La Selva Eco-Lodge and Retreat — Hotel in Iñaquito

I have to set the stage for this review because depending on your personal preferences for what I’ll refer to as “The Amazon Experience” each individual will rate the lodge differently.

As far as guest customer service by the Front Desk, and the restaurant staff I’d give them 5 stars as they really do pay attention to detail and will do nearly whatever you need to make you feel comfortable.

The food is over the top regarding presentation, quality, taste, ambiance and service. 5 Stars

The quality of the lodging: rooms bedding, bath etc is 4 Star: our first mattress was A W F U L!!!! No kidding; the worst as it was extremely soft with a huge valley. We requested a change of room or mattress and they came thru because they had availability (mattress). Honestly had they not been able to change the mattress to a more firm one I would have actually left days early, truly that bad. We could not sleep the first night and woke with a sore back. Thank God they replaced the mattress!! They did offer to move us to a different cabin but we just didn’t want to pack and unpack.

Regarding the room location: 2 stars as there was little privacy to the next cabin. We were in room 19 which I would recommend against as it is too close to the main lodge and overlooks into the next cabin. Keep in mind the only form of privacy is to close the light filtering curtains, no sound reduction. And to keep the room as cool as possible you’ve got to leave the curtains open for any chance of breeze. Not good if the cabin next over can look directly into you.

A nit pick regarding the bathroom on two points: we had to request at the front desk a roll of toilet paper because housekeeping neglected to refill it; that should never happen at a 4 star lodge. Also, the ECO aspect of the lodge is very visible throughout the facility. However they claim to be very conscientious regarding use of clean water which is a sound practice and policy. HOWEVER the use of rain head showers is so wasteful and if they truly want to convey water conservation I highly recommend they swap out rain head (in vogue for a brief time period) for much more water conserving hand held shower wands with multiple adjustable streams and flow control. This is clearly evident when one attempts to wash and rinse your body and any clothing you may wish to wash while in the Amazon Jungle. I know it’s a nit pic but rain heads are so wasteful!

The nature guide they provided was excellent! The native guide they provided was excellent ! My partner went fishing from the dock and the native guide was so helpful, she caught a piranha!!!

The excursions were very good and the setting in their private lake was beautiful! Several canoe rides!

The lodge facilities including the spa are certainly 4 star Amazonian quality. Luxury in the jungle. I enjoyed a 30 minute massage which was very relaxing even in the heat and humidity of the jungle setting.

Now my hesitation is in truly getting the Amazonian jungle experience. This lodge is located in a private reserve NOT near or in the nearby National Park. I did not realize this when I booked. The difference is that the National Park prohibits hunting while the preserve does not for local villagers. Hence the degree of wildlife viewing was somewhat disappointing. We were there in mid September and there was an ongoing drought (no substantial rain for 50 days!!!!!???). There were lots of bird species seen during our stay of 3 nights and 4 days. We did see several species of monkeys, turtles. I attribute the lack of wildlife to the drought and to the location.

I would recommended La Selva for those desiring an upscale luxury Amazon experience. If you are seeking a more wild, natural, earthy experience there are other lodges close to or adjacent to the nearby national park that might meet that experience...

My family and I came to La Selva on our trip to Ecuador. The entire team made our time absolutely wonderful as soon as we met them at the airport. They are professional, very nice, and accommodating. At the airport in Quito, we were immediately met and brought straight to our plane with all our boarding passes ready and our bags checked in right away. In Coca, we were brought to their office to have some coffee and take a few minutes before the boat ride to the lodge. The boat ride was an experience in itself. The boat was very comfy and they provided drinks and a nice lunch. At the lodge, we were brought in for an introduction to the lodge that answered all our questions and let us know what to expect during our stay. the staff were wonderful and very helpful at every step of our stay. The food was delicious and you could tell the chef was a master at his trade! Mario the bartender was on another level too! The drinks he crafted were amazing and he remembers all the guests, your rooms, preferences, and drinks of choice which makes for an amazing experience. At the lodge you are put in groups with a naturalist and a local guide, both working hand in hand to give everyone the best experience possible. Our local guide Sergio was absolutely wonderful, amazing us with every animal he pointed out with his well-trained laser eyes that could find anything in the jungle! It was astonishing to have him call out an animal without binoculars to faintly see it with them! We saw dozens of amazing species that wouldn't have been possible without him. Our naturalist Oscar Delgado was phenomenal. Myself having a little background in science had me like a kid excitingly getting to learn so much information from Oscar. He is highly knowledgeable about the wildlife and the Amazon itself which gave us such a deeper appreciation for what we saw and a wonderful understanding of how the jungle ecosystem works. He is also a great man, who was a treat to be around. The experience of going to the lodge was an amazing time but being in the group with Sergio and Oscar made it a truly magical experience that couldn't have been the same without them. I can't recommend a better experience than going to La Selva if visiting the Ecuadorian rainforest and you would be wise to ask for Oscar and Sergio as they are the absolute best! Many thanks to the entire team at La Selva for giving us a trip...

From Quito airport assistance, to the el Coca transfer, to the canoes down the Amazon to the lodge, everything is so very well organized. You immediately feel safe, secure and in good hands.

Upon arrival, you receive a very warm welcome and this gracious and smiling service continues throughout your stay. Although English and Spanish are spoken, I loved learning basic Kichwa greetings which helped me to feel a connection with others there. (Gracias a mi "profesor" Bernardo.)

Everyone on the staff works hard to keep everything running smoothly and comfortably, under the steady guidance of Manager Marcellino: reception (Sean), dining (Bernardo, Mario), spa (Lupita), yoga (Majo), housekeeping (clean, lovely accommodations), grounds-keepers (flowers everywhere), porters, canoeists (Ramon).

Naturalist guide Paul and Native Guide Henry are absolutely phenomenal! The Best of the Best! Paul's affability, extensive knowledge on so many, many subjects and passion for his work are immediately evident, as is Henry's calm manner, patience, and expertise in spotting wildlife and explaining traditional use of medicinal plants. In fact, in preparing for this trip, I prepared photo sheets of flora and fauna of specific interest, which Paul reviewed with me upon my arrival. He and Henry ensured a truly unforgettable, personalized experience for me, taking these into consideration.

I wish that the gift shop offered T-shirts with the adorable, colorful logo (on the front) for sale as gifts for friends, family, and beautiful memories of this super -...