Napo Wildlife Center
Amazon Basin, Ecuador
Napo Wildlife Center is an award-winning ecolodge at the center of a conservation area of approximately 82 square miles of some of the Amazon's most pristine rain forest. The lodge sits within within Yasunì National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the largest tract of tropical rain forest in Ecuador, boasting some of the planet's greatest biodiversity. The lodge complex is located on Anangu Lake, within the unique ancestral territory of the Anangu Quichua Community. In 2003, after more than a decade of vision and initiave, the community opened its own luxury lodge to provide jobs for its people and to protect their land, and Napo Wildlife Center was born.
Accommodations are in 12 private cabanas, all with lakefront views. The cabanas and main lodge buildings were constructed by the local community using traditional materials and designs, to minimize impact on the surrounding rain forest while maximizing the ambience and comfort for guests. Each spacious (450 sq ft) cabana includes one king-size bed and one twin bed, an en suite bathroom with shower, flush toilet and a constant supply of hot water, a veranda overlooking serene Anangu Lake complete with hammock, 24-hour electricity for ample lighting, and 110-volt outlets for recharging electronics. All cabanas are screened and have ceiling fans for plenty of bug-free ventilation, though bugs aren't much of a problem here anyway. The thatched open-air dining room, lounge and library feature a well-stocked bar plus an adjacent observation tower.
Napo Wildlife Center is a regional leader in eco-conscious practices. The lodge utilizes water from the lake in its bathrooms, which is clean and safe for use after undergoing a state-of-the-art wetland wastewater treatment system Drinkable water is always available so guests may refill their own bottles, reducing the amount of plastic used. Electricity is generated by a hybrid power system utilizing solar panels, batteries and a noiseless diesel generator.