So, the guide and the jungle were great, but the lodge, well... I was expecting basic accommodations. I wasn't expecting luxury, I wasn't expecting tv or internet access. I did expect CLEAN. The sheets on my bed were not clean. The floor was not clean. The bathroom was not clean. The shower was not clean. While I expected the occasional bathroom visitor, I did not expect filth. The accumulation of dirt from years of not really cleaning the rooms did get to me. The other issue was the lack of lighting. Yes, I know it's fairly typical at these kind of places to turn off the electricity at night, but the weak lighting they provided when the electricity was on (only one 20 W bulb) did not allow you to look through your stuff or to pack your daypack/camera supplies at night. The headlamp was particularly useful for this.

The lack of maintenance extended to the mosquito nets which were torn and dirty and to the pillows (a crucial aspect of attempting to sleep in 80 degree heat with high humidity) which were so old they'd turned "chunky".

Also the maintenance on the boardwalk was shoddy. One member of our group made a wrong step and totally fell through a board. Safety would dictate that you not put in a boardwalk and then fail to maintain it.

While the construction occurring at the lodge suggests that they are stepping up to a higher level of "luxury", I'm not sure that they realize what people are actually looking for: Clean, well-lit rooms.

The lack of commitment to cleanliness and maintenance (as well as the fact that the parrot clay lick had been abandoned! No Parrots for us, and they told us the clay lick at Napo was also deserted, or nearly so), would keep me from recommending this lodge to people looking for an amazing amazon experience. It is probably 1 step up from camping, but priced too high for the kind of accommodations they're offering.

My elderly parents and I stayed 4 nights at La Selva as part of our Galapagos centred vacation Ecuador. Having now returned home I'd have to say that our stay at La Selva was in fact the highlight of the trip. The Galapagos were great, but La Selva was truly amazing! Rodrigo was an amazing naturalist/leader who truly opened our eyes to the amazing plants, birds and animals of the jungle. The food was fabulous and all the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. I want to go back!

We stayed here four nights in October 2010. The trip there was an adventure in itself, but that is also a testament to the remote location of the lodge - a necessity if you want to experience the real rainforest. There were few guests while we were there, so we were treated very well, with excellent meals and attentive staff. We felt welcome and special the whole time. That may not be the same if you're staying there with a full house, but we had no issues with the staff.

Luis was also our guide, along with a non-English speaking local named Manuel. I thought they were superb guides - able to find many interesting animals and plants that we would have walked right past or never thought to even look for. Luis was pleasant to be with and very knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna. He seemed to be as excited to see things as we were. We saw an amazing assortment of birds, monkeys, and other wildlife.

The facilities are adequate - some of them are beginning to show their age though. On the bright side, they are in the middle of upgrading many of the cabins. Unfortunately we had an older one (unit 1) and the cockroach problem mentioned in other reviews was there as well. I've been visiting rainforests (Central and South America) annually since 2002 and I know bugs are normal - but this was much worse than usual. So, ask for a new room - we checked them out and they are very nice and much more bug-proof. Also, the bar closes early, which was disappointing and a lost opportunity for the lodge, we thought. Power is off from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am. Their generator is located far away and we never heard it - a problem I've experienced at other lodges.

We primarily hiked and canoed around the lake, and were content doing so. You need to have the guides with you at all times - the trails are not marked and you could easily get lost. At first when I saw how structured the activities were I was a bit annoyed. But after being there, I see why that is and it needs to be that way. That said, there's no reason you can't skip a scheduled hike and stay at and around the lodge, so there is some flexibility. I highly recommend the tower at sunrise - you'll see an amazing variety of bird life from up there.

I'd also like to reiterate some of the comments other travelers have made. Any trip to the rainforest is going to naturally involve heat, humidity, sudden rain, mud, and insects. This is normal. You need to expect it and please don't rate a lodge poorly because these things exist there! I should also note that we went during the dry season, and never came across any mosquitos. You never know what you're going to encounter in a place like this, but that is part of the allure.

I'd recommend La Selva to other travelers. There are better rainforest lodges out there in the world, but if you're traveling to Ecuador and want a taste of the Amazon, La Selva will be worth it.

We enjoyed 4 nights & 5 days at La Selva, Oct. 7-11 2010. We found the accommodations simple but comfortable, with fully functional mosquito netting on the beds, good-and-plenty hot & cold water in the private bathroom, and fully functional ceiling fans. October was cooler and drier than we expected - much more so than summers in coastal Mexico & Central America, for example. We were occasionally sweaty but generally always comfortable.

We'd hoped to see more critters but the larger mammals (anteaters, jaguar, etc.) reside very deep into the jungle away from clusters of humans tromping along trails in broad daylight, so we weren't unduly upset when we saw "nothing" but several groups of 4 different species of monkeys, 3 different species of toucan, numerous other birds, a caiman or 2 at night, and a multitude of insect and arachnid life. La Selva's butterfly farm was a real treat to see, as was the early morning climb up its canopy tower. I even caught a piranha in the lake, on a hand-line! La Selva provided rubber boots to all its guests which made the short hikes through the jungle comfortable and insect-bite-free. Our guides, Luis and Enrique, were informative and congenial. A visit to Dona Bertha, matriarch of the indigenous family who live on the land La Selva rents from the tribe, was slightly awkward due to the language and cultural barriers but otherwise enjoyed by all. As to the visit to the parrot clay lick(s) in the National Park across the river, we were informed when we first made inquiries that (1) the park entrance fee was $25 per; and (2) due to all the humans staring at them, the birds had relocated to another as-yet-not-identified clay lick. We did not have a problem with this and were certainly not surprised by the news, and absolutely did not insist on nevertheless taking the time and paying the money to go to the clay lick after being told no birds were there, just so that we could get disappointed.

More words about the possible negative experiences one might have on a trip like this: if you truly cannot tolerate heat or humidity; or if you are squeamish around insects or frogs; if you are afraid of water or heights; if you are not physically capable of climbing stairs, walking in mud, or climbing in and out of boats; if you need solid floors and air conditioning, this is not the kind of trip for you. Find something else to see in Ecuador - there's plenty! If you are the type of person who insists on seeing the animals you expect to see when you pay good money to see them, go to a zoo. The animals in the jungle are wild and most of them do their level best to avoid human contact; the real surprise is that you DO see critters! Weather, rainfall and time of year are also factors in what wildlife you may or may not see. You must have realistic expectations and understand that no lodge can "make" the animals appear for your pleasure.

There was no construction going on when we visited La Selva, so we did not have the infestation of cockroaches one reviewer here mentioned. I believe that the construction agitated the cockroaches to move into wherever was quieter for them. That said, we had 3 or 4 cockroaches munch on a bar of soap at the sink, for a few hours each night we were there - but turn on a light, and they scampered away. No problemo. I repeat: if you're squeamish about cockroaches or other insects, for pity's sake DO NOT VISIT THE JUNGLE and then complain about it!

As I mentioned, the visit to the native home felt awkward to me - but Dona Bertha answered direct questions, when put to her directly, in Spanish. Which I did. Remember, we are the visitors into their homes, we interrupt their day, and La Selva is located on native reserve land so we are there at THEIR sufferance. Also, the local tribes are rather more taciturn than a tour guide in Quito will be, and it is a style of their lives that they don't just grin and gab away in English for the turistas. So again, please set aside expectations like that, try to keep an open mind, and learn something - even from awkward silences. If you have other expectations of people who live very differently from you, perhaps you should confine your tourism to the cities - there's still plenty to see there that will leave you with better memories!

Final advice: with La Selva or any other jungle lodge, always inquire politely about available discounts or promotions - even the jungle has high-season and off-season. Tips are NOT included in the price, so plan to bring cash in a total of about 10% of your price to the lodge, to tip at the end. Yes; a jungle trip is *almost* as expensive as a trip to the Galapagos -- but if you have the type of flexible attitude that outdoor wildlife touring requires, you'll do just fine out there!