At the Quito International Airport, you will be met by one of our La Selva representatives in the National Departure area. Where they will assist you with the check-in process and give you a short briefing about the journey.

After a 30-minute commercial flight to Puerto Francisco de Orellana «El Coca», our representative takes you to our office located along the Napo River pier in a private vehicle.

The next two and a half hours will be spent in a motorized canoe heading down river on what will be the beginning of an unforgettable experience in the Amazon rainforest. We will provide you a box lunch and extra drinks for this part of the trip.

At the end of the motorized canoe ride, you will be dropped off at La Selva’s main dock where the final leg of the trip to the lodge will be completed in a paddle canoe. The only thing you must take care of during this part of the trip is your carry-on and camera equipment, all other luggage will be transported by La Selva staff. The manager will be waiting to greet you with a refreshing beverage, snacks and a short briefing about your stay at La Selva.

Intro to the Rainforest: After some rest and time to unpack, one of the Naturalist Guides will give you some basic information about the tropical rainforest, the Amazon, and how La Selva operates.

The idea is to begin your activities armed with general knowledge of the amazing place you have just arrived to.

Matapalo Charapa Trail: This trail was given the Spanish name of the famous Strangler fig (Ficus sp), one of many remarkable trees that you can find on this short walk.

Mahogany trees over 400 years old can be seen, and your guides will share their knowledge of the flora and fauna seen along the trail with you. Due to the time of day, there is soft natural light shining through the canopy, and diurnal and nocturnal animals are beginning their daily transitional activities.

Night Canoe Ride: Garza Cocha lagoon is a great place to search for caimans, bats, owls, and night mammals with the help of a spotlight the guides will use. There are also great opportunities for stargazing if the night sky is clear!

Snacks: At the bar, you can find snacks and order cocktails from the bartender. There is also a non-alcoholic beverage station where you can help yourself to limitless tea and coffee!

Dinner: Find your seat and get comfortable while our waiters serve you each course. During your free time in between activities, you can use our kayaks, have a massage, participate in a yoga class, or just relax in your room and have a nap!

Breakfast: Parrot Clay Lick and Pilche Community. Today you will make your way back to the Napo River and take a motorized canoe ride to the clay lick, one of the most fascinating displays of the wild world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather here to eat the mineral rich soil, an important part of their diet.

Binoculars are essential to really capture the moment. At the indigenous community of Pilche you will learn about the way they live including how they dress, what they eat, how they cook, and the many ways they use what the forest provides in their daily lives. It is a truly unique experience.

Don’t be shy to ask them questions, and be brave to try some of the traditional drinks and food! they love to share their ancestral knowledge and spread awareness about their culture and where they live.

Lunch: Observation Tower and Tucaneta Trail (Nocturnal Walk) After a 15 minute walk the observation tower comes into sight. This amazing construction will allow you to climb 120 ft above the forest.

Your Naturalist and Native guides with the help of a telescope will show to you colorful birds of the canopy and maybe even certain primates. Then we enjoy of the amazing sunset of this incredible forest.

The sounds of the nocturnal creatures rise together with the darkness of the night. All you need to enjoy of your nocturnal walk is a flashlight and your camera to see the jungle come alive at night. Amphibians, insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals who are nocturnal may be seen where your guides take you.

During your free time in between activities, you can use our kayaks, have a massage, participate in a yoga class, or just relax in your room and have a nap!

Breakfast: Departure to Coca according to your briefing the night before, you will have an early wake up call, breakfast and departure from the lodge.

The lodge staff will assist you with your checked luggage, and the motorized canoe ride will head upstream back to Coca, where our representatives will take you to the La Selva office to use the restrooms there.

After a short break, they will take you to the airport and help you with your boarding passes and checked luggage.

All excursions and times on this sample itinerary are subject to change and largely depend on weather, season, group limitations, group interests, and guide decisions based on passenger safety and organized operations.