from across the platform as some of the hundreds of species of the Amazon jungle appear in the treetops.
After a half an hour trip back to the Napo Wildlife Center Lodge and lunch, you continue the discovery of the Ecuador Amazon Basin with a hike into the forest. Here the guides show you the creatures of the jungle and why Napo Wildlife Center is the Best Amazon Rainforest lodge. Deftly spotting monkeys in the treetops snakes in the brush, lizards blending in with the scenery, and pointing out some of the insects, spiders, and frogs that hide in plain sight.
After dinner and a briefing at the main lounge, your guides will also give you the option to take part in an exiting jungle night walk where you will have the chance to see from up-close the nocturnal creatures that wonder in the surroundings of your Rainforest lodge, a truly unique experience that will allow all guests to see a different side of the jungle around the lodge.
On day four you say farewell to the Napo Wildlife Center and the staff, traveling back to the Napo River with new eyes, finding yourself scanning the treetops for monkeys, the skies for macaws, and the river for otters and turtles. The trip back puts the whirlwind tour at the Amazon Rainforest luxury lodge into perspective. With every passing minute going upstream as the trees fade into houses along the shores, the memories of the deep jungle awaken a connection with the natural world that stays with you long after the journey is over. It’s a trip that is more than a vacation, and brings a sense of wonder to everyday if you stop to look out over the horizon.
Seeing firsthand what the people and community of the Napo Wildlife Center have accomplished is astonishing. Within the confines of their land, they have preserved a piece of the Ecuador Amazon Basin for generations of travelers and the community to discover for years into the future.
In order to reach your Ecuador Amazon Lodge, you will be departing from Quito, a 45-minute flight over the eastern Andes will take you to the jungle town of Coca. There, members of our staff will be waiting for you and take you to the port, here is where the real Amazon adventure begins! You will get on a motorized canoe downstream the Napo River, the major tributary of the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador, you will have the chance to see different birds and admire the incredible views of the Ecuador Amazon jungle.
After our ride along the river, you will arrive at the NWC dock entrance, we will continue our way to the Napo lodge on paddle- canoes, we will arrive to the Napo Wildlife Center lodge where our staff will welcome you with drinks and show you to your rooms and other areas of the lodge.
After an early breakfast at the Amazon lodge, we will visit the Canopy Tower, an experience like any other! The tower is about 30 minutes away from the lodge within the rainforest. This 36 meters wooden platform offers you a 360 degrees view of the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador.
Great chances to look at colorful birds such as macaws, toucans, and even some monkey species as the Spider or Howler Monkeys that feed up with the fruits from nearby trees. In the afternoon we will go hiking through a marvelous terra-firme forest. You will learn about the local flora on the trail, vines, ancient trees, orchids, bromeliads and more. We will also explore the waters of the surrounding creeks where you will have the chance to run into a Giant otter family.
Early in the morning we will visit the parrot clay licks of the Yasuni Park. Once you get there, hundreds of parrots such as the Amazon-Mealy and the blue-headed Parrot; parakeets and macaws will be easily seen, they come to feed from the minerals and salts that the soil contains.
After this visit, we will spend time with the local people of the Kichwa Anangu community, learning about their daily life activities, routines and ancestral customs and traditions. In the afternoon, women from the community will welcome you with dances and typical rituals and drinks like “chicha”. It is a cultural activity that will allow you to learn more about their way of living. We will then make our way back to our Amazon rainforest lodge to relax, from here you will be able to see thousands of stars at night through the clear skies.
On this morning we will explore the forest trails of the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle to search for more wildlife species such as monkeys, birds, rare insects, reptiles, mammals, etc.
The Yasuní National Park is one of the most diverse areas in the World, so you never know which jungle creature will show up! After a long walk we will go back to the Napo lodge for lunch and rest in the social areas and rooms. In the afternoon, we will continue the Amazon adventure at the Napo surrounding creeks to look for species such as caimans, turtles, fish or the endemic Giant otters, a unique specie of the Amazon rainforest.
Back at the lodge our staff members will share with you a video about Napo Wildlife Center Lodge and the Kichwa Añangu Community’s history before a night walk.
On your last day at the lodge our staff members will prepare a special farewell breakfast early in the morning. Then, you will go back by paddle-canoe ride to the NWC welcome area and from there navigate on the Napo River upstream to reach the jungle town of Coca, we will have a yummy snack for you on the way, where you will get the last views of the deep Amazon rainforest with chances for great pictures, and the last wildlife encounters.
Once at Coca, we will drop you off at the airport on time for your flight back to Quito. You will be landing back in Quito early in the afternoon. Join this magnificent jungle adventure at this unique Ecuador Amazon Lodge, Napo Wildlife Center awaits you!
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Napo Wildlife Center Lodge offers a high-end Amazon experience deep in the rainforest, where guests explore rich jungle trails, rivers, and lakes while enjoying elegant elevated cabins with excellent comfort and service. It is perfect for travelers looking to combine adventure with premium accommodations.
The lodge is located beside a beautiful lake within Yasuni National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve recognized as one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. Its privileged setting provides access to pristine rainforest habitats and outstanding wildlife encounters.
Most visitors begin with a flight from Quito to Coca (Francisco de Orellana), followed by a motorized canoe journey through Amazon waterways to reach the lodge. This scenic route enhances the feeling of leaving the city behind and entering an untouched natural world.
Guests stay in spacious cabins featuring jungle views, private balconies, mosquito netting, and comfortable beds. Some accommodations also include upgraded amenities such as jacuzzis and modern bathrooms, combining comfort with a design that blends naturally into the surroundings.
Activities include guided jungle walks, birdwatching excursions, canoe and kayak outings, visits to parrot clay licks, climbs to observation towers, and cultural experiences with the local Kichwa Añangu community. Special interest programs for birding and photography can also be arranged.
The rainforest surrounding the lodge is full of wildlife, including colorful birds such as macaws, parrots, and birds of prey, along with monkeys, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and many other species. Sightings are common along trails, during canoe rides, or near the clay licks where birds gather.
Packages generally include accommodations, most meals, guided rainforest excursions, canoe or boat transfers from Coca, use of basic equipment, and the services of experienced naturalist guides. Dining often combines local ingredients with international flavors in scenic settings.
Extra costs commonly include flights between Quito and Coca, alcoholic drinks, personal purchases, gratuities for guides and staff, optional tours outside the standard program, and travel insurance.
Yes. Guided activities can be adjusted to different interests and fitness levels, making the lodge suitable for a wide range of travelers. Families and first-time Amazon visitors often find the experience both enjoyable and educational.
The lodge welcomes guests throughout the year. Although the Amazon experiences wet and drier seasons, wildlife activity and lush scenery can be enjoyed in every month. Birdwatchers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts may prefer certain seasons, but there is always something special to discover.
NAPO WILDLIFE CENTER LODGE
ACCOMMODATION
Standard Rooms: 12 Comfortable rooms allowing double and triple accommodation (53 m – 562 feet)
Suite Rooms: 4 Luxurious suites with jacuzzi / 4 Interconnected suites ideal for Amazon Rainforest family trips
LODGE
Central Tower: Highest Observation Tower in the Amazon, panoramic elevator and observation platform
Unique Attention to Details: Helpful and friendly Tour Guides and Staff members always paying attention to detail
Activities: Variety of activities and itineraries available for all guests
Pristine Surroundings: Secluded Amazon Lodge with hundreds of species of reptiles, mammals, birds and much more
SERVICES
Satellite WIFI
Laundry Service
Souvenir Shop
Bar and Lounge
Library
Local and International Food
Safety Deposit box in each room
Screened windows and mosquito nets
Ceiling Fans in all rooms
Getting to Napo Wildlife Center is part of the adventure itself. The journey begins with a short 45-minute flight from Quito to Coca, where guests enjoy lunch before boarding a motorized canoe for a scenic two-hour ride along the Napo River. Upon reaching the community territory, travelers switch to a paddle canoe and continue for about 45 minutes through a tributary leading to Añangu Lake, arriving at the lodge surrounded by pristine rainforest.
