The Amazon rainforest stretches through nine counties and boasts of the highest concentration of plant and animal life in the world. It is a gigantic swath of green that can be spotted even from outer space. And the best way to explore the Amazon basin is by staying at a jungle lodge – a unique eco-resort that offers you the chance to get closer to nature and all the excitement. Here is our list of five of the best jungle lodges from the region.
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
Sani Lodge consists of 10 cabanas by the lakeside, owned and run by the Sani Isla community in a stretch of rainforest between the Cuyabeno Reserve and the Yasuni National Park. Here, between long afternoons under thatch-roofed cottages, you can take a long walk to familiarise yourself with the 1,500 species of trees as well as thousands of species of butterflies and tropical birds.
Cristalino Jungle Lodge, Brazil
Cristalino is centred around learning about the wealth of the rainforest. Here, local guides will teach you about birds and butterflies, and you can find out about the private reserve’s six hundred species of birds, butterflies, moths, and vRefugio Amazonasiew some spectacular wildlife – including jaguars, harpy eagles, capybaras, and agoutis. If you’re in the mood to splurge, we recommend the private bungalows instead of the dorms, which feature private balconies with resplendent views of the rainforest in all its lush beauty.
Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge, Peru
If you’re a creature of comfort, this is your kind of jungle lodge. Fully equipped with hot showers, terracotta body scrubs, robes and rubber slippers, the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge offers the best luxuries in the heart of the jungle. You can also sign up for the excursion that includes guided treks over a canopy walkway, to Lake Sandoval and to an indigenous farm from the Ese Eja community.
Chalalan Lodge, Bolivia
Located in the Madidi National Park, this is Conservation International’s flagship community eco-lodge, entirely staffed and run by the indigenous people of Quechua-Tacana. Explore the River Tuichi by boat, see turtles and peccaries, and learn the medicinal qualities of local plants at this Bolivian retreat.
Iwokrama, Guyana
Want to be a part of live conservation efforts at the headquarters of the International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development? The Iwokrama in Guyana is the place to be. Working in partnership with the Makushi people, this organisation manages 3,700 km of the Iwokrama Forest in the heart of central Guyana. With five field station cabins to choose from, you can alternatively stay at satellite camps around the forest, including one that is located 500m from the famous Iwokrama canopy walkway.
Refugio Amazonas, Peru
The perfect choice for families with young children, the Refugio Amazonas in Peru offers short jungle treks where they can learn to read a map or take part in treasure hunts for the “lost Brazil nut.” Run by the Peruvian ecotourism company Rainforest Expedition in partnership with the indigenous community Ese-Eja, this resort is spread over three interlinked lodges. The more adventurous traveller can travel upriver to the Tambopata Research Centre, which is home to the world’s largest macaw clay lick.
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