Upon arrival at Quito, you will be met by your hotel representative who will assist you with luggage and will provide the transfer to your hotel. Your hotel representative will be waiting for you at the appropriate arrival hall, holding a sign with your name.
- Please keep in mind that your transfer from the airport to your hotel will take approximately 15 minutes depending your hotel location.
- Quito’s average temperatures range from 12 Celsius (53 Fahrenheit) at night to 24 Celsius (72 Fahrenheit) on sunny days. It is recommended to dress in layers while in the Andean Highlands, and we suggest you bring a warm jacket if your arrival flight is on the night.
At a proper time, meet your driver at your hotel lobby, the hotel staff will assist you with luggage and will provide the transfer to the airport.
Your shuttle services had already been requested and coordinated, please confirm your services at the hotel front desk.
Arrival in Sacha
Depart from Quito´s airport around 10h00 am (subject to airline confirmation). A 30-minute flight over the Andes Mountains leads you to the bustling oil town of El Coca located in Ecuador’s Amazon Basin. A quick lunch is offered at Sacha´s private house, and then you are transferred to the town’s docks where you will board Sacha´s private canoes for the two-hour journey down the Napo River to Sacha´s Lodge’s property. A 30-minute hike through the rainforest leads you to Lake Pilchicocha. Here, you are met by the native helpers who paddle you across the lake to your final destination. Arrive at Sacha Lodge around 4:00 or 4:30 pm (subject to change).
Activities during the afternoon:
- Swim in Lake Pilchicocha, which is a black water lake home to many species of fish and animals. A refreshing swim after arriving may be just what you need after being in the equatorial heat all day.
- Birds’ observation from the mini tower offers guests an excellent opportunity to view several species of birds common around the lodge. Also, a great place to watch the sunset.
- Visit the butterfly house with your naturalist guide to view the beautiful colors of many different species of butterflies.
- 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 take a canoe ride on the lake to see the spectacled and black caimans with their glowing orange eyes as you silently paddle across the pond to get a closer view.
- Please keep in mind that your transfer from the hotel to the airport will take you approximately 15 minutes.
- Our team has previously reserved your shuttle service. Please confirm your services and timing at your hotel front desk.
- We always suggest being at the airport 2 hours before your departure time for domestic flights.
- Amazon itinerary is an example itinerary, activities are coordinated daily at lodge depending on wildlife activity and climate conditions.
- Please note luggage must be limited to one piece of 23 kilos (50 pounds) per person and by hand 8 kilos (17 pounds) per person.
08:00
Pick up from the lobby
Liana Chica & the Canopy Walk
Begin with a walk on the Liana Chica Trail to arrive at the Canopy Walk, for spectacular views of the rainforest canopy and the many different species of brightly colored birds. Designed to be a self-standing rigid suspension canopy-walk, this is one of only a few in the world! Located within Sacha´s Private Reserve, two miles from the shores of the Napo River and one mile from the Lodge, this aerial boardwalk allows guests to get a unique close-up personal and direct view of the rainforest canopy.
Two of the three towers have observation decks every 12 meters making towers accessible for everyone. The canopy walkway is 36 meters (118 feet) high and 275 meters (900 feet) long, giving guests a “bird-eye view” of all the wonders and beauty that the tropical rainforest has to offer. The canopy walk is designed as a sturdy walkway enabling guests to move along while enjoying the spectacular views safely.
Liana Grande & The Igapo Forest
After the canopy walk, Liana Grande Trail takes you through “terra firme” and “igapo” forest habitats where the native guides will explain many different species of medicinal plants that have been being used in their culture for hundreds of years. Liana Grande will turn into the Higueron Trail, which will take you through pristine primary forest with huge Kapok and Ficus trees towering more than a hundred feet above your head. After lunch, you may choose to take a leisurely hike along the Rio Napo, or instead of a little more challenging hike on the trail Leoncillo to try and spot the elusive dusky titi monkey.
Either way, the trails will lead you back to the main boardwalk for your final hike and canoe ride back to the Lodge.
Lagartococha
Leaving the Lodge after breakfast, you begin your hike on Lagartococha Trail. This trail offers you the chance to learn more about the native people and their relationship with the forest. Learn about the trees where indigenous people believe the spirits of their ancestors live, and the mysterious “dwende” or devil-man of the woods. After arriving at Lake Lagartococha, (Kichwa word meaning “lake of the caimans”) you take a leisurely canoe ride through a natural swamp, which is the home to anacondas, caimans, and capybaras.
After the canoe ride, a walk on the other side of Largatococha may allow you to spot capuchin or squirrel monkeys playfully jumping through the trees. Return from the walk or canoe ride and head back to the Lodge for a refreshing dip in the lake, or a nice relaxing nap in your hammock on your private balcony. After lunch, your native guide will teach you how to fish for the infamous razor-toothed piranhas.
These ill-famed fish are not known to attack people (other than in fantasy movies) and to swim at the same location is safe and fun! However, it is the realm of nature.
Sacha´s Wooden Tower
Around 4:00 pm you start with what many think is the best trail at Sacha: a silent canoe ride through the flooded Amazonian forest, where you have good chances of seeing troops of squirrel, capuchin, and howler monkeys. Keep your eyes open for the shy and elusive river otter as well as the incredibly well camouflaged three-toed sloth! After your eye-popping ride through the flooded forest, you will arrive at Sacha’s 135-foot high wooden tower built around an ancient Kapok tree. Get close-up views of vibrantly colored birds through Sacha´s powerful telescopes, and watch the sunset with a fantastic view the impressive Sumaco Volcano in the distance and possibly a view of the snow-covered caps of the Andes!
Leaving the tower just before or after sunset will give you an experience not soon to be forgotten. A canoe rides back through the flooded forest at night will be an awe-inspiring experience. Listen to the symphony of frogs and insects as you navigate through the narrow flooded forest trail, keeping your eyes open for sightings of caimans. You may also watch several species of bats flying over your heads and listen to the many species of nocturnal birds making their eerie nighttime calls.
Finally, after this mesmerizing canoe trip through the Amazon forests and waterways, you will arrive back at Lake Pilchicocha and the welcoming lights of Sacha Lodge.
Back to Quito
After breakfast, leave the Lodge on an easy walk over the boardwalk to watch birds and monkeys one last time before your final departure. Next is the upstream canoe ride on the Napo River towards El Coca. Upon arrival to the town’s dock, you are escorted to the airport where your boarding passes will be in the hands of Sacha employees waiting to help you with final check-in procedures before boarding the plane and a final farewell.
Upon arrival at Quito, you will be met by your hotel representative, who will assist you with luggage and will provide the transfer to your hotel. Your hotel representative will be waiting for you at the appropriate arrival hall, holding a sign with your name.
Your shuttle services had already been requested and coordinated; please confirm your services at the hotel front desk.
- Please keep in mind that your transfer from the airport to your hotel will take approximately 15 minutes depending your hotel location.
- Quito’s average temperatures range from 12 Celsius (53 Fahrenheit) at night to 24 Celsius (72 Fahrenheit) on sunny days. It is recommended to dress in layers while in the Andean Highlands, and we suggest you bring a warm jacket if your arrival flight is on the night.
At a proper time, meet your driver at your hotel lobby, the hotel staff will assist you with luggage and will provide the transfer to the airport.
Your shuttle services had already been requested and coordinated, please confirm your services at the hotel front desk.
- Please keep in mind that your transfer from the hotel to the airport will take you approximately 15 minutes.
- Our team has previously reserved your shuttle service. Please confirm your services and timing at your hotel front desk.
- We always suggest being at the airport 2 hours before your departure time for domestic flights.
