Connecting With Nature on a Private Ecological Reserve in Ecuador

There’s remote, and then there’s Sacha Lodge remote. From Ecuador’s capital, Quito, simply take a short flight over the Andes to the small town of Coca, navigate the Napo River by boat for several hours, hike for 20 minutes across a tangled, jungle landscape, float on a canoe across the onyx waters of Pilchicocha Lake, and you will arrive. No sweat—well, actually, a lot of sweat. You are now in the Amazon rainforest after all.

Located on a private ecological reserve of 5,000 acres in the buffer zone of Yasuní National Park—there is no hunting, logging, drilling, or mining, and no feeders or baiting of animals on the property—this Ecuadorian-owned enterprise is also pioneering other sustainable practices in this protected biosphere. Ninety per cent of the employees are hired from the local communities, the lodge prioritizes the use of ecological, biodegradable, and reusable materials, and fish, fruit, and vegetables are sourced from the surrounding area whenever possible.

The hospitality of the employees, alongside their pride in culture and the environment, is evident from the moment visitors disembark from the canoe and wander up a wooden gangway, emerging onto a floating oasis that makes up one of two restaurants on site. Used primarily for breakfast, lunch, and predinner cocktails, the open-air cabana is suspended over the black lagoon, creating an auditory amphitheatre for the surrounding rainforest. The discordant cries of four river otters—and the snap, crackle, and pop of the fish bones they consume with gusto—slice through the humid air. The lazy lap of water against the tantalizing fresh-water swimming pool, the throaty chuckle of tree frogs, and the chirp of cicadas have an immediate mesmerizing and calming effect.

There are three newly renovated family suites deep in the jungle for groups seeking a private immersion in the scenery and wildlife the resort offers. A walkway and balcony, where guests can watch troops of monkeys swing among the trees, joins two rooms, each layered with soft neutrals of brick, wood, and cream and spiced with pops of bright textiles. Two double beds in one room and a king-sized bed in the other are complemented by spacious bathrooms with rainfall showers that boast floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular rainforest views.

Don’t come to Sacha Lodge expecting cutting-edge technology, however, as the rooms are free of televisions, and while Wi-Fi is offered on site, the connection can be patchy. Instead, take advantage of this opportunity to unplug and replace scrolling with strolling on a morning or evening jungle walk where a wide variety of tropical birds, insects, and even the occasional sloth or anaconda can be spotted. Alternatively, cruise next to caimans in a canoe with one of the lodge’s intrepid and knowledgeable guides through labyrinthine canals, where the only beast to tame at the end is the Kapok Tower, a 43-metre-high viewing platform that breaches the top of the trees, providing a view of the jungle and the 6,000 species of birds that live there.

The highlight of a stay is undoubtedly the one-of-a-kind exploration crane that rises 45 metres above the rainforest and allows guests to explore nearly two acres of the jungle canopy that is brimming with birds, butterflies, and budding flowers. The 150-metre-long boom creates the sensation of floating above the vibrant foliage where eight species of monkeys and 50 species of bats make their home.

Other excursions include a short, exploratory walk through the jungle to a 36-metre-high viewing tower. This climb takes guests to a 275-metre-long suspension bridge, where they can teeter after toucans and tamarin monkeys while watching the sun sink below the jungle horizon. If heights aren’t their thing, they can participate in an authentic local experience with the Providencia community, whose entrepreneurial women are harnessing modern tourism to keep their ancient traditions alive. Or they can just relax on the patio with a cold beverage, overlooking the lake after a dip in the natural plunge pool (caged to keep unwanted swimming partners out).

Sacha Lodge is a place to savour, to slow down and connect with nature, to delight in and discover the myriad of mysteries that the Amazon holds.

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