Henderson Birding - Ecuador Itinerary

Ecuador Lodging Information

Sachatamia Lodge (5733' elevation)

Guango Lodge (8100' elevation)

In 2000, Cabañas San Isidro opened Guango Lodge. Guango Lodge is a new, small tourist facility on another family property that is surrounded by temperate forest and very birdy flocks.

Guango Lodge, about 1 hour away from San Isidro, lies at a higher elevation (about 2,700 meters) on Ecuador's eastern slope, only 11 kms down the main Interoceanica Highway from the town of Papallacta. This area is centered in a zone classified as humid temperate forest, a habitat distinctly different from San Isidro and characterized by its more stunted trees (and thicker canopy), cooler climate, and different bird and plant composition.

Guango Lodge offers many of the same services as San Isidro Lodge, including rooms with private bath and hot water and excellent food.

Some of the birds of particular interest that we have seen regularly at Guango Lodge include Andean Guan, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Turquoise Jay, Scarlet-bellied, Lacrimose, Buff-breasted and Hooded Mountain-Tanagers, Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager, Black-headed, Black-capped and Black-eared Hemispingus and Slaty Bursh-Finch.

Guango Lodge's hummingbird feeders here attract some exciting hummers on a regular basis, some of the more noteworthy species being Mountain Velvetbreast, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Tourmaline Sunangel, Golden-breasted and Glowing Pufflegs, Mountain Avocetbill, and White-bellied and Gorgeted Woodstars.

Guango Lodge is only a short drive from the tree-line forests and treeless paramo zones, where an almost entirely new set of birds awaits you. With the opening of Guango Lodge, San Isidro is hopeful that yet another large chunk of ecologically important land will be both productive and protected, allowing guests to appreciate Ecuador's natural beauty.

Termas de Papallacta

In June 1994 a group of six Ecuadorians got together after falling in love with this wonderful place and its miraculous waters. They dreamed about developing different projects in the area and had faith in their vision and creative ability. The construction at the spa began at once. The architecture, colors and construction materials used (such as wood, stone, straw, etc.) were chosen to work in harmony with the environment. Between 1996 and 1997 the first 13 rooms of the hotel were built.

With the aim of contributing towards environmental conservation, cooperating in training local residents in environmental matters and providing information to visitors on local flora and fauna, one of our stockholders established the Terra Foundation. "Exploratorio," our interactive science centre opened its doors in 1999 using our own financial resources together with funds from the International Development Association (IDA).

Nineteen additional hotel rooms were built between 2001 and 2003. In 2005 the construction of the Convention Center and of seven additional cabins was completed.

Finally, at the end of 2005, Termas de Papallacta became the first Ecuadorian land-based company to attain certification in sustainable development in accordance with the standards as set out by Smart Voyager, Rainforest Alliance and the Conservation and Development Corporation.

Termas de Papallacta aims to be self-sufficient with regards to its electricity supply, thus hoping to build its own hydroelectric plant. Termas de Papallacta also strives for active cooperation with the Terra Foundation so that its objectives with regards to the local community and the conservation of the environment continue to be met.

Napo Wildlife Center

Napo Wildlife Center Map

The Napo Wildlife Center, NWC Amazon Lodge, is the greatest and ultimate alternative luxury eco-hotel in Amazonian Ecuador. This ecotourism project includes the conservation of approximately over 82 square miles (53,500 acres - over 21,400 hectares ) of the most pristine Amazon Rain Forest within the Yasunì National Park, an important UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the largest tract of tropical rain forest in Ecuador.

The lodge complex is located by the Anangucocha lake, within the unique ancestral territory of the Anangu Quichua Community, part of the Yasuni National Park. In the early 90's the community envisioned building their own lodge to provide themselves jobs and protecting their land. With great effort they built back then 4 well established shelters and a large house for kitchen and dining room, however buildings remained incomplete there at that early stage for many years as they had no more money to finish them or to establish a proper infrastructure to call it a first class jungle hotel.

They wanted high quality facilities and accommodations, to provide an exclusive and personalized rain forest experience, intimate with nature, under a dedicated private and unique lodge, but only to a selected number of guests. Finally in year 2000 after several local and international contacts the project was able to move forward and establish the community's and its nature tourism leaders dream.

The community, entitled by its constitutional rights over their land, approached Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment which through its National Park service declared them honorific park rangers and approved the project signing a renewable management agreement of this territory part as well of the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve.

Thanks to the Anangu Community initiative, their manpower, supported by the best technical assistance, financed with donations in partnership with the independent Ecuadorian non profit conservation organization, EcoEcuador, Napo Wildlife Center was born in 2003. The most carefully designed first class Amazon lodge in Ecuador.

Since its pre-inaugural trip in March 2003 the lodge has been recognized by both guests and companies for its impeccable operation, service and experiences provided to all visitors. The New York Times featured NWC in its travel section in 2004, the BBC from the UK visited in same year for a nature special, Victor Emanuel declared it as "One of the top 10 birding sites of the world" during his lecture at the 2004 British Birdwatching Fair, the World Travel Market in London awarded NWC as Best in a Protected Area in 2006. Now NWC counts with many and countless reviews about the lodge throughout the international media worldwide.

After such a successful development and achievements, in January 2007 started a process to transfer the entire lodge to the community's hands, later on in June same year this process was effective and since then Napo Wildlife Center is 100% community owned and administrated with best Ecuadorian professional and technical assistance.

Special features:

The leading luxury Eco-Lodge. Located by the Añangu Lake, South bank of the Napo River, Northeast Amazonian Ecuador. Only lodge within Yasunì National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the largest tract of intact rain forest in Ecuador. Started operations in early 2003.
Best accommodations and privacy of all lodges in Ecuador and one of the very top best in the entire Amazon. Luxury lodge with 12 large individual cabañas. Each with private lake and forest views.
24 hours electricity by a hybrid power system, solar panels - batteries and last generation noiseless diesel engines.
Unrivalled nature attractions and biodiversity, 2 unique easy access parrot & macaw clay licks, 565 bird species, 11 species of monkeys, Giant Otter family and other large mammals such as Brazilian tapir, White-lipped peccary, all species of caiman including, Black caiman, Anaconda and many others.
Two solid self standing canopy towers. Carefully engineered to provide maximum safety and enjoyment of wildlife at emergent trees.

Over 562 species of birds have been recorded at the Napo Wildlife Center, more than 1/3 of all of Ecuador`s birds. A vast and rich bird-life that can reward the most avid birdwatcher with the unrivalled South Napo specialties. NWC and Anangu are a classic visiting location for someone travelling Ecuador seeking for the overwhelming bird diversity.

Agami and ZigZag herons are found near the lake and creeks, including all 5 kingfishers. Thelarge raptors like Harpy and Crested Eagles find healthy mammal food around our area. The active calls of forest floor mixed species flocks with the largest numbers of the surprising antbirds can be found. Canopy flocks are normal to run into, chances are birds provide an hour or so of a multitude of wow's. Gear up with the best binoculars for the most superb views and active excursions helped with the expertise of the top native bird guide along the entire Napo:

Jiovanny Rivadeneira is the head of a number of native guides who will eagle eye sight and successfully find for you that great plumaged world. Our canopy tower provides unrivalled opportunities for birding at the best rain forest in the country.

Flights and Baggage allowance