Yachana Lodge offers a unique opportunity to experience the rain forest while gaining a window into the life and culture of the indigenous people. Yachana offers a truly interactive experience. Located near the tiny community of Mondaña on Ecuador's Napo River, Yachana supports the projects of the Fundacion Funedesin, a non-profit foundation whose goal is to protect the rain forest by educating and empowering its people.

Yachana Jungle Lodge

Ecotourism is vitally important to the people and conservation of the Amazon River Basin. To this end, FUNEDESIN constructed Yachana Lodge. The word yachana means "a place for learning" in the indigenous Quichua language. The lodge is located on 800 acres of land adjacent to the community of Mondaña along the banks of the Napo River between Puerto Misahuallí and Coca. 

Yachana Lodge

• Provides a window into the real life and culture of the Ecuadorian Amazon;
• Provides comfortable accommodations for visitors;
• Provides employment for local people;
• Provides training for local residents in hotel and restaurant administration, tour guiding, and the possibility for ecotourism employment in other areas of the Amazon;
• Raises awareness of the importance of ecologically sound tourism.

Hotel Facilities

• 11 Double Rooms (2 or 3 people) 1 double bed, 1 single bed, full bathroom, closets, and balcony overlooking the Napo River with a table, chairs, and hammock. Lighting is provided by solar power.

• 3 Family Cabins (5 people) 1 room with a double bed, 1 room with 3 single beds, full bathroom, sitting area, balcony with a view of the river equipped with a table, chairs, and hammock. Ideal for families and groups of friends. Solar electricity and kerosene lamps.

• Dining Room (for 36 people) Food is primarily vegetarian with occasional chicken or fish. Many of the ingredients are produced locally at our organic farm, ensuring excellent quality.

• Bar offering cocktails, beer, wine, soft drinks and mineral water (additional cost).

• Conference Room second floor, with a library, chairs, white board, and balcony with a view overlooking the river. Solar powered lighting for night reading.

• VHS and Documentary Videos Touch on permaculture, ceramic artesanía in the Amazon and the community development work of FUNEDESIN.

• Electric Energy Provided by solar power for the kitchen, bathrooms, rooms, cabins and communal areas. Kerosene lamps are also used in the dining hall and common areas.

• Water The water comes from a natural spring and is purified for use in food preparation and in all other areas of the lodge. The water is pure and can be used directly from the taps in the rooms.

• Gift Shop Local artesanía and handicrafts, ceramics, T-shirts, hats, coffee mugs, postcards and some personal use products, such as sun block.

Transportation

• Ground: Guests enjoy a six-hour drive that winds through the high Andean mountain range, with views of snow-capped volcanoes, and then down to the lowland Amazon rain forest passing through many different ecosystems along the route.

• Water: Motorized, 54-foot long canoes. Lifejackets, cushions and rain ponchos are provided. Our bilingual guide will meet you in Misahuallí and accompany you on the canoe. This is a beautiful trip offering views of the tropical rain forest and local communities along the banks of the Napo River.

Guides

• Local Ecuadorians: People from the area with extensive knowledge of the flora, fauna, and the way of life of the local people. Some guides are bilingual in Spanish and English.

• Translators: Bilingual Spanish/English and knowledgeable about the work of FUNEDESIN. If you would like translation in an alternate language, please let us know at the time of your reservation (additional cost for languages other than English).

What Is There To Do At Yachana Lodge?

• Discover the enchantment and biodiversity of the rain forest on our 20 kilometers of hiking trails, which include both primary and secondary forest, accompanied by local guides and translators.

• Birdwatch . . . Bugwatch . . . Frogwatch

• Visit a traditional healer to experience Amazonian cultural life, participate in a traditional cleansing ceremony, and test your skills with blowguns, spears and fishing nets.

• Discover the real life challenges and activities of the people who live in the rain forest.

• Visit the foundation-sponsored Mondaña Health Clinic and learn about the challenges of providing health care and health education in remote jungle locations.

• Visit agricultural areas and learn about growing and harvesting coffee, cacao, bananas, yucca and other products of the region.

• Cross the Napo River to visit the foundation's sustainable agriculture (or "permaculture") farm. Harvest the delicious foods you will enjoy eating at the lodge.

• Taste local fruits including cacao, the source of chocolate, one of the culinary treasures of the rain forest.

• Learn about the uses of medicinal plants.

• Observe local people panning for gold along the Napo River.

• Purchase beautiful artesanía from the Amazon.

• Relax in your hammock, enjoy the sunset, listen to night sounds of the forest by the light of the moon, marvel at the stars . . . and much, much more!

Sample itinerary