Sierra Nevada Expeditions - Yarina Ecolodge

Yarina Ecolodge

Yarina Ecolodge started 10 years ago as a program to teach the importance of conserving wildlife and our environment with the local community. However, year by year, the lodge was growing, changing and developing new important forms of work with the local people, along with national and international tourists. Today, the lodge is considered one of the most important and best rescue centers of wildlife in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

The Rescue Center "ARCADIA" is a center that supports the conservation and rescue of wildlife in the Ecuadorian Amazon. We are sure that you will enjoy discovering the magic of our jungle and learning how to save the wildlife and nature with us.

YARINA Eco Lodge is strategically located in privileged area of the rain forest that counts with the highest diversity of micro-habitats in the Napo area, this means that there are more species of animals, birds, reptiles and insects than elsewhere in Napo River and surrounds.

The adventure begins with a 35 min. flight from Quito to Coca city, crossing the majestic Andes, flying above Cayambe and Reventador Volcanoes and enjoying the immense beauty full views of the Ecuadorian rainforest. Once in Coca city, you will navigate in a motorize canoe along Napo River, a major tributary of the Amazon River. During the trip you will have many opportunities to enjoy the jungle scenery along the stream side. The tour will also include a stop at Monkey Island and a visit to the Archaeological Museum at Pompeya.

The Yarina Ecolodge complex is located in a charming jungle landscape, where the guests are able to enjoy both - the countless sounds of nature and silence of the Amazon Forest. In order to preserve the harmony of the surroundings all cabins were built out typical materials, offering a lot of comfort.

The area surrounding the cabins is untouched primary forest with an extensive system of hiking trails for easy access to the incredibly diverse surroundings. With the help of your Quechua indigenous guides and an interpreter (available in English, German, French, and Spanish) you will learn about the rainforests through the eyes of someone who has grown up in the rainforest and learned of its many wonders and secrets.

There are no fewer than six species of monkeys that live around the cabins, and it is common to catch a glimpse of them. Also in the Piranhas hood are toucans, macaws, parrots, hoatzins, kingfishers, caciques, guans, and several species of raptor, including the elusive harpy eagle.

Paddling a canoe through the forest is one of the best ways to view animals from beside the cabins; one can jump into a paddle canoe and explore the lagoon by oneself or with a friend or two. Because we take guests deep into the Amazon, the minimum trip length is 4 days. Trips ranging between 4 and 10 days are regularly offered. Depending on group needs we can arrange trips up to one month or more.

The kitchen serves up hearty local cuisine. Try traditional yucca (manioc), plantains, and several varieties of fruit harvested from nearby rainforest farms. Plates of chicken, beef, or vegetarian food are usually part of the menu. The bounty of the nearby rivers provides us with fresh fish. Food service and guest attention is our way to show how much we care you.