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7 Comments
AllenB
on March 7, 2024 at 11:07 pm
Absolutely one of the very best adventures we’ve had in all our travels. Edgar Noteno and his team are fantastic and really went out of their way to make this a very special trip for me and my family. If you want a really special and memorable adventure, Edgar and his staff will make it happen for you.
Hoa Allen, gracias por tu visita estamos muy emocionado que hayas pasado de lo mejor en nuestra casa en la selva tropical. Estamos muy felices por tu visita en el futuro si vuelves estamos aqui .
Muchos abrazos.
Hey people,
we have been with Edgar and team on an canoe trip to the selva. It was in every aspect a totally magnificant trip: we have seen a lot of interesting animals: the rose river doplphins, the american kingfisher, different species of monkeys and fish, kaimans… Maria cooked very lovely vegetarian food for us and Domingo installed a full campsite in the wood for us. And Edgar guided us, explained us everything and tought us the way of living in the woods. We recomend every adventurer under you to go to Kichwa Lodge. They are authentic people who provide a real adventure and the tourism can help the indigineous community to purchase a sustainable way of living without being dependend on petrol companies or wood exploitation.
Hola Joahna gracias por tus comentrios . Estamos muy felices que disfrutaron en este viaje a las profundidaes de la selva tropical. Muchas y muchas gracias.
Si vuelven en el futuro te esperamos.
Kichwa Lodge is the only eco-tour option in the Cuyabeno region owned and operated by a local indigenous community. It is based about 2.5 hours in a motorized fiberglass canoe down the Aguarico river from the launch point near Shushifindi which, in turn, is about a two hour car ride from Coca. Thus, it’s quite distant from any major population center and from other eco-lodges which, almost uniformly, are owned and operated by more upscale, Quito-based concerns.
The above holds definite advantages for the visitor who appreciates a more rustic (e.g. no internet) experience and who has a genuine interest in directly supporting a local indigenous community that has extremely limited employment opportunities and faces significant hardship. Compared with regional alternatives, I suspect the flora and fauna and degree of personalization are also significantly enhanced with Kichwa Lodge.
Edgar Noteno, a local Kichwa, established and manages the lodge. He employs on a part-time basis about 20 individuals from his community of about 1,600 who live in nearby Playas de Cuyabeno. Edgar speaks passable English and is directly involved in making all arrangements with and on behalf of potential visitors. This includes arranging air transfers to Coca (usually from Quito), transportation to and from the lodge, and overnight accommodations in Coca, if needed. In other words, to the extent possible, he provides “full service.“
Activities are varied (and can be tailored). Examples include canoe trips to identify exotic avian species, daytime and nighttime walks through the forest to see and learn about an amazing variety of Amazonian plants and animals, and visits to the Kichwa and Cofan communities. Those who have more time can even plan camping trips to the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border. Edgar is often the guide, but others may assist. They share information from a local indigenous perspective so that there are opportunities not only to experience nature, but to get a sense of the Kichwa culture and how it is changing. (I experienced an unfortunate but mild and brief intestinal contratemp which, interpreted as a “bad spirit,” two of my guides extracted by waving healing plants over me in the forest… I felt completely better later that evening.)
Kichwa Lodge is a genuine, once-in-a-lifetime adventure for those willing to go further afield. The staff work very hard to make your experience comfortable and rewarding. It is best to make arrangements directly through Edgar (at the time of this writing, working through a travel agent or third party was not possible). If you are unable to reach Edgar through WhatsApp, communicate with him by email. He will step you through the process.
Je reviens du Kichwa lodge où j’ai passé 5 jours et 4 nuits incroyables ! L’organisation était très bonne, la nourriture délicieuse, la chambre confortable et le guide excellent ! Le projet a été créé par les gens de la communauté Kichwa de playa de Cuyabeno, l’argent reste sur place pour aider les populations locales. Je recommande chaudement ce lodge si vous voulez découvrir ce merveilleux parc naturel qu’est le Cuyabeno.
Merci beaucoup pour votre visite, nous sommes très heureux que vous ayez passé un bon moment avec nous et que vous ayez appris à connaître notre travail.
Quand vous voudrez revenir, nous vous accueillerons à bras ouverts.
Merci
Absolutely one of the very best adventures we’ve had in all our travels. Edgar Noteno and his team are fantastic and really went out of their way to make this a very special trip for me and my family. If you want a really special and memorable adventure, Edgar and his staff will make it happen for you.
Hoa Allen, gracias por tu visita estamos muy emocionado que hayas pasado de lo mejor en nuestra casa en la selva tropical. Estamos muy felices por tu visita en el futuro si vuelves estamos aqui .
Muchos abrazos.
Hey people,
we have been with Edgar and team on an canoe trip to the selva. It was in every aspect a totally magnificant trip: we have seen a lot of interesting animals: the rose river doplphins, the american kingfisher, different species of monkeys and fish, kaimans… Maria cooked very lovely vegetarian food for us and Domingo installed a full campsite in the wood for us. And Edgar guided us, explained us everything and tought us the way of living in the woods. We recomend every adventurer under you to go to Kichwa Lodge. They are authentic people who provide a real adventure and the tourism can help the indigineous community to purchase a sustainable way of living without being dependend on petrol companies or wood exploitation.
Hola Joahna gracias por tus comentrios . Estamos muy felices que disfrutaron en este viaje a las profundidaes de la selva tropical. Muchas y muchas gracias.
Si vuelven en el futuro te esperamos.
Kichwa Lodge is the only eco-tour option in the Cuyabeno region owned and operated by a local indigenous community. It is based about 2.5 hours in a motorized fiberglass canoe down the Aguarico river from the launch point near Shushifindi which, in turn, is about a two hour car ride from Coca. Thus, it’s quite distant from any major population center and from other eco-lodges which, almost uniformly, are owned and operated by more upscale, Quito-based concerns.
The above holds definite advantages for the visitor who appreciates a more rustic (e.g. no internet) experience and who has a genuine interest in directly supporting a local indigenous community that has extremely limited employment opportunities and faces significant hardship. Compared with regional alternatives, I suspect the flora and fauna and degree of personalization are also significantly enhanced with Kichwa Lodge.
Edgar Noteno, a local Kichwa, established and manages the lodge. He employs on a part-time basis about 20 individuals from his community of about 1,600 who live in nearby Playas de Cuyabeno. Edgar speaks passable English and is directly involved in making all arrangements with and on behalf of potential visitors. This includes arranging air transfers to Coca (usually from Quito), transportation to and from the lodge, and overnight accommodations in Coca, if needed. In other words, to the extent possible, he provides “full service.“
Activities are varied (and can be tailored). Examples include canoe trips to identify exotic avian species, daytime and nighttime walks through the forest to see and learn about an amazing variety of Amazonian plants and animals, and visits to the Kichwa and Cofan communities. Those who have more time can even plan camping trips to the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border. Edgar is often the guide, but others may assist. They share information from a local indigenous perspective so that there are opportunities not only to experience nature, but to get a sense of the Kichwa culture and how it is changing. (I experienced an unfortunate but mild and brief intestinal contratemp which, interpreted as a “bad spirit,” two of my guides extracted by waving healing plants over me in the forest… I felt completely better later that evening.)
Kichwa Lodge is a genuine, once-in-a-lifetime adventure for those willing to go further afield. The staff work very hard to make your experience comfortable and rewarding. It is best to make arrangements directly through Edgar (at the time of this writing, working through a travel agent or third party was not possible). If you are unable to reach Edgar through WhatsApp, communicate with him by email. He will step you through the process.
Je reviens du Kichwa lodge où j’ai passé 5 jours et 4 nuits incroyables ! L’organisation était très bonne, la nourriture délicieuse, la chambre confortable et le guide excellent ! Le projet a été créé par les gens de la communauté Kichwa de playa de Cuyabeno, l’argent reste sur place pour aider les populations locales. Je recommande chaudement ce lodge si vous voulez découvrir ce merveilleux parc naturel qu’est le Cuyabeno.
Merci beaucoup pour votre visite, nous sommes très heureux que vous ayez passé un bon moment avec nous et que vous ayez appris à connaître notre travail.
Quand vous voudrez revenir, nous vous accueillerons à bras ouverts.
Merci