Description:
?YACHANA LODGE IS THE BEST TRUE ECO-TOURISM PROJECT I HAVE FOUND IN 17 YEARS OF TRAVEL IN ECUADOR. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND CONGRATULATIONS.? - Rob Rachowiecki, author of Lonely Planet, his comment in our Visitor?s Book.
YACHANA LODGE
Experience the magic of the Amazon rainforest and participate in the traditional ceremonies and customs of the local people. ?Yachana? is an indigenous Quichua word that means ?A place for learning?, and is an important part of our philosophy. Embark on a journey deep into the Amazon to learn about the immense biodiversity and fragile eco-systems of the rainforest. Your visit is helping to fund opportunities for education, healthcare, employment and sustainable development in the region. Yachana Lodge is an award-winning eco-tourism destination that continues to satisfy and inspire more than 2,000 international visitors each year. Come visit us at ?A place for learning?! www.yachana.com ---------- AWARD-WINNING SERVICE ---------- Yachana more... Lodge is the only Ecuadorian Amazon lodge that hires all-local staff and indigenous naturalist guides. Our staff receive extensive and continued training and have years of experience providing a true eco-tourism experience and award-winning service. Our guides are from the Amazon region with an intrinsic understanding of the rainforest and have studied English in the United States. Tours consist of small groups in order to minimize our environmental impact while maximizing the learning opportunities for our guests. ---------- SERVICES, EQUIPMENT AND AMENITIES INCLUDED ----------
? Indigenous naturalist bilingual guide ? 3 meals per day ? Guided excursions into the rainforest and community visits ? Fluvial transportation along the Napo River ? Life jacket ? Rain poncho ? Rubber boots ? Walking stick ? Hot water showers ? Biodegradable soap and shampoo ? Triple-purified drinking water ? LED lighting and ceiling fans ? Solar energy (12v) during the day and 110v energy from 6pm-10pm ? First Aid and clinical attention ? Safety deposit box ? Artisan and souvenir gift shop ? Wine bar ? Resources and reading library ? Washer and dryer ? High-speed internet ---------- JUNGLE ACTIVITIES ---------- Yachana Lodge offers 5-day/4-night tours and 4-day/3-night tours that begin on Friday and Tuesday respectively. ? Hike deep into primary and secondary rainforest accompanied by a naturalist guide ? Receive a traditional cleansing from a medicine man and test your skills at the indigenous arts of blowguns and spears used for hunting ? Tour the Yachana Technical High School?s campus and Model Farm ? Explore FUNEDESIN?s Protected Forest and visit our biological research station ? Learn about ceramic pottery-making from an indigenous woman and weave your own basket from locally-collected fibers ? Search for nocturnal species on a night walk through the forest ? Visit the local community, elementary school, and the Foundation-sponsored Health Clinic ? Observe a local family panning for gold ? Identify tropical plants and flowers in our gardens and visit our butterfly house ? Enjoy a refreshing swim in the Napo River, one of the largest tributaries to the Amazon River ? Stargaze as you float downriver in the canoe under the open sky ---------- GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ---------- There is no presence of malaria or yellow fever at our location, although some doctors advise travelers to take medications as a preventative measure. We recommend that you bring: original passport ? credit card (Mastercard or Visa) ? lightweight pants ? short- and long-sleeved lightweight shirts ? shorts or bathing suit ? thick socks ? extra underwear ? sandals or lightweight shoes ? sun hat ? insect repellent ? SPF15 ? flashlight ? battery-run alarm clock ? binoculars ? camera ? extra film and batteries ? toothbrush and paste ? prescription medicines ? small daypack ----------
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM ---------- Yachana Lodge is one of the only hotels in the world that uses energy-saving LED lighting, solar-powered electricity, organic composting, intensive water filtration systems, and a new environmentally-friendly eco-canoe. In addition to hiring all-local staff, Yachana Lodge provides a valuable opportunity for local youth enrolled at the Yachana Technical High School to learn best practices in responsible tourism and sustainability. ---------- YACHANA LODGE RECOGNIZED AS A WORLD LEADER ---------- ? Best Eco-Tourism Lodge in the World ? Cond? Nast 2004 ---------- ? One of the Best Examples of Sustainable Development in the World ? ALCAN Prize for Sustainability 2004 ---------- ? One of the Best Examples of Sustainable Tourism to Eliminate Poverty (STEP) -- UN World Tourism Organization 2005 ---------- ? Tourism for Tomorrow Investor in People Award (top 3 finalist) ? World Travel and Tourism Council 2006 ---------- FUNEDESIN ---------- The Foundation for Integrated Education and Development (FUNEDESIN) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect Ecuador?s rainforest by educating and empowering its people. FUNEDESIN created Yachana Lodge and Yachana Gourmet to finance its projects in education, healthcare and rainforest conservation in the region. FUNEDESIN has purchased 1,500 hectares of Protected Forest for conservation purposes, which have become a living laboratory for the Yachana Technical High School students and Yachana Lodge guests. www.funedesin.org ---------- YACHANA TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL ----------
The Yachana Technical High School is an application-based education initiative to benefit indigenous and mestizo youth living in the Amazon region. Studies focus primarily on conservation, agricultural studies, and eco-tourism. Students are engaged in intensive internships at Yachana Lodge and interact directly with guests. The Yachana Technical High School aims to create a new generation of conservationists, entrepreneurs and community leaders. Profits from Yachana Lodge help to support the high school program. ---------- YACHANA GOURMET JUNGLE CHOCOLATE ----------
Yachana Gourmet is a Fair Trade company that buys organic cacao from family farmers in the Amazon and converts it into a delicious all-natural chocolate product for international sale and export. At Yachana Lodge, we serve our homemade chocolate sauce at almost every meal, and our Jungle Chocolates ? in four unique flavors ? are also available at our Gift Shop for you to bring on jungle hikes or take home as souvenirs. www.yachana.gourmet.com
Website:
www.yachana.com
Telephone:
1-888-922-4262
