Location
Garzacocha Lake, Ecuador

One of the first Amazon rain forest lodges in Ecuador, award-winning La Selva Jungle Lodge was completely remodeled for a grand re-opening in July 2012 and is the premier ecolodge in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Situated on Garzacocha Lake in one of the most biodiverse areas of the planet, La Selva offers luxurious jungle lodge accommodations. The newly built central lodge and restaurant have a wrap-around view of the lake, allowing guests to spot birds and rain forest species while sipping an exotic cocktail. Dine by candlelight while enjoying outstanding cuisine prepared by a gourmet chef.

Accommodations are in breezy private thatched cabanas inspired by native bamboo designs and built of secondary growth rainforest materials designed to blend in with the surroundings. All have private bathrooms, hot showers, electricity, ceiling fans, a hammock and mosquito netting, though insects are few. Many have jacuzzis, rain forest showers and lake views. The sounds of the rain forest soothe you to sleep at night, while the singing of birds awakens you in the morning. In an effort to conserve the authentic Amazon experience and for ecological reasons, please note that there is no air conditioning in the rooms at La Selva. However, for guests' convenience and comfort there are fans for use 24 hours a day, in addition to the ceiling fans in each cabana.

La Selva offers fantastic environs for spotting monkeys, hundreds of species of birds, sloths, caymans and butterflies, all of which are in view just a short walk or canoe paddle away. In the surrounding rain forest, look for giant kapok trees and strangler figs along with thousands of other plant and animal species. La Selva is the closest lodge to the Napo parrot salt lick, and ornithological studies have shown the surrounding area to contain more species of birds than any other site in Ecuador, and more than the entire U.S. and Canada combined. Across the river is Yasuni National Park, one of the most famed wildlife reserves in the Amazon Basin, a visit to which is included on every trip to La Selva.