Amazon Explorama Lodges

I will review the initial Explorama Lodge the one next to the village and not the luxury or the one more in the jungle close to the suspended bridges. ||||We wanted to spend a few days in the Amazon and this was the recommendation of our tour operator. We didn't know that we will have a guide with us all the time and Ernillo made our stay very fun and interesting. ||||The activities included when you stay at the Lodge include a boat trip to the small islands to see the nature and animals. We saw so many sloths in the trees and a huge iguana and a lot of birds. In the night they will take you on a boat ride next to the Lodge's small canals where you can look at the wildlife again or just close the lights and admire the sky. ||We also ended up going to a local rum factory which was an interesting experience to see how they make local alcohol with some very old methods. ||The next day tour included again a boat ride to see the dolphins, fish piranha and in the afternoon to visit a the local tribe. Be sure to take some money with you as after watching the local tribe dance and maybe dance with them, they all have some small shops they are selling things they are making themselves which I believe makes up for a nice memory or even gifts. Evening ended up with a night walk in the jungle with too many spiders and huge insects plus a couple of tarantulas. ||The next day includes also a visit to the local village next to the lodge. ||||Food was amazing and I am saying this taking into consideration that you are in the jungle so I wouldn't have expected much. However each day you have breakfast, lunch and dinner with different food every day and options to chose from. They are giving you even desert and fresh fruit and making each day a different type of juice from local fruits. Honestly I ate so good in those days in the lodge I could not believe it. ||||Accommodations are basic to decent I would say. No hot water where we stayed but with 30+ degrees in winter in May it's definitely not an issue. Guess during summer is even better. No keys to the doors but you can give them your passports and valuables they are putting in an envelope and into their vault so no worries in that matter as well. If you can live and sleep with the fact that you are in the jungle and things might crawl in your room while sleeping then I think you will be fine. ||||They have swings outdoor and internet works in the restaurant quite well. Electricity goes out at 12 but then again after so many activities during the day you will be long sleeping by then. ||||All in all definitely an experience and a place I would recommend to anybody wanting to see and live in the Amazon jungle. Great service, fantastic food, interesting activities and all in all a place to relax and enjoy nature.

Explorama Lodge is a great rustic lodge for tourists who want to see the Amazon River and rainforest. There is NO air conditioning, but cooling breezes at times. Average temperature is 80° and it’s is always humid. The rooms are a good size, you have an option to sleep under a mosquito net. Two dim electric lights and a charging outlet were new just last year. Bathrooms are a good size, with flush toilet, large shower, and running water, no hot water! Your alarm clock will be the birds’ noises, around 5:30. It’s light by 6:00, dark by 6:00. ||There are lots of steps, as the lodge has to be above water level. ||Food is good and plentiful with lots of fresh fruit and rice and some sort of legume. Most meats are chicken or fish, with some beef. ||Small but full service bar when someone is around to serve you. ||Included excursions will give you a good chance to see the area ||I am a volunteer at a small,local library, this is the fourth year I have been here, I stay for 3 weeks at a time.

I love all four places Exploramma has. Ceiba Tops, right on the Amazon River, has everything; electricity, hot water, air conditioning. There is a swimming pool . WiFi is available and free in the common areas. If you are lucky you might even see a tapir wandering around the outside. |More rustic is Explorama Lodge an hour downriver on the Yanamono River. It has a more jungle like feel. Here there are private rooms with attached bathrooms with a flush toilet and a COLD shower. But, the rooms are now screened in so there is no need for mosquito nets over the beds.|Farther down river is the most rustic of the lodges. ExploreNapo has a screened in dining room. The individual rooms do NOT have screens and do require mosquito nets over the beds. The showers and bathrooms are out back. The bathrooms are well maintained. This is a favorite of many because of the nearness of the jungle. |The last of Explorama's lodges is in the city of Iquitos. It is called the Jungle House. |All four of these places are clean and well maintained. All have free WiFi in the common areas. But the most outstanding feature of all the lodgings is the people. In my many trips through this area I have never encountered a rude or short tempered employee. They are all extremely obliging and will fulfill any request within their power.|The desk personnel speak passable English. Absolutely stay here!

You need to know that you are staying at a first class primitive lodge. You are out on the edge of the jungle. There is no hot water and the electricity goes off at night. You can hear the occasional jungle sounds as well as fellow travelers snoring. Food was excellent and the bar made the best Pisco sours we had on the trip. The river level was still high and we were able to dock the boats at the lodge. Evening trip on the river with naturalist and expert boat operators was great.

On a recent trip to the Amazon, the Explorama Lodges were respites for our very activity packed days. My group stayed in four lodges starting at the Explorama Lodge which had en suite facilities while all the lodges accommodations were rustic by most standards, it was part of the charm in the experience. Our next lodges were Explorama Napo, then ACTS - a research facility, these facilities were within a hiking distance between each other. These had shared facilities that were very clean and functional. The sleeping accommodations were basic but comfortable. Finally Cebia Tops Lodge (least rustic in that it had a/c, a pool and hotel style accommodations). All of the lodges had wonderful buffet meals. There is something for every appetite. The staff were extremely friendly and responsive. Transportation between the lodges was provided by Explorama Lodges. All rooms except for Cebia Tops were open-air with mosquito netting covering the bedding. Note the rooms while separate, there is an open ceiling across the top. The only downside to the lodging was that you can hear everything going on in the rooms near you especially loud snorers. I would recommend bringing ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones if you are a light sleeper. Our guides Percy and Cesar were amazing always providing a day full of adventure! Their expertise as top guides were on-point every day. Each lodge had a lounge/bar area attached to a common dining area. Pisco Sours were delicious! Each lodge had unique grounds that were wonderful walk about opportunities. I would stay at these lodges again and again!

My expectations were not high for a few reasons but this place lived well beyond what I had hoped and my guide Abelardo was incredible. Considering it's in the middle of the jungle it had very nice accommodations, good food, a beautiful pool and lounge area, and the staff was extremely friendly. We went piranha fishing, nature walking, visited a local tribe, kayaking and generally spent a lot of time talking and learning about their culture. I would highly recommend this trip and great value for the money.

It's always funny to read the few snowflakes who think these lodges are terrible because it's hot, damp and they didn't get little mints on their pillows. There will always be geniuses who go to explore the jungle and expect a Marriott with servants to cater to their every wish.|| These places are perfect if you want to see the Amazon and not go on some pampered tour where you look at everything out a window and never get mud on your shoes. The walkway is empty more often than not as opposed to the more popular ones. If you get a private guide you can have an amazing experience compared to getting herded around in large groups. Walking the trails, fishing for dinner, boat rides, laying in hammocks, visiting private homes on the river, stopping at dirt floor huts for a drink. There are large river boats for people who need luxury. If you want to see the jungle, take the week long package to the lodges. It will be something you remember when you've forgotten most everything else.

We were not sure what to expect as our friends had been there 2 years ago. Much has been updated. We had electricity 20 hours a day and our own private bathroom. The water was cold but after a hot day in the jungle it wasn’t too bad. The food was good - I would have like more local dishes but I know some people are not into that. Our guide Ary was wonderful as were all the staff.