The Amazonian Eco-Haven of La Selva Lodge, Ecuador

Ecuador is wildly diverse. While its capital, Quito, is one of the highest altitude cities in the world, a short, eastbound flight down the lofty Andean plateau leads to Coca, a steamy frontier town at the convergence of two rivers heading into the vast Amazonian rainforest.

From here, a green wilderness stretches thousands of kilometers east into Brazil and north into Colombia. It's hard to imagine that just three hours downstream, there's the spacious eco-heaven of La Selva Lodge, perched on the far side of a tranquil lagoon.

Located on the edge of the vast Yasuní National Park, La Selva Lodge offers front-row seats to one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. Early mornings and late afternoons are spent exploring the jungle with experienced guides, leaving plenty of time to relax and enjoy the magical atmosphere of the lodge itself during the day.

Though monkeys, snakes, and frogs will all do their best to upstage them, this place is all about the bird-watching. The astonishing variety of avian splendor is best viewed from the platform built into the crown of a giant kapok tree, ten minutes away from the lodge. There are vultures, brightly colored macaws, and woodpeckers to spot, but also harpy eagles. The largest raptors in the Amazon rainforest, they're usually spotted in the distant treetops.

Get in touch with our Curators now and we'll put together your incredible Amazonian trip.