Napo Wilderness Center, Ecuador

GETTING THERE

The journey to NWC starts in Quito, Ecuador's capital city. From it's national airport an approximately 35 minute flight will take guests over the Eastern Andes Mountain Range, crossing the equator and looking into snow capped volcanoes over 5,790 meters above sea level (18,991 feet) to reach the headwaters of the Amazon Basin near the Napo River at only 250 m.a.s.l (820 feet). After landing on the Puerto Francisco de Orellana town airport, locally known as Coca, NWC staff will greet passengers and take them for a short 5-7 minute transfer to embark on our covered motorized canoe. Here a comfortable breeze will company guests on an approximate 2 hours boat ride, 50 miles ( 80 kilometers ) downstream  the largest Ecuadorian tributary of the Amazon: the Napo river. During this trip a good number of birds could be spotted along the way and they include: herons, kingfishers, ospreys, and many others as one travels away into a more pristine and remote area.

Boat will arrive to the northwest boundary of the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve where NWC is located by the Anangucocha lake. To access the lodge guests may either start a guided 2 ½ km (1,5 miles ) hike on rich forest wildlife or embark on a quiet and enjoyable paddle dugout canoe ride with our staff for about 1 1/2 hours along a creek with dense flooded palm forest. Following any route, as people get deeper into this preserved area, they will be surprised by the oftenly seen monkeys of several species, colourful birds and other amazing potential wildlife encounters. At the end of the walk and near the end of the paddle people will reach the Anangu Lake and have a superb view of the lodge waiting for them on the other side.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Lodging at NWC has been designed to offer maximum privacy and comfort to the world traveler, providing lake and forest views from their private porches, as well as preserving one of the most pristine spots of Amazon forest in Ecuador. Each of our 10 individual large luxury cabanas are prepared for receiving guests in double occupancy or arranged in advance for a 3 members family visit. Rooms include a king size and twin size beds, private bathrooms with on demand hot water,  a multi-speed ceiling fan,  electricity provided by silent generators supplemented by solar panel power system, plenty of lights and 120 v outlets, screened windows and mosquito nets.  

Buildings keep the traditional native architecture with harmonious modern mixture inside providing cool shaded terraces with inviting hammocks and ample space from where visitors may observe the surroundings. While resting from activities people may get to see a group of giant otters investigating near the lodge dock or a large 4 meter (13 feet) black caiman crossing the lake or a capybara looking for rest near our lake edge, or experience the graceful often flights of blue and yellow macaws over the lodge area. The hall has a library with books on local birds and tropical ecology, next door the bar provides ice-cold beer, wine, soft drinks and other liquor selections. The calls of red howler monkeys will company the resting times before gearing up for the next excursion.  

NWC`S  UNIQUE PARROT CLAY LICKS

One of the highlights at NWC is going out on a very early excursion to reach two of Ecuador's most accessible parrot clay licks along the Napo region. These parrot clay licks are exclusive part of  our reserve and lodge territory.  

They have a history of being visited by naturalists and are mentioned in The Birds of Ecuador (Ridgely and Greenfield, 2001). These are 2 of the over a dozen clay licks found on the Anangu Community territory. Our parrot clay licks can be reached by following the Giant Otter creek downstream on dugout canoe near the Napo river. The Napo Wildlife Center has exclusively constructed well established and comfortable blinds in each parrot lick in order to provide visitors best viewing and high quality photo/video opportunities. 

Activity kicks off at main lick between 7 to 8 in the morning and at second blind after midday. Species include: Mealy, blue headed, yellow crowned, orange winged and orange cheeked parrots, cobalt winged, dusky headed and white eyed parakeets, with the occasional rarities like scarlet shoulder parrotlet and scarlet macaws. In best weather conditions at least 800 individuals of most species can be spotted and in other days spite the rain one could still see a few dozens. This could be a full day excursion visiting both blinds equipped with a nice freshly made box lunch, or a half day visiting the main lick and returning for a served lunch at the lodge. Don't miss a superb natural event full of unique sounds and brightly colored plumages!!.

PROFESSIONAL CANOPY TOWER 

Only 35 minutes away from the lodge there is the best and most professional canopy tower ever built in Amazonian Ecuador. Designed to last and provide maximum safety to users, this stainless steel structure complies with international certification ISO 9001:2000 that covers design, manufacturing  and erection of steel structures and buildings, and other industrial applications. 

This magnificent building, over 125 feet tall, is standing right next to a giant 155 feet Kapok tree where and ample platform provides great space for over 15 guests and their cameras, spotting scopes, tripods and binoculars gear, or other equipment ready to enjoy the canopy of the rain forest!!  No one should miss this amazing highlight that provides great views of possible troops of howler, capuchins, monk sakis or spider monkeys in the nearest forest.  In a clear day, the immense tropical scenery can reach views of the Andes where Gran Sumaco and the snow capped Antisana and Cayambe volcanoes are located, truly a one of a kind experience. 

Active feeding bird flocks reach the vicinity and our tree, offering beyond 80 species list in one single morning…not to mention the mammal sights. Get into the eye view of large toucans, macaws, colourful tangers and discover the gently moving Three Toed Sloth. Certainly paradise - heaven for avid professional or amateur birdwatchers and those who love close contact with nature. Armed with all possible optic gear, guides will find and show you the best. Tower provides an ample and comfortable platform and as one goes up there are 2 resting levels. This unique tower is the perfect site for dawn course or sunset experience.

NWC has a large lake with two creeks that can be easily explored quietly while sitting on a dugout canoe paddled by our expert guides and staff eager to spot and show you wildlife. The possibilities are great in finding more troops of other species of monkeys like squirrel, saddle-backed and white fronted capuchin monkeys or those that by natural distribution or best habitat occur only on our South side of the Napo and include: monk saki, spider, woolly and golden mantle tamarin monkeys. NWC is home to a total of 11 species of monkeys.

BIRDWATCHING

Over 562 species of birds have been recorded at the Napo Wildlife Center, more than 1/3 of all of Ecuador`s birds. A vast and rich bird-life  that can reward the most avid birdwatcher with the unrivalled South Napo specialties. NWC and Anangu  are a classic visiting location for someone travelling Ecuador seeking for the overwhelming bird diversity. 

Agami and ZigZag herons are found near the lake and creeks, including all 5 kingfishers. The large raptors like Harpy and Crested Eagles find healthy mammal food around our area. The active calls of forest floor mixed species flocks with the largest numbers of the surprising antbirds can be found. Canopy flocks are normal to run into, chances are birds provide an hour or so of  a multitude of wow`s. Gear up with the best binoculars for the most superb views and active excursions helped with the expertise of the top native birdguide along the entire Napo: Jiovanny Rivadeneira. He is the head of a number of native guides that will eagle eye sight and successfully find for you that great plumaged world. Our canopy tower provides unrivalled opportunites for birding at the best rain forest in the country.

THE AÑANGU COMMUNITY 

Anangu is not only home to the great NWC lodge, it has been the ancestral territory of a Quichua indigenous community that has the same name. Anangu people are active participants of the conservation and management of a large territory within the park as well as our partners in tourism. We would like to invite you see the community that had a dream and initiative long time ago to handle this vast rain forest territory by establishing their own lodge. Helped by EcoEcuador Foundation part of the Tropical Nature Conservation System, a world leading group of ongoing ecotourism projects, we all now work together on a nature tourism company. You can join some families on their daily activities when harvesting bananas, coco, manioc, a starchy jungle root, staple food for Amazonian people, or maybe helping preparing chicha, a traditional drink based on cooked and fermenting manioc. You like fish?, try catch your own in Amazon rivers helped by the local natives and their particular techniques