La Selva Eco-Lodge and Retreat

Launch a canoe onto Garzacocha lagoon and follow marked channels through two distinct ecosystems within the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve. You’ll paddle at your own pace, observing aquatic plants, birds and small mammals along the banks. Guides point out features of the ecosystem and help identify wildlife, but you’ll control the movement and focus.

Conditions change with water levels, offering varied encounters depending on the season. The canoe keeps you low to the water, allowing unobstructed views of plants and animals that might otherwise be hidden. Sessions last several hours, letting you move through the lagoon and surrounding channels without rushing, combining physical activity with wildlife observation.

Follow a guide along trails that run through the rainforest around the lodge, connecting to the edge of the lake. Each path takes you past a variety of trees, plants and forest structures, from ceiba trees and strangler figs to walking palms and bromeliads. You’ll watch for insects such as Azteca ants and look out for birds or small mammals along the way.

The guide points out notable species for you to observe and you’ll choose where to stop and focus. Conditions vary with the season, so each walk feels different, giving you time to cover distance while noticing the features of the rainforest.

Move outside after dark and turn your attention to the Southern Hemisphere sky above the lodge. Using the natural dark conditions, you’ll locate constellations and track patterns that differ from those you may have seen at home. A guide can assist in identifying stars, planets and other visible celestial objects, explaining their positions and movement. Sessions are flexible, adjusting to cloud cover and moonlight.

You’ll move around, change angles and observe from different clearings, making it easy to take your time. The focus is on recognising what is overhead and seeing how the stars change through the night rather than fixed observations.