Yachana Foundation

The Yachana Lodge was AMAZING!! We had the surreal experience of being totally immersed in the deep Amazon, while maintaining a complete sense of comfort and safety when we were in our cabin. As you lay in your comfy bed at night, you can sit and listen to the myriad sounds erupting out of the thick forest all around you. We were able to see exotic animals, insects, and all kinds of vegetation. It was such an awesome, unique experience to have a guide by our side the entire time that taught us SO much about the culture, wildlife, food, and so much more. The food was incredible all made from scratch using locally sourced ingredients, all by local Ecuadorian chefs. They even accommodated my wife’s vegan diet and she was able to eat every single meal they prepared! We would urge anyone considering this as a vacation option to DO IT! We took our two boys ages 5 and 8 and they absolutely loved it. We felt completely safe and taken care of the entire time. These are amazing people running this place all striving to preserve the beautiful rainforest and not only do you get the vacation of a lifetime, but also know that you are helping to support the preservation and protection of the Amazon.

JUST AMAZING. Nice people, nice place, an incredible jungle... The cook adapted the menu because I'm vegetarian, and it was really really nice. I think maybe the best food I have ever tasted. So, you hace to know that here, vegetarians are wellcome! The rooms are very clean and comfortable. Thank you all the team for your kind hospitality!

We went to Yachana Lodge early august 2022. It was a wonderful experience. They provide a tight schedule to explore the surrounding nature and community. Yachana Lodge is not the place to go if you just want to have some quite time. It is for those who wants an active holiday experience. We drove to Yachana from Quito, which I would recommend. It is a bit of a trip back and forth, but breathtakingly beautiful. I can also recommend doing the birdwatching and nightly walks with Marianna and Alfonso.

An astonishing place - the food is excellent, the guides are outstanding, the rooms are very comfortable and the nature, of course, is exceptional. We were made to feel so welcome, like we’d been absorbed into the Yachana family. The activities were so much fun and very well pitched - there is certainly plenty to do and explore whatever your ages or interests. A few days in Yachana will leave you feeling refreshed and inspired in equal measure. If you’re thinking about booking, don’t hesitate.

My experience in Yachana was amazing!!The lodge is totally surrounded by the beautiful nature of the Amazon forest and you really have the possibility to completely disconnect from the rest of the world enjoying the energy and the beauty of the nature. Rooms are big, comfortable and clean. I'm vegetarian and the chef always prepared delicious food options for me. The staff is really friendly and competent. Absolutely recommended!

Yachana Lodge is a fantastic place. Van Transport: We took the van transport option. We were picked up in Quito and the total ride time was about 7 hours. However, we stopped and explored a hummingbird sanctuary, a gorgeous waterfall, and had a delicious lunch. The driver, Alfredo, was kind (mostly Spanish speaker) and friendly. On our drive back, we paid a bit extra to stop for 2 hours at Termas de Papallacta (hot springs) before our flight. A great way to wrap up the trip. Note: the drive between Quito and the lodge is through the mountains which includes high elevation and lots of turns. If you get motion sickness, consider Dramamine and water for your drive. Rooms: The rooms are simple, clean, and comfortable. The hot water on the property is amazing and each shower was totally rejuvenating. All the water in the taps are clean so it's very easy to get a drink during the night or refill your water bottle. The windows are screened which is perfect for falling asleep to the sounds of the brook or the chirps of the jungle. Food: Incredible! Even simple meals are full of flavor and taste. All meals are communal which made dining lively and interesting. Yachana accommodates various diets, but I recommend just diving in and eating what is in front of you. There are several food items I do not care for in the States but the freshness (lack of pesticides?) change the taste dramatically and I found myself happily eating radishes and beets. Don't skip the fresh bread and jelly at breakfast. Guide/Activities: I cannot say enough amazing things about Alfonso. He is knowledgeable, experienced, patient, and funny. The schedule was flexible and took into account the heat of the day. Most activities that were during the hottest parts of the days were either indoors or swimming (so you never get too heat-exhausted). The tours of farms and hiking were not too strenuous. At the time of my visit, I was still recovering from injuries so I was the slowest guest of the group -- Alfonso was kind and never rushed me. He made my experience just as valuable as the more "active" members of our party. If you are a massive Hermione-type like me, he will answer anything you ask. Yachana offers so much learning - from closed-loop ecosystems to indigenous cuisine - you will leave the lodge armed with knowledge and perspective. Overall: I fell in love with the lodge, the staff, and jungle. Doug is kind and gracious. Rosa, Alturo, and Christian are helpful and courteous. Again, Alfonso is amazing. Book here. You won't regret it. Tips: bring a small flashlight, download the constellation app on your phone for stargazing, and long durable socks for the rainboots that you'll heavily rely on. Also, please pet Toby, the resident dog, on his sweet head and tummy.

The Yachana Lodge, operated by the Yachana Foundation, is an absolutely incredible place to stay. Although it is called an ecolodge, it offers a luxurious experience, providing all the necessities one could desire, including a hot shower and a flush toilet. Our lodges were spacious with perfect mattresses, and the windows offered beautiful views; they were covered with nets (not glass) to enhance the incredible sounds of the wild Amazon nature. However, the most exciting aspects of this stay are the activities and the caring staff, who treat you like family. The guides, cooks, drivers, and all other staff members seem deeply involved and passionate about the Amazon and the worthy ideals of the Yachana Foundation, as if it were not just a job. They treat you like royalty, are very attentive to your needs, and their cooking is among the best I have ever tasted (they always include a delicious soup before the main meal, followed by an even more appealing dessert). The activities are deep, meaningful, and educational, focused on protecting the biodiversity of the rainforest, conservation projects, and sharing their incredible knowledge and passion. We learned and practiced how to make our own chocolate from scratch, how to catch and identify butterflies, went on night hikes to see incredible creatures, and woke up early for morning birdwatching. We also visited a local farmer who shared his incredible efforts to protect the stingless bees and shared with us all the different types of fruits the Amazon rainforest can offer—it was so delicious. This is a must-visit for anyone who will appreciate a personalized, educational experience of the amazing Amazon rainforest. Here, you are treated not like a visiting tourist, but like a member of their family. Please, make sure to also meet Mr. Douglas, the founder of this place, and hear his incredible story and life journey.

My family has been traveling the world for the better part of a year. From Europe to central and South America. If all our destinations there isn’t one that was as special and meaningful as our stay at Yachana lodge. It wasn’t just an experience it was an education into the meaning of the rain forest, and into the culture and people who call it home. The folks at Yachana lodge arranged a number of experiences that gave us first hand peek into these lessons. We visited a coffee collective, a farm, a local healer, took a canoe up the Napo river to a local market, blew dart guns, hiked and bird watched. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable and passionate about the Amazon. The accommodations were comfortable. The food was outstanding and plentiful. And the conversations over meals with the folks there about the Amazon, our environment, our culture, history, everything…. were more valuable than any souvenir. This experience was literally life changing. Thank you Yachana.