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Sample Itineraries
La Casa del Suizo / Sacha Lodge

Call Today For Prices, Information, or Reservations!
TOLL FREE IN THE USA & CANADA: 1-800-327-3573
LOCAL / INTERNATIONAL: 1-863-439-1486     FAX: 1-863-439-2118

La Casa del Suizo - 4 days / 3 nights

La Casa del Suizo is a tranquil Amazonian refuge located on the shore of Ecuador's majestic Napo River and a stone's throw away from the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains Perched comfortably above the riverbank and the small Quichua Indian village of Ahuano, La Casa del Suizo overlooks vast expanses of the surrounding tropical rainforest environment.

Each of our modern rooms provides full electricity, hot water and ceiling fans to make your stay more comfortable, and an exquisite view which may be peacefully absorbed from the privacy of one's own terrace. With a magnificent panorama of the Napo, our guests may enjoy our swimming pool, outdoor dining area and pool bar, which offers an array of delicious tropical drinks. The hotel's dining rooms offer a wide variety of both Ecuadorian and international dishes, and our buffets cater to vegetarians.

Each morning our guests may trek, paddle, and swing through the lush, primary rainforest, which surrounds the Lodge. Our native guides possess vast knowledge of the diverse local fauna and flora, as well as the medicinal uses of many plants. Don't miss out on this amazing Amazon adventure! 
 

ITINERARY

Day 1

The trip to La Casa del Suizo will depart from Quito, Ecuador's capital, at 7:30am in private transportation. The first leg of our journey brings us to Papallacta, a small mountain village famous for its natural hot springs. The group will arrive here between 9:00 and 9:30am, and take some time to visit these springs for a soothing swim in their thermal waters before lunch at the Hotel Papallacta. Shortly after noon, we will continue our journey along a scenic stretch of road that takes us out of the majestic Andes highlands and down into the "Oriente", or Amazon region. Along the way there will be several opportunities to stop for photographs, overlooking lush green valleys and beautiful sparkling waterfalls. The road ends at Punta Ahuano, a tiny port town on the North bank of the Napo River, where canoes wait for a late-afternoon, 15-minute ride downstream to la Casa del Suizo. The group will arrive with time to get settled and enjoy the sunset from our swimming pool, with a refreshing welcome cocktail.

During days 2 and 3 at La Casa del Suizo, our guests will participate in several morning, afternoon and full day activities. These programs will begin after an early breakfast, and will be led by both native and bilingual guides.

Note: the activities on day 2 and day 3 may be inverted, depending on the number of guests present.
 

Day 2: Pangayacu Cultural Visit

After breakfast, the group will board a dugout canoe, and navigate 20 minutes down the waters of the scenic Napo River. The destination is Pangayacu, where during an approximately three-hour walk through primary rainforest, visitors will have the opportunity to see actual hunting traps which were traditionally used by the local natives in the past. The guides will demonstrate how they work and explain which type of animals was caught in each one. And of course, at all times we will be on the lookout for tropical birds, and point out important aspects of the surrounding vegetation. The trail leads to the home of a Quichua Indian family, whose garden contains many medicinal plants still commonly used today. Your guide will explain how they are prepared, and afterwards serve lunch (which will be sent from the hotel) near the edge of the Napo. Later, the group will continue on to the village of Ahuano to visit with the local shaman, where we may learn about several aspects of traditional Quichua culture. Our host will show us how to make chicha, a typical beverage (which, of course, all may taste), and demonstrate the spiritual cleansing rituals still practiced today throughout the surrounding community. Finally, all may participate in a blowgun target-shooting contest - but don't expect to beat the natives!

Before returning to the hotel it is also possible to visit a local animal rescue center, where several wounded and displaced rainforest animals are cared for. Several species of monkeys wander around freely here, while others are maintained in semi-captivity until they are fit to return to their natural environment. 
 

This visit consists of a walk through primary and secondary forest trails, along which it is possible to observe diverse species of birds and insects, as well as a great variety of trees and medicinal plants. The guides will explain how such plants are used not only in medicine, but also in construction and other important local activities. Along the trails guests may enjoy several opportunities for adventure, such as hanging bridges, and vines for swinging from tree to tree. After the walk you may choose to eat lunch in the jungle, and later, to live the incredible experience of building and navigating a raft! On a small river island your guide will show you how to tie balsa logs together, so those who wish can float down the Napo for about an hour back to La Casa del Suizo. The duration of this visit is around 4 hours, and from 5 to 6 hours if you choose to have lunch in the forest.

For our more physically limited guests, who do not wish or are not able to participate in all of the activities listed above, we have alternatives such as "The Island": A one-hour walk along a totally flat river island, where one may observe a great variety of plants and insects. It is also possible to visit an artisan in the village of Ahuano, who will demonstrate how the traditional Quichua ceramics are created, painted, and hardened.

After breakfast the group will depart for the trip up the mountains and back to the city. About halfway there, the bus will stop at a spectacular lookout to stretch your legs and enjoy a box lunch before continuing on to Quito.

    
La Casa del Suizo - Sacha Lodge 
6 days / 5 nights

La Casa del Suizo is a tranquil Amazonian refuge, located on the shore of Ecuador's majestic Napo River and a stone's throw away from the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains. Perched comfortably above the riverbank and the small Quichua Indian village of Ahuano, La Casa del Suizo overlooks vast expanses of the surrounding tropical rainforest environment. With a magnificent panorama of the Napo, our guests may enjoy our swimming pool, outdoor dining area and pool bar, which offers an array of delicious tropical drinks.
By following the river farther downstream, where the Napo becomes wider and wilder as one travels steadily away from civilization, one can reach Sacha Lodge. Located on a 1300 acre private reserve, Sacha is a haven for nature lovers and birdwatchers as well as a refuge for the rainforest's diverse wild animals.

Each of our modern rooms at La Casa del Suizo and Sacha Lodge provides electricity, hot water and ceiling fans to make your stay more comfortable, and memorable views of the rainforest which may be peacefully absorbed from the privacy of one's own terrace. Our kitchens offer a wide variety of both Ecuadorian and international dishes, with buffet meals that cater to vegetarians.

During excursions and other activities, our guests will be divided into groups. Each of which will be led by a native guide with expert knowlege of the rainforest's medicinal and other useful plants, and a bilingual naturalist educated in the biology and ecology of the area.

ITINERARY

Day 1
The trip to La Casa del Suizo will depart from Quito, Ecuador's capital, at 7:30am via private transportation.
The first leg of our journey brings us to Papallacta, a small mountain village famous for its natural hot springs. The group will arrive here between 9:00 and 9:30am and take some time to visit these springs for a soothing swim in their thermal waters before lunch at the Hotel Papallacta.
Shortly after noon, we will continue our journey along a scenic stretch of road, which takes us out of the majestic Andes highlands and down into the "Oriente" or Amazon region. Along the way there will be several opportunities to stop for photographs, overlooking lush green vallleys and beautiful sparkling waterfalls. The road ends at Punta Ahuano, a tiny port town on the North bank of the Napo River, where canoes await for a late-afternoon, 15 minute ride downstream to la Casa del Suizo. The group will arrive with time to get settled, and enjoy a sunset from our swimming pool with a refreshing welcome cocktail.

Day 2
Today our guests will have a choice between several morning, afternoon and full day activities at La Casa del Suizo. The program will begin after an early breakfast, and will be led by both native and bilingual guides. At all times these guides will be on the lookout for tropical birds, and point out important aspects of the surrounding vegetation. Below are some of the activities available:

Pangavacu
After breakfast, the group will board a dugout canoe and navigate 20 minutes down the waters of the scenic Napo River. The destination is Pangayacu, where during an approximately three-hour walk through primary rainforest, visitors will have the opportunity to see actual hunting traps which were traditionally used by the local natives in the past.The guides will demonstrate how they work and explain which type of animals was caught in each one.
The trail leads to the home of a Quichua Indian family, whose garden contains many medicinal plants still commonly used today. Your guide will explain how they are prepared, and afterwards serve lunch (which will be sent from the hotel) near the bank of the Napo.

Misicocha Adventure
This visit consists of a walk through primary and secondary rainforest trails, along which it is possible to observe distinct species of birds and insects, as well as a great variety of trees and medicinal plants. The guides will explain how such plants are used, not only in medicines, but also in construction and other important local activities. Along the trails guests may enjoy several opportunities for adventury, such as hanging bridges and vines for swinging from tree to tree. (Do your best Tarzan imitation!) After the walk, you may choose to eat lunch in the jungle, and later have the incredible experience of building and navigating a raft! On a small river island, your guide will show you how to tie balsa logs together, so that those who wish can float down the Napo for about an hour, back to La Casa del Suizo.
The duration of this visit is about 4 hours, up to 5 or 6 hours if you choose to have lunch in the forest.

Ahuano Cultural Visit
A favorite afternoon activity of our guests is go to the village of Ahuano to visit with the local shaman, where we may learn about several aspects of traditional Quichua culture. Our host will show us how to make chicha, a typical beverage (which we can taste), and demonstrate the spiritual cleansing rituals still practiced today throughout the surrounding community. Finally, all may participate in a blowgun target-shooting contest. Don't expect to beat the natives!

• Before returning to the hotel, it is also possible to visit a local animal rescue center where several wounded and displaced rainforest animals are cared for. Several species of monkies wander about freely here, while others are maintained in semi-captivity until they are fit to return to their natural environment.

• For our more physically limited guests, who do wish to or ar unable to participate in all of the activities listed above, we have alternatives such as "The Island". This is a one hour walk along a totally flat river island, where one may observe a great variety of plants and insects.

• It is also possible to visit an artisan in the village of Ahuano, who will demonstrate how the traditional Quichua ceramics are created, painted and hardened.

Day 3
After breakfast the group will board a motorized canoe for the journey down the Napo, taking us farther and farther away from the Andes and deeper into the pristine Amazon rainforests. During the ride it  is easy to spot handsome shore birds such as herons, kingfishers, ospreys and spoonbills between the scattered native huts as the river slowly widens to a kilometer across! At a little more than halfway, we will stop along the riverbank for a break, and enjoy a box lunch before continuing on to Sacha Lodge.
Upon arrival at Sacha Lodge's 3200 acre (1300 hectare) private reserve, guests will take their first walk along a raised boardwalk through dense flooded palm forest where several species of monkeys are often sighted. This path leads to Pilchicocha Lake, a black water paradise where you'd least expect to find any signs of people, but dugout canoes (and even paddlers) await to carry you across the lake to the Lodge. The cries of tropical birds lead you to your final destination, which magically materializes out of the jungle at hte last possible moment. You will arrive in time to settle in, birdwatch, swim or take a walk under the canopy before dinner. 
 

Days 4-5
Once visitors arrive at Sacha they will be divided into small groups, and the naturalist guides will organize an itinerary to fit each group's specific interests and physical abilities.
A typical day at Sacha begins at sunrise (or earlier!), and each group may decide on its own wake-up and breakfast times. In the afternoon, visits begin between 3 and 4pm and often continue into the evening, when the nocturnal insect and frog chorus begins. Activities are spread out over a wide area and allow visitors to explore several distinct but equally fascinating habitats. Several trails lead through pristine terra firme forest, where 150 foot kapok trees tower above and roots form huge buttresses to give trees support. Others follow strategically raised boardwalks in seasonally flooded forests, where walking on the ground would be nearly impossible during most of the year, due to groundwater. One trail many choose to follow even leads across tree trunks and a steel cable zip-line through rich swampland!
A favorite activity of our guests is to paddle dugout canoes along tannin-rich blackwater creeks and lakes, where luxuriant lianas, bromeliads and palm trees thrive. And wherever an outing may lead, the possibilities of spotting animals, from the tiny pygmy marmoset to the feared ocelot or puma, are endless.
One of Sacha Lodge's highlights is our 135 foot (43 meter) observation tower. Situated on a hill and constructed around a giant kapok tree for stability, this tower allows guests to climb into and above the rainforest canopy for a magnificent view of the surrounding area. Visits to our own on-site butterfly farm and the parrot clay lick at Yasuni National Park are also options not to be missed.
For adventurous souls, the day does not necessarily end with dinner. Night walks and canoe trips, with the aid of flashlights, often reveal creatures such as caimans (picture an alligator with a skinny snout) that are seldom seen during daylight.

Day 6
After breakfast we will walk back out to the Napo River along the boardwalk, where with some luck, the local wildlife will appear to see you off. The motorized canoe will be waiting at the shore of the Napo for the trip to Puerto Francisco de Orellana, and from there it's a 40 minute flight back to Quito. 
 

Click here for Pictures of Casa del Suizo

Call Today For Prices, Information, or Reservations!
TOLL FREE IN THE USA & CANADA: 1-800-327-3573
LOCAL / INTERNATIONAL: 1-863-439-1486     FAX: 1-863-439-2118

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02/22/2010