Las Cascadas Jungle Lodge

Overview

Description

Las Cascadas Jungle Lodge is located within one of the most outstanding tourism provinces: Pastaza. Within a couple hours from the lodge you can find wildlife reserves; the city of Puyo, known for its handicrafts; and the town of Baños, noted for its spirituality, its many adventure sports, and hot springs.

Northeast of the lodge on the shores of the Arajuno River, you will find the Las Cascadas community, inhabited by the indigenous Quichuas known for their skills in agriculture and dairy production.

Rooms

9

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 3

Percentage of local employees: 67%

Las Cascadas Lodge promotes sustainability by conserving 740 acres (300 hectares) of primary and secondary forest. Upon arriving at the lodge, visitors note the distinct change between the noise of the city and the tranquility of nature. The preservation of this area is made possible by a carbon offset project, which is financed by tourists who travel with the tour operator Surtrek. This money is used to support reforestation of the area, purchase adjoining land to expand the reserve, and invest in community development. For example, these funds have co-financed a community organic vegetable garden project in Cajabamba. This is helping the community advance by providing income and healthy food to the local people, and raising their environmental awareness and appreciation of natural resources; it has also allowed the hotel to find a local provider of clean products and to develop good relations between hotel staff and the community.

Rates

$150 and up

For more information about rates, please visit:

• www.surtrek.com/cascadas_jungle_ecuador.html (available in English, French, German, Spanish and other languages).

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Quito (UIO)

Nearest local/national airport: Cotopaxi (LTX)

Travel time to nearest airport: 3.5 hours by car

Part of the road that connects Las Cascadas with the main highway (Puyo - Tena) requires a 4x4 vehicle.

Additional Information

Awards or Recognitions

“Land of Light” recognition given by the Tourism Specialities University (UCT) for its work to promote Ecuador’s tourism development.

Additional Web sites

• www.eco-index.org/search/results.cfm?projectID=1475 (available in English and Spanish). Learn more about "Promoting Agricultural Capacity and the Sale of Organic Products in Cajabamba II, Pastaza Province, Ecuador", a project that Las Cascadas Jungle Lodge is supporting, on the Rainforest Alliance's Eco-Index website.

Date This Information Was Provided

January 2011.

Photos courtesy of Las Cascadas Jungle Lodge, Ecuador, for SustainableTrip.org.