Cabañas
Amarongachi
Amarongachia: Indigenous Quichua word meaning 'hunting-ground of the boa.'
There are
few better ways to start your wilderness holiday than with a wake-up call
from a troop of howler monkeys. The incredible roar, more reminiscent of a
dinosaur than a monkey, is one of the most unforgettable natural sounds and
a flight of vividly colourful parrots soaring across the deep green of a jungle
valley is one of the most magnificent sights. Both can be part of your Amarongachi
'safari.'
Amorongachi's
location in the first foothills of the Eastern Andes (at 600m above sea level)
means that, despite being just a few miles south of the equator, average temperatures
hover at around a comfortable 24ºC. Here, in the heart of a great tract
of untouched primary rainforest it is hard to believe too that you are only
a few hours drive from Quito.
The
13 cabañas (singles, doubles and triples) each offer a wonderful view
over the forest canopy and the valley of the Rio Jatunyacu (Quichua for
'big
river'), a tributary of the Rio Napo and, hence, the Amazon. Although they
are linked directly with the main lodge building they offer a feeling of
seclusion
and privacy. Constructed almost entirely from local materials such as wood,
bamboo, vine, thatch and guadua the entire complex blends harmoniously
with
the surroundings, while at the same time offering all the 'creature comforts'
to make your stay an unforgettable one.
With
over 20 years experience in leading jungle-tours and planning wilderness
holidays
we know how to offer just the right balance of adrenalin-fuelled adventure
and unashamed leisure. Cabañas are charged at US$45pp per day (though
rates are cheaper for longer stays and larger groups. Children under
12 stay
half-price). The activities are already included in the charge. To get to
know the activities at Cabañas Amarongachi please click
here.
One of the secrets of our success is that we are able to combine an action-packed holiday at Amarongachi with the pleasures of a few restful days at Cabañas Shangrila.
Cabañas
Shangrila
Shangri-la: a remote paradise where life approaches perfection, ideal for
relaxing and developing a connection with the natural world.
Connoisseurs
of jungle travel frequently complain that one of the rainforest's greatest
drawbacks is the limited visibility due to the sheer density of vegetation.
Situated on the cliff-tops 100m over the Rio Anzu (Quichua for 'little river'),
Cabañas Shangrila offers one of the best views in the entire Amazon
basin. As the rising sun burnishes the peaks of no less than four snow-capped
volcanoes and burns off the last patches of swirling mist, busy flights of
toucans and parrots wing their way across the canopy en-route to their morning
feeding grounds. Troops of monkeys stop to stare as you take breakfast on
the panorama terrace and, occasionally, a coati bustles past with her young
puppies jostling behind.
As
its Tibetan name suggests this is the perfect venue for a relaxing wilderness
holiday. Far from being a bleak mountain outpost, however, Cabañas
Shangrila is a rainforest paradise in which your days could be punctuated
with sightings of armadillos, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, marmosets, coatis,
anteaters, sloths, ocelots, caiman, snakes, agoutis, parrots, hummingbirds,
tarantulas and magnificent butterflies...
Cabañas
are charged at US$45pp per day (though rates are cheaper for longer stays
and larger groups. Children under 12 stay half-price). The activities are
already included in the charge. To get to know the activities
at Cabañas
Shangrila please click here.
Access
to the lodges is via the jungle town of Tena and our clients often
opt
to stay one night at the Traveller's Lodging hostel (US$8 - $17
per night for large rooms with river view). |
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