adventure for the rest of us T
he Amazon Basin is famous for its wildlife, but not for its creature comforts. At the Napo Wildlife Center you get the best of both worlds. Here you can see hundreds of parrots at the two parrot clay licks, Giant Otters in the lake and streams, eleven species of monkeys in the trees, and 568 species of birds in the forest. With only ten cabanas in the 82 square mile reserve, you can experience it all. When your day is done you can take a hot shower, sit on your private porch overlooking the lake, have a cold beer from the bar, and enjoy a healthy international dinner. This is the jungle in style. From start to finish, the Napo Wildlife Center combines creature comforts with incredible wildlife. Bilingual guides explain the intricacies of the rainforest while the staff works to make your stay the trip of a lifetime. And why wouldn’t they? They are not only our staff, but also major stockhold1 ers of the lodge! In addition to being 2 the best wildlife lodge in the Amazon of Ecuador, the Napo Wildlife Center is the finest example of community-based ecotourism in the country and actively protects 82 square miles of pristine rainforest in its private reserve, based on a true conservation partnership with the local community.
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About the conservation project
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he Napo Wildlife Center supports a unique, 82square mile, private nature reserve within the northern portion of Yasuni National Park. This region is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and among the most biologically diverse areas on earth. The Napo Wildlife Center Reserve and associated lodge were created and built by the local Quichua community of Aùangu in partnership with the nonprofit conservation organization EcoEcuador and is part of the Tropical Nature Conservation System. The Napo Wildlife Center is the only lodge on the south bank of the Napo river, which harbors 30% more bird and animal species than the north bank. With parrot clay licks, Giant Otters, eleven primate species, and 565 species of birds, Napo Wildlife Center is undoubtedly the finest wildlife destination in Amazonian Ecuador. Your visit to the comfortable Napo Wildlife Center is an unforgettable experience that directly protects both the community’s reserve and unique Yasuni National Park. In addition to paying for the protection of the Reserve area, we also provide substantial support to the National Park. 1 helicona, 2 martin pescador, 3 dendrobate, 1 helicona, 2 martin pescador uh sidoi vjdk vjsaklf lvkdaflvkdflak vlkads vclksd l
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the wildlife attractions Parrot Clay Licks
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he two most accessible parrot clay licks in Ecuador are part of the Napo Wildlife Center Reserve. We have constructed viewing blinds at each of these clay licks so that visitors can comfortably watch as hundreds of parrots and parakeets come to eat the clay that aids in the digestion of their diet of unripe seeds and fruits. Parrots visit each of the clay licks at different times of day, so it is easy to visit both clay licks in a single outing.
Giant Otters
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nce thought to have been hunted to extinction in Ecuador, Giant Otters thrive in the lake and streams surrounding the Napo Wildlife Center. These seven-foot-long (two meter long) otters are unique to tropical rivers of South America and can be individually identified by their throat patches. 4 nutria gigante 5 pรกjaro carpintero 6 Aullador 7 Hoatsin 8 Saladero de loras
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The Diversity of the Amazon
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hile the spectacles of Parrots and Otters are once-in-a-lifetime experiences, so are days filled with the incredible diversity of the Amazon. At the Napo Wildlife Center we have a tremendous biodiversity unmatched at other locations. Whether you are looking for rare birds, monkeys, or the larger mammals, the Napo Wildlife Center delivers. Six of the eleven species of Monkeys visit the lodge itself – one the of the benefits of being within the forest. Professional guides, combined with the local knowledge of community members, will tailor your wildlife experience to your expectations and desires.
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lodge highlights and getting there The Canopy Tower
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he 120-ft. (36m) high forest canopy tower is located about 20 minutes from the lodge deep within the terra firme forest, and complements the observation tower that is attached to the dining hall. Ascending the sturdy 12-story galvanized metal tower allows you to pass through different levels of the forest and emerge on top of the canopy. Here you cross onto a platform that is actually built into the crown of a huge emergent Ceiba tree and experience the canopy. The tower base is secured below the roots of the tree, an indication of both the ecological sensitivity and safety of the tower. It is not just the view that draws naturalists to the canopy. Here you see animals and birds that are simply unavailable from below. Carefully sited after studying the region, Howler and Spider monkeys pass nearby, colorful tanager flocks pass right through the tree, Blue-and-yellow Macaws fly past, toucans call from all sides, and rare hawks and eagles are seen regularly.
Lodge Highlights
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uilt by the traditional Quichua Indian Community of Añangu, the individual cabanas at the Napo Wildlife Center are the most spacious and comfortable in Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest. With only ten cabanas, the Napo Wildlife Center offers a level of exclusivity unmatched in other jungle lodges. Each meticulously clean room includes: • 1 king size bed and 1 twin bed • Private bathrooms with plenty of on demand hot water • Private porches overlooking the lake • 24-hours electricity for bright lighting and plenty of outlets for recharging batteries (120v) • Ceiling fans and secure screens for bug-free ventilation The dining facility is covered by an enormous thatched roof and has an adjacent 20m observation tower. Inside the facility is a modern kitchen with state-ofthe-art water filtration system, a large area for dining and relaxing while overlooking the lake, and a wellstocked bar. While often invisible to guests, it is import to mention that the lodge facilities are the most ecologically sound in Ecuador. Electricity is produced through a hybrid system of solar power augmented by highefficiency generators, wastewater is treated through man-made wetlands and emerges completely pure. Our mission was to design a facility that brings together luxury and environmental responsibility under the umbrella of an ethical partnership with a highly motivated and conservation-minded community.
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o get to Napo Wildlife Center, guests fly by jet from Quito to the town of Coca on the Napo River. After a short drive to the dock, we board a large, motorized, covered canoe for a two-hour trip downriver. Upon arriving at the entrance to the Napo Wildlife Center Reserve, we transfer to smaller, dugout canoes and are paddled up the black water creek to the lake and lodge (no motorized transport is allowed on the creek or lake so that wildlife isn’t disturbed). This paddle is a great opening excursion to this unique area and can take between one to two hours, as on the creek guests might see Giant Otters, potoos, kingfishers, Hoatzins, jacamars, hawks, and monkeys. We eat lunch en route and arrive at the lodge by late afternoon.
Azuca Ingenio GrĂĄfico, 05/2006. Photos: Pete Oxford, Peter English, Murray Cooper, Joanne Williams.
Getting there
www.napowildlifecenter.com