Leaving Quito by pick up from the Adventure Life tour company, we head for the airport (about 1.5 hours drive). The airport is brand new, it actually just opened before we arrived in late February. The road into the airport is great but there is no infrastructure surrounding it so traffic was crazy. We drove through both old and new areas, Nicky questioned why parts of Quito looked so ''broke''. We told him that it was very old. He then said, ''so did God make Quito before Toronto?'' Our flight was slightly delayed, we were surprised that the flight was about 99% male, we found out later that Coco and along the Napo river is big in oil production. The flight was short, 30 minutes over snow-capped Andes peaking through the clouds. The temp at arrival was 30 degrees and after a quick bus transfer to the river, we set off for a 2.5 hour boat transfer to the lodge. The river ride reminded me of being north in cottage country with the exception of boats, cottages and the addition of palm trees! We arrived to our next transfer point where we had to hike for 30 minutes to a lake and then get in canoes and paddle across to the lodge! I have to say by this point, I was wondering what the lodge would be like, so remote in this pure wilderness. The lodge is a full ecolodge and run like a camp. We have guides, schedules, meal times etc. Our family is joined by a lovely Canadian couple from Ottawa, our German guide who is the naturalist and an indigenous guide named Geraldo. Our cabin is adjoining with the kids with a sitting room in between - very simple but clean and comfortable. The cabins are screened all the way around the top with a porch looking out into the jungle. The rooms do not have locks but are equipped with dry boxes for storing cameras and electronics because of the extreme humidity. After our first dinner, our guides take us on a night hike (we were all fitted for giant wellies up to the knees). Saw so many small animals, banded cat-eyed snake, speckled caiman, tarantulas, turtles, tree frogs, and giant crickets the size of bread plates !!
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
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.