SANI LODGE

Sani lodge is located in the Yasuní National Park. The lodge is a paradise on the amazon rainforest full of widlife. Birdwathcing tower, caimans, monkeys jungle. Be our guest, we are Kichwa and we welcome you to our home in the rainforest. When you stay with us, you become one of our community where we will share with you and teach you about our environment and culture. At Sani Lodge, you are not only choosing an incredible adventure, but also the opportunity to immerse yourself in our Kichwa way of life. Please join us and support our indigenous community while protecting the rainforest you'll love to call home.

LIFE IS COMFORTABLE AT AMAZON JUNGLE:

Sani Isla is included in the list of the 100 best sustainable destinations in 2019, awarded by the Green Destination committee, becoming the only destination within this list for the entire Ecuadorian Amazon. Being included on this list is highly prestigious, as these destinations actively represent world leadership in protecting their scenic views, natural habitats and wildlife, as well as respect for animals and indigenous communities, becoming a standard for the development of sustainable tourism for other countries.Sani Isla has shown this potential for which it has also won the Best of Nature award!

CANOPY TOWER

To reach the Tower, your guide will take you on a 30 minute row boat ride across Lake Challuacocha followed by a short 10-minute walk. Once atop the Tower, you can truly experience the visual magic of the Amazon. As you gaze out over the top of the lush green jungle canopy, look for the elusive White-throated Toucan and Red Howler Monkeys asleep in the treetops. More than 565 species of birds have been recorded from the Tower, including colorful macaws, toucans, honeycreepers, tanagers, flycatchers, and hummingbirds. The Tower will be highlight of your trip!

SERVICES

Staff

Our friendly staff form the backbone of the Sani Lodge experience, and are always available to cater to any special needs you may have.

Bar

Enjoy a beer or cocktail. We also have a well-curated wine list including wines from Chile, Argentina and Ecuador.

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi with a passcode all around the lodge and rooms. Ask for the passcode at reception.

Electricity

Throughout the Lodge, 24-hour electricity is provided by a distant, nearly inaudible generator.

Boots & Ponchos

Clean and disinfected bubber boots and rain ponchos are available for all of our guests at the Lodge, free of charge.

Water

Purified, safe drinking water is available at multiple points around the Lodge – there’s no need to bring your own bottled water.

Restaurant

Service times are adapted to your itineraries and food is served buffet style or restaurant style, depending on the number of visitors. Vegetables and vegans are welcome. 

Fans & Screened Windows

To protect from mosquitos, the windows are screened and a fan is provided in your room to refresh yourself after a day of activities. 

FANTASTIC PROGRAMS

NATURALIST PROGRAM

4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

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DAY 1 

Your journey starts with a 35-minute flight from Quito- to Coca where the staff will pick you up and transfer to a local hotel located on the banks of Napo River. There, your bilingual guides will explain about safety before embarking for a 3 hour boat trip on the largest Ecuadorian affluent of the Amazon, the Napo River. During the journey you get a taste of the Amazon; ancestral communities, birds such as: herons, egrets, vultures, while enjoying packed lunch. The canoe ride is followed by a 5 minute walk and 20-minute paddle canoe across the Challuacocha creek. The staff will welcome you with refreshing cold drinks and snacks before you settle down in your cabins.

Later, you’ll have the option to take short walk on nearby trails or take a canoe ride with the chance to observe primates, Amazonian birds, black caimans in their primitive setting. You’ll also have a close encounter with the amazing flora represented by cedar trees, orchids, and bromeliads. Upon your return to the lodge, our chef will be happy to offer a wide variety of national and international cuisine that caters celiacs, vegetarians and vegans.

After dinner explore our black-water Oxbow Lake, a haven for one of the increasingly endangered species, the black caiman. This lake supports a healthy population of these large South-American crocodiles, which can measure up to 6 meters (18ft.) long. Return to the lodge.

DAY 2 

After breakfast, experience the life on the tree tops from the 36 meter (118 ft.) observation tower. To get there, your leaders will paddle on the Challuaco-cha Lake for about 30 minutes through a beautiful Igapo Forest and a short 10-minute walk. Over 565 species of birds have been registered so far, including colorful birds such as macaws, toucans, honey-creepers, tanagers, flycatchers, hummingbirds and with a bit of luck a close view of howler, squirrel monkeys and sloths resting on the canopy. The tower gives you a unique perspective, opening up a whole new world of Amazon biodiversity that is often difficult, if not impossible to see from the understory. The journey continues exploring the nearby trails searching for more Amazonian creatures. Return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, there are many alternative activities for your enjoyment, bird-watching from the dining hall or simply getting to relax on the hammocks. In the after-noon, hike Chorongo or Coto trails of 3 hours, fantastic terra-firme forest to discover the relationships among the different living creatures and the role they play in this complex ecosystem. Orchids, vines, strangler figs, ancient trees; bromeliads are all part of this fabulous tropical rainforest. Dinner at the lodge.

After dinner take a night walk to see how myriads of insects, spiders and frogs come alive.

DAY 3 

After early breakfast head back to the Napo River to board the motor canoe and visit the parrot clay lick at Yasuní, a natural land slide where hundreds of parrots search for a gap to land and eat the earth. Here you will see Mealy Amazon, Yellow-crowned, Orange-winged and Blue-headed parrots. Continue with a walk on the south of the Yasuní for a wonderful view of flora and fauna of this area considered by scientists to be the most biodiverse area in the world. Here some species that cannot be found in the north like the gold- en-mantled tamarins, spider monkeys, Blue and yellow macaws and with a bit of luck a close encounter with white-lipped or collared pecca- ries. Head back to Sani Community Center to visit a native house to get a taste of how a typical Kichwa family lives. Enjoy their food, drinks, customs, and culture of the Sani community and learn how the lifestyle of the locals is environmentally sustainable. Return to the lodge for piranha fishing and a well-de- served diner.

DAY 4 

Depart from the lodge at 5:00 a.m. for the last canoe ride and encounter with the flora and fauna of the Amazon jungle to board the canoe and get on time for your flight back to Quito. Packed breakfast will be served on the way.

BIRD WATCHING

4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

BOOK NOW
DAY 1 

Your journey starts with a 40-minute flight from Quito to Coca where the staff will pick you up and transfer to the banks of Napo River. There, your bilingual guide will explain about safety before embarking for a 2 ½ boat trip on the largest Ecuadorian affluent of the Amazon, the Napo River. During the journey you get a taste of the Amazon ancestral communities who live in the Napo river. The canoe ride is followed by a 15-minute walk through a wooden platform and 20-minute paddle canoe across the beautiful Challwuacocha Lake. The staff will welcome you with refreshing cold drinks before you start your adventure in the Amazon Rainforest.
You will receive a birdwatching guide.
Late afternoon, you will have a short walk on the nearby trails or a canoe ride with many chances to observe primates, Amazonian birds, black caimans and a close encounter with the amazing flora represented by cedar trees, orchids, and bromeliads but above all you will leave to look for birds. Return to the lodge, where our chef will be happy to offer a wide variety of national and international cuisine that caters vegetarians and vegans.
Then you will have a briefing with the guide about the Amazon Rainforest while you enjoy drinks and cocktails made for our barman.

DAY 2 

After breakfast, experience the life on the tree tops from the 36 meter (118 ft.) observation tower. To get there your leaders will paddle on the Challuacocha Lake for 30 minutes followed by a short 10-minute walk. Over 565 species of birds have been registered so far, including colorful birds such as macaws, toucans, honeycreepers, tanagers, flycatchers, hummingbirds and with a bit of luck a close view of howler, squirrel monkeys or sloths resting on the canopy. The tower gives you a unique perspective, opening up a whole new world of Amazon biodiversity that is often difficult and almost impossible to see from the understory. The journey continues exploring the nearby trails searching for more Amazonian creatures.Return to the lodge for lunch.After lunch there are many alternatives for your enjoyment, bird watching from the bar, in front of the lagoon or simply relax in the hammocks. In the afternoon you will walk through Chorongo or Coto trail with the goal to find more species of birds.After dinner, explore the lagoon looking for the rare Black Caiman that can reach up to 6 meters of large and also is in danger of extinction, then you’ll go back to the lodge. 

DAY 3 

After breakfast departure to the Napo River to board the boat and visit the parrot-clay lick at Yasuní National Park for a wonderful view of hundreds of parrots searching for a gap to land and eat the earth in a process for their digestion. Here you will see Mealy Amazon, Yellow-crowned, Orange-winged and Blue-headed parrots. Continue with a hike on the south of the Napo inside Yasuní National Park considered for scientists like the most biodiverse area in the world, here, some species that cannot be found in the north might be spotted: golden–mantled tamarins and spider monkeys, blue and yellow macaws and with a bit of luck a close encounter with white-lipped or collared peccaries. Head back to Sani Community Center to visit a native house to get a taste of how a typical Kichwa family lives. Enjoy their food, drinks, customs, and culture of Sani Isla community and learn how the lifestyle of the locals is environmentally sustainable.Visit the islands of Napo River to find the species that habit these ecosystems. It is very important that you bring your binoculars to see them.In the return there will be a feedback of birds seen along with the checklist.Dinner at the lodge.

DAY 4 

After breakfast head back to the Napo River to board the boat and visit the parrots wall at Yasuní National Park for a wonderful view of hundreds of parrots searching for a gap to land and eat the earth in a process for their digestion. Here you will see Mealy Amazon, Yellow-crowned, Orange-winged and Blue-headed parrots. Then return to Coca on time to get your flight back to Quito.
End of services! 

FAQ

What is included in the programs?
  • Accommodations
  • All meals begin with packed lunch on the firstday, ending with breakfast on the last day.
  • All excursions and activities like program detail
  • Purified water, coffee, and tea free of charge
  • Snacks for morning excursions
  • Transfer Coca–Lodge – Coca
  • English-speaking naturalist guide shared-Shared bilingual birding guide and excursions.
  • Rubber boots up to 12 US Men’s size - Rain Poncho
  • A private guide can be requested on booking; the extra charge will apply.
What is not included in the tour?
  • Air ticket Quito – Coca – Quito $256 USD per person.
  • their parents, upon presentation of their passport or identity document.
  • Entrance fee to the Parrot clay lick area USD $35 pp
  • Other non-specified requirements (laundry
  • Family cabin: 4 twin + 1 queen size beds (Minimum 4 people) special price under request 
  • Other alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks 
What to bring?

Lightweight pants and long sleeved cotton shirts are ideal for walks in the forest. However, if you are more comfortable wearing short sleeves, remember that exposed skin may need a light dousing with insect repellant.


During the rain, full waterproof clothing can be uncomfortable as it often gets you wet with sweat instead of water, but rain ponchos are recommendable for tropical cloudbursts. Plenty of ponchos are available at no charge if you do not have your own, and we also supply rubber boots up to men’s size 14 for walks in the forest interior.


Comfortable shoes (or sandals), shorts and t-shirts are fine for walking on boardwalks and around the Lodge during meals and free time. And don’t forget your bathing suit!

  • Passport
  • Binoculars
  • Flashlight and batteries
  • Camera, memory and flash
  • Insect repellent
  • Sun protection (cream / sunglasses / hat or cap)
  • Light long pants and long-sleeved shirts for walks
  • Shorts, short sleeve shirts and swimsuit for the Lodge
  • Comfortable shoes and extra socks
  • Small day backpack
  • Plastic bags to protect cameras, binoculars, batteries, etc... from rain
Important Notes and Children policies:
  • 50% discount for Childrenunder 11 years at the tour time.
  • 2 years old is the minimum age for traveling
  • recommend that families with children take a private guide
  • If you wish to book a private guide, it must be booked for the entire tour.
  • Private bird watching guide. Speaks English $150.00 per day.
  • Local Spanish speaking bird watching guide $100.00 per day
  • Private naturalist guide Speaks English $120.00 per day
  • Private guide Speaks German or French $150.00 per day
What facilities are there in the room?

In your shower you will find biodegradable soap and shampoo dispensers. Although all runoff into the water is treated with ozone, we recommend the use of these services as an additional measure to protect the environment. You will also be provided with fresh towels each day.

MORE OPTIONS IN AMAZON JUNGLE