Sacha Lodge sits within a 5,000-acre ecological reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon on the banks of the black water of Pilchicocha lake. ‘Sacha’ is the Quechua Indian word for forest, and the name sums up the experience of this remote jungle lodge.Â
There are over 60 species of mammals within the Sacha Reserve, from the tiny pygmy marmoset to the 17-pound red howler monkey. Take a canoe trip down the Napo River to the edge of Yasni National park, where you will find a parrot lick frequented by hundreds of technicoloured parrots. The butterflies in this forest are mesmerising, and Sacha Lodge is home to one of the largest butterfly farms in Ecuador. Designed as a live exhibition conservatory, the Butterfly House is now successfully breeding nearly 40 endemic butterfly species.Â
Follow in the footsteps of expert nature guides as they mimic the sound of wildlife in the trees, coaxing them out of hiding for you to see. Climb to the top of Sacha’s 135-foot observation tower or along the 940-foot walkway fixed above the treetops for an opportunity to spot dozens of animals seldom seen from the ground.
Each of the 26 en-suite bungalows is built with high thatched roofs with a ceiling fan to keep the rooms cool and private shaded terraces with hammocks. The Balsa lounge is at the heart of the lodge with views over Pilchicocha Lake where otters play and birds search for fish. It is the perfect place to read a book, spot wildlife and enjoy a sundowner at the end of a day of adventure.Â
At the end of your stay in the Amazon fly back to Quito for international flights home or continue the wildlife adventure and fly to the Galapagos Islands.Â