Sacha Lodge - black rubber boots, my new best friends
On the way here, I had this Disney Moment. Looking at the rainforest around me I imagine singing snakes looking up from the tress, joking monkeys dangling from the branches, colourful butterflies dancing around and a shy jaguar peeking through the trees. None of this actually happened. Sigh.
The short flight from Quito took us across the beautiful snow capped Andes Mountains to Coca, where we boarded an oversized motorized canoe that took us 50 miles up the Napo River. Then a 30-minute walk through the rainforest until we get to a beautiful lagoon that we cross on a small canoe. Then we finally arrive at Sacha Lodge, an eco lodge in the Ecuadorian rainforest far from the Amazon River.
First things first. Fernando, our guide for the next 4 days, assembles our little group of 6 and gives us the most important piece of clothing, black rubber boots. Now, we are ready!
Our first mini hike takes us to the butterfly garden and the forest around the lodge. We see a tarantula hole, an armadillo hole (wait, no, still no live armadillo in sight), bats and a whole bunch of tiny monkeys, Pygmy Monkeys.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.