Yachana Lodge
"Yachana Lodge is the best true ecotourism project I have found in 17 years of travel in Ecuador. Highly recommended and congratulations."
--Rob Rachowiecki, Author of Lonely Planet, Ecuador
"...Yachana Lodge excels in introducing guests to, and encouraging their participation in, the local ways of life."
--Brook Wilkinson, Reporter for Condé Naste Traveler.
"Everything is comfortable, loads of hot water, comfortable beds, very clean and very helpful staff. Abel, our guide was incredible and his knowledge of the local area was phenomenal."
--'LondonKane', Tourist review from TripAdvisor.com
Yachana Lodge is an award winning, Amazon ecotourism destination that inspires thousands of international and Ecuadorian visitors each year. A 2008 winner in the National Geographic Ashoka Changemakers Geotourism Challenge as the best example of geotourism in the world, the lodge is not only a world-class ecotourism destination, but also a training center fully integrated with Yachana Technical High School where Yachana students get practical, hands-on experience while taking part in the operation, making your stay with us a truly unique experience.
"Yachana" is an indigenous Kichwa word that means "a place for learning" and the lodge is an integral part of the overall goal of the Yachana Foundation, which is to achieve sustainability through education. As you embark on your journey deep into the Amazon, you can be proud that your visit is helping to address not only education but conservation and sustainable development in a unique way in this environmentally sensitive region. At Yachana, we believe the future of the rainforest is inextricably linked to the well-being of its inhabitants; only those who call the rainforest their home can ensure its survival.
You will hike in primary and secondary rainforest with one of Yachana's multi-lingual naturalist guides and discover the amazing symbiosis of the animals, birds, trees, plants and insects. You will discover how the area's peoples have coexisted with the forest for centuries. You will visit Yachana Technical High School, an extraordinary and impressive boarding school set up for the indigenous youth of the Amazon and learn about its organic farm. Participate in a traditional cleansing ceremony with a local healer, stargaze from our stunning deck and visit our butterfly house. And of course you will have time to relax in your hammock and to swim in the Napo River or sip an exotic drink while watching a spectacular sun setting over the river with the Andes Mountains in the distance. Whatever your motivation for visiting Yachana, you can be sure that your experience will be unforgettable.
Come and experience the beauty and adventure of Yachana!