Discover the Amazon: 2 Days at Napo Amazon EcoLodge
A short Arajuno River break with a night walk, clay lick birdwatching and the AmaZOOnico refuge
- Bilingual guide included
- Full board, self-service
- Pool, kayaks and tubing
- Clay lick birdwatching
- Departures any day
-
Duration2 days / 1 night
-
Group sizeUp to 15 travellers per guide
-
DifficultyEasy
-
DepartureArajuno River Bridge (Puente del Rio Arajuno) at 12:00, then 20 minutes by motorised canoe to the lodge
-
Departure daysAny day of the week
-
LanguagesEnglish and Spanish
Tour overview
One night is enough to change the rhythm. You meet us at the Arajuno River Bridge at midday, board a motorised canoe and zigzag twenty minutes upriver to Napo Amazon EcoLodge, surrounded by tropical forest on every side.
The afternoon is yours: an interpretive hike around the lodge, then the pool, the kayaks, the catamaran nets or simply a hammock by the river. After dinner we go out again for a night walk built around sound, when the frogs and insects take over the forest.
Day two starts before the light, at the saladero, a natural clay lick and one of the few still preserved in the Ecuadorian Amazon, where birds gather at dawn. Afterwards we visit the AmaZOOnico wildlife refuge, Caiman Island or Monkey Island, depending on conditions.
We are a local Ecuadorian operator and we run the programme ourselves, with a bilingual guide, full board and all river transport included. Departures any day of the week.
Itinerary
-
Day 1: Welcome to the Amazon
We meet you at the Arajuno River Bridge at 12:00 and take a 20-minute motorised canoe ride, zigzagging along the river to the lodge while you take in the Amazonian landscape and the fresh air. Welcome and check-in, then a self-service lunch prepared with local ingredients. In the afternoon, a one-hour interpretive hike around the lodge to learn about the vegetation and how the tropical rainforest works. Free time afterwards for the pool, the lodge facilities or the river. Dinner at the lodge, then a night walk focused on the sounds of the jungle, where you hear the chorus of Amazonian frogs and insects. Return to the lodge and rest.
-
Day 2: Amazonian culture and nature
Early departure for birdwatching around the lodge, when the jungle is at its quietest, including a visit to the saladero, a natural clay lick and one of the few still preserved in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Self-service breakfast at the lodge. Then a visit to the AmaZOOnico refuge, Caiman Island or Monkey Island, depending on the weather and operating conditions of the day: all of them a chance to see conservation projects, local wildlife and the natural areas that define the region. Return to the lodge for lunch and check-out.
What's included
Included
- Motorised canoe transport for all activities
- Accommodation in your selected room category
- Bilingual guide, English and Spanish
- Full board, served self-service or buffet style
- All excursions and activities in the itinerary, in shared groups
- Life jackets, rain ponchos and rubber boots (sizes 34 to 45)
- Unlimited water, coffee and tea dispensers in the dining areas
- Starlink satellite internet in the common areas
- Towels, shampoo and biodegradable soaps in the room
- Electricity in every room, powered by solar panels
- Safe at reception
- Use of kayaks during your stay, subject to availability and weather
Not included
- Transfer Quito to Arajuno River Bridge and back. Door-to-door service available at an extra cost
- Entrance fees to the Kichwa community and the AmaZOOnico rescue centre: USD 10 per person, subject to change
- Alcoholic drinks and personal expenses
- VAT
- Additional meals
- Tips
- Extra activities such as rafting or the ayahuasca ceremony
What to bring
- Long-sleeved shirts, 2 or more
- Comfortable trousers, 2 or more (no jeans)
- Shorts and T-shirts, 2 or more of each
- Socks, one pair per day
- Trainers and/or sandals
- Warm jacket and sweater
- Swimsuit for the pool and the river
- Biodegradable or natural soap and shampoo
- Sunglasses and camera
- Small waterproof backpack
- Mosquito repellent and sunscreen
- Hat or cap
- Torch with spare batteries for the night walk
- Binoculars (optional)
- Reusable water bottle and towel
- Personal medication
- Dry bags for gear, clothes and documents
- Passport or ID card (copy or photo)
Good to know
-
How do I reach the lodge?
We meet you at the Arajuno River Bridge at 12:00 and take a 20-minute motorised canoe ride to the lodge. The Quito to Arajuno River Bridge journey is not included in the price, but we can arrange a door-to-door transfer for an extra cost.
-
Is there Wi-Fi and electricity at the lodge?
Yes. The lodge has Starlink satellite internet in the common areas, and every room has electricity powered by solar panels. There is no internet in the rooms and no air conditioning, which is part of what keeps the place quiet.
-
Am I likely to see a lot of wildlife?
This area is above all about culture, landscape and connecting with the rainforest. Wildlife sightings happen, especially birds at the clay lick and at the AmaZOOnico refuge, but they can be limited depending on the season. We prefer to say so up front.
-
What extra costs should I budget for?
USD 10 per person for entrance to the Kichwa community and the AmaZOOnico refuge, subject to change; alcoholic drinks and personal expenses; VAT; tips; and any additional meals. Activities such as rafting or the ayahuasca ceremony are charged separately.
-
What are meal times and what is the food like?
All included meals are self-service, prepared with local ingredients and with a variety of options. Breakfast is served at 8:00 a.m. Water, coffee and tea dispensers in the dining areas are unlimited and included.
-
Can the order of activities change?
Yes. The order may vary for weather, operational or safety reasons, and the day 2 excursion is to the AmaZOOnico refuge, Caiman Island or Monkey Island depending on conditions. Programmes starting on a Friday include tubing or a community activity.
Book this tour
Tell us your dates and we will confirm availability within 24 hours.
Write to us and we will hold your places while you decide.
