Current as of: May 12, 2026 - 19:07
Amazon Add-on Tour – La Selva Lodge Trip Notes
- Destination: Ecuador
- Programmes: Trip Extensions
-
Activity Level:
1 out of 7 - Easy
- Ages: 16+
- Trip Code: XTNLASELVA
Trip Overview
Explore the Ecuadorian Amazon by canoe and trail, with wildlife encounters and a stay at a forest lodge
Discover the Amazon, staying at a lakeside jungle lodge that can only be reached by boat. Travelling by canoe and on foot, we explore a network of trails, lakes and waterways, encountering wildlife from parrots at clay licks to monkeys in the canopy. Time in the forest is balanced with a visit to a local community, offering insight into life in this environment. With access to observation towers, night walks and expert guidance throughout, this is a well-rounded introduction to the Amazon’s ecosystems and cultures.
Is This Trip for You?
This trip is graded Activity Level 1 (Easy). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
Itinerary: This add-on tour runs on a shared basis with non-Exodus guests.
Flexibility: This sample itinerary may vary depending on weather, group interests, safety considerations, and seasonal changes. Your guides will tailor each day to create the best possible experience.
Water safety: This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Group
Local guides are used at the lodge, providing expert insight into Amazon life.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 1
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Quito
- End City: Quito
Land Only Itinerary
Fly to Coca • Journey into the Amazon • Explore at dusk
Begin at Quito airport, where a representative from La Selva meets you in the National Departure area to assist with check-in and give you a quick briefing.
After flying east to Coca, you take a short road transfer to the river, where you continue (2hr 30min) by motorised canoe along the Napo River.
This first stretch into the Amazon offers a sense of scale, with your guide pointing out birdlife along the banks. You’ll also enjoy a box lunch and drinks as you cruise into the wild. A final canoe ride (approximately 30 minutes) brings you to La Selva Lodge.
After settling in, head onto the Matapalo Charapa Trail with a naturalist guide, where towering trees and dense vegetation introduce the structure of the rainforest.
As night falls, we return to Garza Cocha Lake for a canoe ride, scanning for caiman and other nocturnal species, before returning to the lodge for a gourmet dinner.
Accommodation: La Selva Lodge
Climb to the canopy • Paddle forest lakes • Nature walk at night
A short hike leads you to the observation tower, rising 120ft (36m) above the forest floor. From here, you can look across the canopy, with a guide identifying bird species and movement in the treetops – sometimes monkeys travelling between branches. Continue on foot to Mandi Cocha, a floodplain lake where wildlife gathers at the water’s edge.
In the afternoon, explore Garza Cocha Lake by canoe, moving quietly through channels where squirrel monkeys and capuchin are often seen, alongside the distinctive hoatzin bird.
After the sun sets, return to the forest with torches (flashlights). The night walk reveals a different side of the ecosystem, with insects, amphibians and reptiles active after dark.
Accommodation: La Selva Lodge
Visit a clay lick • Meet a local Pilchi community • Walk forest trails
Travel (approximately 1hr 30min) by motorised canoe back towards the Napo River to visit a parrot clay lick, where flocks gather to feed on mineral-rich soil. Your guide explains this behaviour while helping to identify the different species present.
Later, visit the Pilchi community, where you gain insight into daily life in the Amazon. Through conversation and demonstrations, you learn about traditional practices, food preparation and the relationship between people and forest.
Back near the lodge, you hike the Coto Trail, where your guide highlights medicinal plants and smaller forest species often missed at first glance. The walk ends with a dusk canoe ride, when wildlife activity increases once more.
Before dinner, the lodge manager will brief you on tomorrow’s departure procedures. Celebrate your final night with a special farewell cocktail prepared by our bartender.
Accommodation: La Selva Lodge
Adventure ends in Quito
You’ve explored the Amazon by canoe and on foot, watched wildlife from the canopy and waterways, and spent time with a local community, but now it’s time to begin your return journey.
Retrace your route by paddle canoe and motorboat to Coca (approximately 2hr 30min), followed by a 30-minute flight back to Quito.
Accommodation
La Selva Lodge
Set beside Garza Cocha Lake, La Selva Lodge places you deep within the Ecuadorian Amazon, with direct access to forest trails and waterways. Cabins are spread through the forest, each with private bathrooms and balconies that look onto the surrounding vegetation.
Communal areas overlook the lake, offering opportunities to watch wildlife between excursions. With expert naturalist guides and a location within a protected reserve, the lodge provides a strong base for exploring the Amazon in depth.
Food & Drink
Meals at La Selva Lodge combine Ecuadorian flavours with international dishes, using fresh ingredients sourced locally where possible. Expect a mix of fish, tropical fruits and regional specialities alongside familiar options.
Breakfasts are timed to suit early excursions, while lunches and dinners are relaxed, often shared as a group.
There’s also time to unwind with a drink at the bar or a coffee overlooking the lake, as the sounds of the forest continue around you.
Transport
Travel by internal flight between Quito and Coca, followed by motorised canoe journeys along the Napo River and paddle canoe access through smaller waterways to reach the remote lodge.
Weather & Seasonality
It will be hot with high humidity in the Amazon Rainforest. There is a possibility of rain at any time, but not to the extent of spoiling your enjoyment. The driest time in the jungle (in terms of rainfall levels, not number of rainy days) is October to January.
What To Take
Essential Equipment
- Lightweight long bottoms
- Long-sleeved lightweight shirts
- Lightweight sweater or jacket
- Raingear (ponchos are provided)
- Sports shoes or hiking boots
- Hat
- Sun protection
- Sunglasses
- Small backpack for daily essentials
- Insect repellent
- Torch (flashlight) or headlamp for night walks
Optional Equipment
- Binoculars
- Camera
Practical Information
Visa
Ecuador
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Ecuador. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
- Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/ecuador
- Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/ecuador
- United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ecuador/entry-requirements
- USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Ecuador.html
Vaccinations and Health
Ecuador
All visitors to Ecuador must show valid medical insurance on arrival and cannot enter the country without it.
You also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate (vaccinated at least 15 days before you travel) if you are arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda, including if you have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport of those countries.
As updates may happen at any time, please check the latest requirements with your doctor or travel clinic.
Malaria is also a risk in some areas of the country (including the Amazon Rainforest) so we suggest you consult a doctor for more advice. Additionally, dengue, chikungunya and zika, all viral diseases spread by mosquitoes, are known risks in places visited. There are currently no vaccines or prophylaxes available, so take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis, typhoid and yellow fever.
Please check all vaccination recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.
Methanol: The FCDO warns travellers to be cautious of methanol poisoning when travelling in destinations visited on the trip.
Local Time
Ecuador's time zone: America/Lima (UTC -05:00)
Electricity
Ecuador's electricity: Plug types A (two flat pins) and B (three pins: two flat, one round) – 120V, 60Hz
Money
Ecuador's currency: US dollar (USD)
ATM Availability
ATMs accepting major credit and debit cards are readily available in Quito. Please contact your bank before travel to ensure compatibility.
You should carry your money in US dollars cash. Try to carry a number of small notes (US$1 or US$5) as many small businesses and taxis do not carry large amounts of change.
Tipping
Tipping forms part of the service culture. Due to the dominance of US visitors in the destination, tips are reasonably high and this is likely to add up during your stay.
Sustainability and Impact
As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.
We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
Important Information
Your Safe Participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call us and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
Seatbelts
All vehicles used by us should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by us based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.
Travel Safety
For additional information please have a look at the travel safety advice page on our website.
How to Book
Speak to our friendly team of experts to plan your adventure:
- Check availability: our website shows real-time availability of our guided group tours, or contact our team by phone, email or live chat.
- Hold a space: You can provisionally hold a space on any guided group tour to give you time to finalise your travel plans.
- Confirm your booking: Payment of a deposit will complete your booking and secure your place on the trip.
After booking
You will receive a confirmation document and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements. Our dedicated Customer Operations team will help you with any pre-travel questions or arrangements and can easily add extensions or extra accommodation to your booking. Final Joining Instructions will usually be sent out two to three weeks prior to departure.
Adding transfers to your booking
If you have arranged your own flights and would like to add transfers to your booking, please provide your arrival and departure details to our Customer Operations team around four to six weeks before departure.
- Where free transfers are included, they are available for any flight but can only be added to your booking once we have received your flight schedule.
- Where group arrival and departure transfers are available, these operate at fixed times. You will need to arrive in time to meet the scheduled transfer. If the timings don’t align with your travel plans, our team can arrange private transfers once they receive your flight schedule.
Trip Note validity
Trip notes may be updated after booking; if any updates significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary you will be advised in writing. A link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes will be sent out with your Final Joining Instructions before departure.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes, and occasionally it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
