Aerial view of Sacha Jungle Lodge on a lake in Amazon with thatched roof, floating wood dock, dugout canoe & jungle behind.
amazon travelers taking pictures from a small boat with the jungle in the distance on a sunny day with clouds above
adventure travelers standing on the sky bridge above the jungle canopy taking pictures at sacha amazon eco lodge
A small black and yellow bird is perched on a branch. Guests staying at the Sacha Jungle Lodge in the Ecuadorian Amazon may observe some of the 500 species of birds from the observation tower.
two owls sit next to each other in the jungle canopy at sacha amazon eco lodge
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South America Amazon Land Tour

Ecuador Amazon Adventure – Sacha Lodge

Uncover the amazing flora and fauna of Ecuador’s Amazon from Sacha Lodge, located within a 5,000-acre private ecological reserve in Ecuador’s Amazon region. This accessible yet pristine rainforest sanctuary provides a true jungle adventure for guests and families alike. 

Delve deep into the Amazon rainforest by canoeing down the Napo River to Lake Pilchcocha. Swim safely in the blackwater lake and learn to fish for piranhas with a native guide. Days are spent exploring epic suspension canopy walks, touring the jungle from above with unique access to tree life, birds and monkeys. Explore the jungle floor on guided hikes to learn about flora, fauna, local beliefs and the local peoples’ relationships with the forest. Choose between leisurely or more challenging hikes along the Napo River and try spotting elusive species like the dusky titi monkey and the camouflaged three-toed sloth. An unforgettable night canoe through flooded forests reveals a symphony of frogs and insects, bats flying overhead and nocturnal birds making nighttime calls. Free time is spent relaxing on your personal balcony and in the common areas of Sacha Lodge.

The Ecuador Amazon Adventure at Sacha Lodge is the perfect 4- or 5-day complement to a Galapagos cruise, or further explorations in Ecuador and South America.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Amazon rainforest tours and Amazon trips.



Itinerary

Ecuador Amazon Adventure - Sacha Lodge 4-Day Itinerary

Enjoy time within a 5,000-acre private ecological reserve in Ecuador’s Amazon region during your stay at Sacha Lodge. Relax in a cabin along Lake Pilchcocha. Unique to Sacha is its 940-foot-long canopy walk, suspended 94 feet above the ground to reveal the wonders of the rainforest, as well as its Kapok Tower that rises 135 feet off the ground.

Map showing the placement of Sach Lodge, at Lake Pilchicocha along the Napo River in eastern Ecuador's Amazon rainforest basin.
Read More
Day 1
Quito to Coca & Sacha Lodge

Depart Quito’s airport for a 30-minute flight over the Andes Mountains, which leads you to a bustling oil town called Coca located in the Amazon Basin. Enjoy a quick lunch in Sacha Lodge’s private house before boarding Sacha’s private canoes for the 2-hour journey down river to Sacha Lodge. A 30-minute hike through the rainforest leads you to Lake Pilchicocha, where native workers paddle you across the lake to your final destination. Arrive at Sacha Lodge around 3:30 or 4pm.

A refreshing swim after arriving may be just what you need after being in the equatorial heat all day. You can swim in Lake Pilchicocha, which is a black water lake home to many species of fish and animals, or observe birds and watch the sunset from the mini tower. After dinner, accompany your naturalist guide on a night walk through the rainforest to view the hundreds of different species of animals that can only be found at night. Or maybe take a canoe ride on the lake to view the spectacled and black caimans with their glowing orange eyes.

Accommodations

Sacha Jungle Lodge

Meals

lunch, dinner

Read More
Days 2 - 3
Sacha Jungle Lodge Amazon Adventure

Each day at Sacha Lodge is customized to delve deep into the Amazon rainforest. Experienced guides choose between the following activities based on time of day, season, weather, physical abilities of the group and where they believe wildlife is more likely to be found. Excursions and tours are with an English-speaking guide, some more physically challenging than others, and cater to all ages and physical abilities. Each activity is designed to showcase the best of what the Ecuadorian Amazon has to offer and are included in the program price:

Canopy Walk

Cross the rainforest high above the treetops, on a suspended bridge 94 feet above the ground. The 940-foot sturdy walkway is fixed to the ground by three metal towers and offers an astounding opportunity to spot dozens of animals and epiphytes seldom seen from the ground, including possible monkeys.

Kapok Tower

Enjoy soaring views over the top of the canopy from this observation tower 135 feet above the ground. The platform, built on the highest branches of a giant kapok tree, affords panoramic views of the forest and optimizes opportunities to spot any of the 500 bird species found in the area.

Parrot Clay Lick

Visit clay licks where parrots and other birds frequently gather to eat salty clay to aid their digestion of seeds.

Nighttime Canoe Excursion

Join guides in the canoe with a spotlight on Garzacocha Lagoon to spot monkeys, caimans, bats, owls, the pigmy marmoset and more.

Night Excursions

With flashlight or headlamp, join your guide to see the forest come alive in the darkness.

Kichwa Community Visit

Several indigenous communities live near Sacha Lodge; visit small communities and learn about their ways of life.

Lake Pool Swimming

The Lake Pool at Sacha Lodge is the only one of its kind in the Amazon region. The plunge pool, protected by a mesh cage, allows you to cool off and relax in the black shallows of the Pilchicocha Lake, without the fear of encountering the unknown.

Forest Walks

Your nature guide will point out plants and insects and the fascinating symbiosis between them while you walk along jungle paths. You may hike through the territory of the crested owls or spider monkeys, your guide expertly mimicking the creatures’ call to win their trust and coax them out of hiding.

Creek Paddling

Enjoy paddling down the streams where birds call in surround sound and vast families of monkeys leap from branches overhead, a show to coincide with the setting of the sun.

Birdwatching

Of the incredible 1,600 bird species registered in Ecuador, 600 (37%) have been seen at Sacha Lodge-almost 7% of the species found in the entire world. Specialist bird guides can accompany avid birdwatchers, to hone in on the best locations and hours, and provide photography tips.

Each evening at the lodge, enjoy optional talks by the guides who elaborate on specific topics of the rainforest and truly enhance your experience.

Accommodations

Sacha Lodge

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 4
Depart Sacha Lodge to Coca & Quito

After breakfast, depart the lodge at 7:30am for an easy walk on the boardwalk to watch monkeys one last time before your final departure. Arrive in Coca and be escorted to the Coca airport where all plane tickets will be in the hands of Sacha Lodge employees waiting to help you board the plane and a final farewell. Scheduled arrival at Quito’s airport is at 12:30pm (subject to change).

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast

Read More
Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Accommodations; all meals indicated in the itinerary; river transportation; excursions with native and bilingual guides; welcome drink; water, tea and coffee with all meals; and taxes. Visit to parrot clay lick is offered on Wednesdays and Sundays, weather permitting and is included in cost.

Exclusions

International airfare, round-trip flights Quito to Coca ($275 per person, subject to change), alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, gratuities, and Native Community Interpretation Center entrance fee ($10 per person paid locally).

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of $100 is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing; cancellations are analyzed individually and may require a doctor’s certificate if due to a medical reason.

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The 4-day Ecuador Amazon Adventure begins and ends in Quito, Ecuador (UIO). Flights to the Amazon usually depart early and the Ecuador Amazon Adventure may require a pre-trip hotel overnight in Quito. We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. Expect to return from the Amazon late in the late afternoon on the last day of your itinerary. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.

Internal Flights

The 4-day Ecuador Amazon Adventure has a required flight between Quito and Coca on the first and final day of the itinerary. AdventureSmith will assist you with arranging your flights to Coca (not included in lodge package rate) after your booking has been made. Coca-Quito flight schedules vary, so check with AdventureSmith Explorations for details on your particular departure. There is a luggage weight limit of 48 lbs (22 kg) for checked luggage and 17 lbs (8 kg) for one piece of carry-on baggage on the flights between Quito and Coca; additional fees apply for extra weight.

Activities

Activities may include forest and jungle hiking, wildlife observation, community visits, climbing stairs to canopy towers over 100 feet high, canoe rides, night excursions by foot or canoe, star gazing, swimming, fishing and nightly lectures.

Room Configuration

Triple, Quad and Quintuple accommodations are available via extra beds, ask your Adventure Specialist for details.

Families & Children

Children under 12 at time of travel receive a 30% accommodation discount on double occupancy rate when staying with full fare adult. Children under 5 years old at time of travel receive free accommodation. All children under 12 receive a 25% discount on airfare.

Travel Insurance

Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, National Park regulation or at the guides’ discretion. Bilingual naturalist guides and native guides are divided within specially organized groups, which offer the best opportunities possible during excursions. The ability to be flexible makes this type of adventure travel unique.

Ecuador Amazon Adventure - Sacha Lodge 5-Day Itinerary

Enjoy an extra day within a 5,000-acre private ecological reserve in Ecuador’s Amazon region during your stay at Sacha Lodge. Relax in a cabin along Lake Pilchcocha. Unique to Sacha is its 940-foot-long canopy walk, suspended 94 feet above the ground to reveal the wonders of the rainforest, as well as its Kapok Tower that rises 135 feet off the ground.

Map showing the placement of Sach Lodge, at Lake Pilchicocha along the Napo River in eastern Ecuador's Amazon rainforest basin.
Read More
Day 1
Quito to Coca & Sacha Lodge

Depart Quito’s airport for a 30-minute flight over the Andes Mountains, which leads you to a bustling oil town called Coca located in the Amazon Basin. Enjoy a quick lunch in Sacha Lodge’s private house before boarding Sacha’s private canoes for the 2-hour journey down river to Sacha Lodge. A 30-minute hike through the rainforest leads you to Lake Pilchicocha, where native workers paddle you across the lake to your final destination. Arrive at Sacha Lodge around 3:30 or 4pm.

A refreshing swim after arriving may be just what you need after being in the equatorial heat all day. You can swim in Lake Pilchicocha, which is a black water lake home to many species of fish and animals, or observe birds and watch the sunset from the mini tower. After dinner, accompany your naturalist guide on a night walk through the rainforest to view the hundreds of different species of animals that can only be found at night. Or maybe take a canoe ride on the lake to view the spectacled and black caimans with their glowing orange eyes.

Accommodations

Sacha Jungle Lodge

Meals

lunch, dinner

Read More
Days 2 - 4
Sacha Jungle Lodge Amazon Adventure

Each day at Sacha Lodge is customized to delve deep into the Amazon rainforest. Experienced guides choose between the following activities based on time of day, season, weather, physical abilities of the group and where they believe wildlife is more likely to be found. Excursions and tours are with an English-speaking guide, some more physically challenging than others, and cater to all ages and physical abilities. Each activity is designed to showcase the best of what the Ecuadorian Amazon has to offer and are included in the program price:

Canopy Walk

Cross the rainforest high above the treetops, on a suspended bridge 94 feet above the ground. The 940-foot sturdy walkway is fixed to the ground by three metal towers and offers an astounding opportunity to spot dozens of animals and epiphytes seldom seen from the ground, including possible monkeys.

Kapok Tower

Enjoy soaring views over the top of the canopy from this observation tower 135 feet above the ground. The platform, built on the highest branches of a giant kapok tree, affords panoramic views of the forest and optimizes opportunities to spot any of the 500 bird species found in the area.

Parrot Clay Lick

Visit clay licks where parrots and other birds frequently gather to eat salty clay to aid their digestion of seeds.

Nighttime Canoe Excursion

Join guides in the canoe with a spotlight on Garzacocha Lagoon to spot monkeys, caimans, bats, owls, the pigmy marmoset and more.

Night Excursions

With flashlight or headlamp, join your guide to see the forest come alive in the darkness.

Kichwa Community Visit

Several indigenous communities live near Sacha Lodge; visit small communities and learn about their ways of life.

Lake Pool Swimming

The Lake Pool at Sacha Lodge is the only one of its kind in the Amazon region. The plunge pool, protected by a mesh cage, allows you to cool off and relax in the black shallows of the Pilchicocha Lake, without the fear of encountering the unknown.

Forest Walks

Your nature guide will point out plants and insects and the fascinating symbiosis between them while you walk along jungle paths. You may hike through the territory of the crested owls or spider monkeys, your guide expertly mimicking the creatures’ call to win their trust and coax them out of hiding.

Creek Paddling

Enjoy paddling down the streams where birds call in surround sound and vast families of monkeys leap from branches overhead, a show to coincide with the setting of the sun.

Birdwatching

Of the incredible 1,600 bird species registered in Ecuador, 600 (37%) have been seen at Sacha Lodge-almost 7% of the species found in the entire world. Specialist bird guides can accompany avid birdwatchers, to hone in on the best locations and hours, and provide photography tips.

Each evening at the lodge, enjoy optional talks by the guides who elaborate on specific topics of the rainforest and truly enhance your experience.

Accommodations

Sacha Jungle Lodge

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 5
Depart Sacha Lodge to Coca & Quito

After breakfast, depart the lodge at 7:30am for an easy walk on the boardwalk to watch monkeys one last time before your final departure. Arrive in Coca and be escorted to the Coca airport where all plane tickets will be in the hands of Sacha Lodge employees waiting to help you board the plane and a final farewell. Scheduled arrival at Quito’s airport is at 12:30pm (subject to change).

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast

Read More
Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Accommodations; all meals indicated in the itinerary; river transportation; excursions with native and bilingual guides; welcome drink; water, tea and coffee with all meals; and taxes. Visit to parrot clay lick is offered on Wednesdays and Sundays, weather permitting and is included in cost.

Exclusions

International airfare, roundtrip flights Quito to Coca ($275 per person, subject to change), alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, gratuities, and Native Community Interpretation Center entrance fee ($10 per person paid locally).

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of $100 is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing; cancellations are analyzed individually and may require a doctor’s certificate if due to a medical reason.

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The 5-day Ecuador Amazon Adventure begins and ends in Quito, Ecuador (UIO). Flights to the Amazon usually depart early and the Ecuador Amazon Adventure may require a pre-trip hotel overnight in Quito. We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. Expect to return from the Amazon late in the late afternoon on the last day of your itinerary. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.

Internal Flights

The 5-day Ecuador Amazon Adventure has a required flight between Quito and Coca on the first and final day of the itinerary. AdventureSmith will assist you with arranging your flights to Coca (not included in lodge package rate) after your booking has been made. Coca-Quito flight schedules vary, so check with AdventureSmith Explorations for details on your particular departure. There is a luggage weight limit of 48 lbs (22 kg) for checked luggage and 17 lbs (8 kg) for one piece of carry-on baggage on the flights between Quito and Coca; additional fees apply for extra weight.

Activities

Activities may include forest and jungle hiking, wildlife observation, community visits, climbing stairs to canopy towers over 100 feet high, canoe rides, night excursions by foot or canoe, star gazing, swimming, fishing and nightly lectures.

Room Configuration

Triple, Quad and Quintuple accommodations are available via extra beds, ask your Adventure Specialist for details.

Families & Children

Children under 12 at time of travel receive a 30% accommodation discount on double occupancy rate when staying with full fare adult. Children under 5 years old at time of travel receive free accommodation. All children under 12 receive a 25% discount on airfare.

Travel Insurance

Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, National Park regulation or at the guides’ discretion. Bilingual naturalist guides and native guides are divided within specially organized groups, which offer the best opportunities possible during excursions. The ability to be flexible makes this type of adventure travel unique.

Rates & Dates

Trip Rates & Details

Itineraries span varying days of the week, and can start any day but Sunday.

2024 Rates
Sacha Jungle Lodge • 4 days
From $1690USD
Per Person
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2024 Rates
Sacha Jungle Lodge • 5 days
From $2050USD
Per Person
Read More
Read More
Accommodation

Learn About the Jungle Lodge on Your Itinerary

Lodge
Sacha Jungle Lodge

Located within a private 5,000-acre ecological reserve in Ecuador's Amazon region, the Sacha Jungle Lodge features 26 air-conditioned, thatch-roofed cabins carefully designed to offer comfort and immersion into the rainforest

Expert Reviews

Reviews from Our Experts So You Know What to Expect

Tiffany Corbell • May 6th, 2015
Expert Review: Sacha Lodge

An Adventure Specialist reviews her time on the Ecuador Amazon Adventure at Sacha Lodge.

Aaron Gaines • November 11th, 2013
Expert Review: Ecuador Amazon Adventure at Sacha Lodge

An AdventureSmith crew member reviews his trip to Sacha Lodge in Ecuador's Amazon rainforest.

Testimonial

Hear It from Travelers Who Have Explored with Us

"Thoroughly Pleased with My Trip"

I was thoroughly pleased with my trip and AdventureSmith. Leslie was terrific in helping me plan my trip. Her advice was perfect, and she responded to my questions in a timely manner. Sacha Lodge was excellent. It was well run and kept you busy all day long. The naturalist guide & our native guide were terrific. The towers and canopy walk and the tree tower were my favorites.

Overall
5 /5 Star Created with Sketch.
Accommodations
5 /5 Star Created with Sketch.
Meals
5 /5 Star Created with Sketch.
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Ecuador Amazon Adventure – Sacha Lodge

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