On Sani`s trips, you have the opportunity to explore untouched forests, understand the intrinsic relationships between plants and animals, search for stunning flora and fauna, and learn from ancient cultures: the true treasures of the Amazon Rainforest. When you stay at Sani Lodge, you become part of the extended community where we share and teach you about our environment and culture. At Sani Lodge, you are not only choosing an amazing adventure but also the opportunity to immerse yourself in the Amazon Kichwa lifestyle. Come and join us, to support the indigenous community and the Rainforest conservation that you will 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!
Why choose Sani Lodge?
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
$979
Per Person
CHECK AVAILABILITY
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.
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.
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.
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
$1116
Per Person
CHECK AVAILABILITY
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.
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.
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.
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!
NATURALIST PROGRAM
5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
$1187
Per Person
CHECK AVAILABILITY
Depart from the lodge at 5:00 a.m. for the last canoe ride and encounter with the flora 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
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.
After early breakfast head back to the Napo River to board the motor anoe 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.
Explore the hidden corners of Sani Lodge in a 6-hour hike level 2 on Chorongo Largo trail for a close encounter with stunning wildlife represented by wooly monkeys, troops of Squirrels, white-fronted capuchin monkeys, parrots, macaws, toucans and with a bit of luck tapirs and even peccaries. Discover the magic world of untouched, virgin forest in a once in a lifetime experience. Lunch will be served in the middle of the forest, surrounded by tree ferns, ancient kapoks, palms, and tons of magical energy at all levels. Return in the afternoon to the lodge for dinner. This activity is depending on how physical capability you have. Can be changed to shorter trails, longer canoe rides.
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.
End of services!
The operator reserves the right to change the itinerary without previous notice due to weather, regulations or unforeseeable circumstances.
BIRD WATCHING
5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
$1322
Per Person
CHECK AVAILABILITY
You will be received by a birdwatching guide.
Late afternoon, you will have a short walk on the nearby trails or a canoe ride with many chances to observe many Amazonian birds, 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.
After breakfast, experience the bird life on the tree tops from the 35-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 you will see the rare Harpy Eagle. 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 lodge. In the afternoon you will walk through Chorongo or Coto trail with the goal to find more species of birds.
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.
Dinner at the lodge.
After breakfast head back to the Napo River to board the boat and visit the trails on the south side of the Napo river.
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.
After breakfast head back to the Napo River to board the boat return to Coca on time to get your flight back to Quito.
End of our service.
ADVENTURE & SOUL CLEANSING
5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
$1187
Per Person
CHECK AVAILABILITY
The experience starts with a 30-minute flight from Quito to the Coca airport. Upon arrival, the guide takes you on a short bus ride to the Napo River pier. From there, a three-hour motor canoe trip down the largest Ecuadorian tributary of the Amazon.
During the journey, you will first glimpse the Amazonian ecosystem, including ancestral communities, crops, local fruits, Kaypok trees, and giant fig trees, along with islands of different ages and vegetative succession. Various bird species, such as herons, egrets, and vultures, can be spotted while enjoying a packed lunch.
The journey continues with a short walk to Challwacocha Creek, where you will board paddle canoes for a trip through a primary flooded forest of black tea-colored waters teeming with wildlife. Don´t be surprised to see black-mantled tamarin and squirrel monkeys on the way to the lodge. Upon arrival, you will be served a welcome cocktail and snacks, followed by an introductory talk about the lodge and its facilities before settling into your cabin.
The guide will explain the activities for the rest of the day. One option is to walk along the nearby trails or take a canoe ride. During these activities, you will be able to observe primates, endemic birds, black caimans, and the Amazonian flora, including giant Kapok trees, cedar, orchids, bromeliads, and palms. At dinner time, our chef offers various national and international cuisine options that cater to celiacs, vegetarians, and vegans.
The lake is a refuge for the endangered black caiman. After dinner, the naturalist and local guides lead a canoe excursion in search of these large South American alligators, which can measure up to 6 meters (18 feet).
Experience the upper canopy from our 36-meter (118-foot) tower built around a millennial Kapok tree. In the early morning, take a paddle canoe to cross the lake and observe the first signs of wildlife. Hundreds of parrots and macaws fly nearby, searching for their first meal. Meanwhile, the endemic Stinky turkey perches placidly on tree branches as if waiting for the guests' first-morning photo. In the background, a Donacobious can be heard singing something resembling a car alarm.
Upon reaching the lake's end, a small channel opens up, allowing navigation through a unique forest of 'elephant ear and freshwater mangrove.' This area is the habitat of howler, capuchin, and squirrel monkeys, as well as some species of kingfishers, capped herons, woodcreepers, woodpeckers, and anis. Finally, reach the mainland and continue with a 10-minute walk through a terra firme forest trail leading to the tower.
The canopy is a haven for wildlife viewing. Colorful birds such as macaws, toucans, parrots, honeycreepers, tanagers, and cotingas fly by while monkeys and sloths forage in the treetops. The tower provides a unique perspective, offering a glimpse into the diverse world of the Amazon that is impossible to appreciate from the forest floor.
After returning to the canoe, we will go piranha fishing, one of the symbolic creatures of the Amazon. Following the fishing, we will head back to the lodge for lunch.
During a break from guided activities, you can enjoy the lodge's facilities, such as wildlife watching from the three- story dock overlooking the forest, having a cold beverage at the bar while enjoying the lagoon view, or simply relaxing in the hammocks with a book.
Take an afternoon nature walk through the primary forest to discover the intrinsic relationships between living creatures and their roles in this complex tropical ecosystem. The flora is rich and includes orchids, lianas, fig trees, valuable species such as cedar and mahogany, and medicinal and useful plants used by locals. You will also see ancient trees adorned with lianas and bromeliads.
After dinner, a different world awakens. It's time for a night walk to listen to and enjoy the chorus of bats, frogs, and crickets while observing dozens of insect species, tarantulas, tree frogs, and, with a bit of luck, snakes, armadillos, and night monkeys.
In the morning, return to the Napo River to board a motor canoe and visit the Parrot Clay Lick in Yasuní National Park. This is a visible landslide from the river where clay is exposed for parrots and parakeets to digest as part of their nutrition-detoxification process. You can spot five species: Mealy-Amazon, Blue-headed, Yellow-crowned parrots, Dusky-headed, and White-eyed parakeets.
The adventure continues with a walk in the foothills of Yasuní, which scientists consider the most biodiverse area in the world. The flora is spectacular, with centenary trees and traditional medicine, including species that can only be found south of Napo, such as the Golden-mantled tamarin, spider monkeys, and Scarlet Macaws. The hike in this unique ecosystem offers much to be discovered: footprints of jaguars and pumas, encounters with deer, white-lipped peccaries, or white-collared peccaries.
Leave Yasuní Park and head to the Sani Isla Community Center. Here, the women of the Sani Warmi Organization will share the customs and teach the use of medicinal plants of the Amazonian Kichwa culture. This unique experience will help you understand why this way of life is environmentally sustainable. Experience an Amazonian cooking class at midday; follow their instructions to prepare your lunch using local ingredients. Additionally, guests can support the local economy by shopping for handicrafts local women make using natural fibers and forest products. This income allows them to invest in education and boost the local economy. After a full day of adventure, wildlife, and culture, return to the lodge to enjoy the Amazonian sunset from the bar or the dock.
The long-awaited day has arrived after enjoying the flora, fauna, culture, and facilities of Sani moment to let oneself be carried away by the sacred power of shamanism at Kallary Kawsay Ceremonial Center.
Once in the center, the shaman explains in detail the meaning of spiritual cleansing in the cosmovision of the Kichwa culture. Kallary Kawsay is a beautiful spot surrounded by gardens with staple crops such as banana, manioc, and tobacco plants, colorful flowers, and fruiting shrubs that provide food for hummingbirds, honeycreepers, and tanagers.
The ceremony starts with the shaman sharing a locally-made cigar and asking the guests to pass it around to imbue the energy that will enable him to read the vibes once it is lit. The shaman will blow the smoke around the body to proceed with diagnosing the energy balance. The guest can enjoy a hand-made cedar bathtub filled with an herbal infusion and healing plants for spiritual cleansing. The use of healing plants is intended to eliminate negative energy. After the ceremony, you will experience a sense of peace and overall well-being.
Lunch will be served on-site, followed by a demonstration on how to make fishing lines, hammocks, and baskets from palm fibers and lianas. In the afternoon, head back to the lodge.
After an early breakfast, it is time to take the last canoe ride through Chawllacocha Creek, accompanied by the Amazonian wildlife and the sunrise. Board the motor canoe in the Napo River to leave behind this magical land and arrive on time for the flight to Quito.
