Anaconda Lodge Ecuador

Anaconda Lodge is an excellent place to stay in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The hosts were super welcoming and looked after us very well during our stay. The lodge is very quiet and located on an island with only Kichwa communities and forests around, making staying here a very calm and authentic experience. The food is delicious, and the tours very interesting. The pacing of the tours was perfect, the tubing down the river was one of the most fun things to do, as well as learning about the Kichwa traditions and way of life, local agriculture, and the wildlife. As a plus, the hosts do a lot to help the Kichwa communities that live on the island.

I liked the way Francisco and Sylvia customised our experience. Because of the corona virus, we were the only guests for 4 of our 5 days. We had a private guide and motorised canoe and driver for all 5 of our days. The excursions were very interesting and enjoyable and all inclusive in our fare. The food was mainly vegetarian and varied. My difficult wife (not only with food) was very happy with almost all the food supplied. Sylvia was extremely warm and devoted to giving her guests the best possible experience. She was responsible for the mainly excellent food, while Francisco planned our activities. Francisco interacts with guests, and readily tells stories about his life. It was interesting to hear his views of life in Ecuador. Transport from Quito is expensive. We travelled by private taxi, and it cost USD150 each way. The trip takes 4-5 hours, followed by a 30 minute ride in a motorised canoe. There is apparently a shuttle that is cheaper, but it apparently departs Quito at 4:30 am. The website showed a cost of $120 for the taxi at the time of booking, and we had no idea of the 25% increase until inside the taxi. The drive however takes one through the High Amazon country, and much of it is extremely scenic. It’s an adventure.

The 25% increase in taxi cost after reservation.

Food was exceptional

Anaconda lodge was one of the best places I’ve ever stayed. The location is amazing - the lodge is on its own island and you arrive via canoe. The accommodations are very clean and comfortable. I stayed with a friend in one of the rooms and we were very impressed. The beds were comfy and we had a nice porch with hammocks. We loved listening to the sounds of the jungle at night. We also really enjoyed the meals. Lunch and dinner are 3 course meals and the food is great. You will not go hungry here. The jungle tours were also extremely informative and fun. Cesar was our guide and we really enjoyed our time with him. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about the flora and fauna of the Amazon, and he was generally just very pleasant to spend time with. The owners of the lodge, Francisco and Sylvia, are also wonderful. They really make you feel at home and go above and beyond to make your stay enjoyable. We really can’t recommend the lodge enough. It was a highlight of our trip to Ecuador.