The Amazon is the world’s largest and most biodiverse tropical rainforest. It is located in nine different countries and spreads over 2,700,000 square miles. On my trip to Ecuador, I had the opportunity to spend two nights in the Amazon Rainforest at Casa del Suizo. Visiting the Amazon should be part of any Ecuador itinerary.
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Casa del Suizo is located along the Napo River. In order to access the resort, guests must take a 20-minute canoe ride from the little town of Punta Ahuano. Punta Ahuano is located about 3 hours from Quito. You can book transportation through the resort or take a local bus to get to Punta Ahuano. I recommend booking transportation through the resort as it is less of a hassle than taking the local bus.
Casa Del Suizo: The Amazon Resort
At Casa Del Suizo, all rooms have a balcony and a hammock. Wifi is accessible throughout the resort. All-you-can-eat meals and water are included in your stay as well. There is also a bar with a plethora of other beverages at an additional cost. In the middle of the resort is a pool that is a great place to relax during downtime.
Visitors also get the use of rubber boots for the length of the stay. This was very useful for hiking through the Amazon. The hikes could get quite muddy, especially if it had just rained. The first time you use the boots, you go to the boot room to choose your boots. Then, they are stored in a cubby with your room number for the duration of your stay.
The hotel has various packages you can book. Each day you stay comes with an included activity. Activities in the afternoon are an additional cost. For example, since we stayed two nights, we had two included activities and paid for one additional activity on our second afternoon. You have a hotel guide with you for every activity.
Activities offered by Casa del Suizo
There is an endless amount of activities offered by Casa del Suizo during your stay. The following is a list of the majority of the activities offered.
- Indigenous Family Visit with a blow-dart demonstration
- Rafting
- Kayaking
- Balsa Log Raft
- Nature Hikes
- Canopy Adventure Park
- Butterfly Farm
- AmaZOOnico Park (Amazon animal rescue center)
- Cacao Farm
- Spa Treatments
- Ceramics Demonstration
- Balsa Wood Carving Demonstration
During our stay, we participated in an indigenous family visit, a nature hike, floated down the river on a balsa log raft, and swung from the trees at the Canopy Adventure Park.
Indigenous Family Visit
On our first afternoon, we took a canoe to the home of an indigenous family. After a 20-minute hike, we arrived at the house. These houses were raised on stilts and contained one room. We learned how they cooked and about some traditional items they made. After seeing the inside of the house, there was a blow-dart demonstration. We learned how they make the gun and the darts. After, we had the opportunity to try shooting it at a target.
Nature Hike through the Rainforest
The next morning, we participated in a nature hike. As with most of the activities, we had to take a canoe to get there. We chose to take the long hike that took us up to a viewpoint rather than a shorter hike. Throughout the hike, our guides would stop and tell us about the various plants. At one point during the hike, we crossed a suspension bridge and also got to ride in a zip line basket. There was even a Tarzan swing we got to sit in. After about an hour, we got to the top where we had amazing views of the Amazon region.
Balsa Raft Ride
Once everyone was finished with the hikes, we had the opportunity to ride back on a balsa log raft. This was a type of raft used during pre-Columbian times to sail down the rivers. You can wear whatever you like on the raft, but you DO get wet. It takes about 30 minutes from the start point to the endpoint of the raft ride. After about 5 minutes, there was the opportunity to jump off the raft and swim in the river. I chose to stay on the raft and take pictures. Once the ride is over, you have to climb from the raft back into the canoe for the rest of the journey back to the hotel.
Canopy Adventure
After lunch, we participated in our afternoon activity. We chose the Canopy Adventure Park. In order to get to the park, we had to take a 20-minute car ride. Then, we had about a 30-minute hike to get the rest of the way there. Once at the park, they taught us how to use the equipment. The part had two courses. Both ended in zip lines.
In order to get to the zip lines, you had to go through a series of obstacles and climb a multitude of objects. This was a fun way to spend the afternoon, but it was not what we expected. The description made it sound more like a series of zip lines rather than a ropes course. I also recommend bringing a pair of tennis shoes. We were trying to traverse the course in our rubber boots, but it made it more difficult. Once finished at the park, we had to hike and canoe back to the resort.
Tips on what to pack and bring with you
- Make sure to have comfy long semi-waterproof pants. I brought some Colombia quick-drying pants and another pair of woven pants from Target.
- Bring several long sleeve athletic tops.
- A travel vest is helpful, so you do not have to carry a backpack.
- Make sure to have comfy socks to use with the rubber boots.
- Swimsuit to use at the pool or if you choose one of the rafting or kayaking activities.
- A hat to block out the sun. Remember Ecuador is near the equator, so the sun is stronger.
- Bug Spray
- Sunblock
*If you choose to wear shorts or short sleeve shirts, make sure to use a LOT of bug spy and reapply frequently.
I absolutely loved staying at Casa del Suizo. I would highly recommend staying there and would love to stay there for longer than two nights. It is the perfect addition to any Ecuador Itinerary.
