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Napo Wildlife Centre

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This community-run lakeside lodge is the most inviting and charming in the region, a peaceful haven to see Ecuador's rainforest wildlife.

Deep in the Ecuadorian jungle, Napo Wildlife Centre sits within Yasuni National Park, a biosphere reserve which shelters an exuberant array of wildlife, especially birds.

Reached by plane and canoe, the lodge is a haven of undisturbed tranquillity from which to make daily excursions into the rainforest, all accompanied by indigenous guides. There is a 40m canopy tower to take you right up into the treetops, and two clay licks visited by parakeets with dazzling plumage, as well as mammals such as the delicate red brocket deer.

The accommodation is particularly attractive: private thatched cabins with electricity and unlimited hot water are decorated in cheerful blues and golds. There’s a library and the dining room gleams with polished teak furnishings. Enjoy the sunset from your private porch and you may spot a watchful black caiman or giant otter.

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • A fantastic experience. It exceeded our expectations and we were very lucky to have dry weather.

    HB, Todmorden Aug 2018
  • "The location was mindblowing and the attention of the staff was fantastic. Our guide Juan had absolutely incredible wildlife and "general" rainforest knowledge, plus a really interesting background.  It all…

    DI, Hove May 2013
  • A lovely place but 3 nights was perfect. Very hot and humid so maybe not for everyone. Lovely staff but quite a shlep to get to though part of the…

    KS, London Apr 2016
  • "Napo was a total highlight and is worthy of more promotion.”

    RDS, Wantage May 2014
  • Absolutely outstanding place, fantastic guide (Remi), amazing wildlife, great food. Really sorry to leave. Very interesting to learn more about the community, although our main interest was seeing the wildlife…

    DL, London May 2017
  • The journey to the centre is part of the whole experience,along the wide river Napo, and then transferring to the small canoe with your guide for the trip up the…

    AG, Manchester Apr 2017
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Our Expert's Opinion

Maggie
Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Charlotte
    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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