TO CONSERVE NATURE IS OUR PASSION

Hotel El Jardín Aleman  and Rainforest Alliance have established an alliance to support Best Management Practices in Sustainable Tourism since 2009

 JUNGLE LODGE EL JARDIN ALEMAN was opened in January 1996 and is surrounded by 125 ha protected primary and secondary rainforest. Apart from the hotel grounds, belongs to the Lodge 100 ha protected rainforest on  the banks of the Napo River. The resort is built on 5 ha. The Lodge is located on the banks of Misahuallí River, a tributary of Napo River , which forms after about 1400 km, in Perú, the Amazon.

These rivers are so called White Waters. That means that they or their tributaries rise in the Andes Mountains and they always carry sediments along. This is also why they are relatively eutrophic and they look muddy and dirty because of the stirred up sediments. The opposite is Black Water. These rivers or lakes rise in the Amazon Basin by ground or rainwater; because of weathering of plants, they are very acid and dark, but clear and oligotrophic water.

The closed village to the hotel, 4 kilometres away, is  Misahuallí. For a long time Misahuallí village has seen the end of the road and the starting point for journeys into the Ecuadorian part of the Amazon rainforest, which was completely undeveloped until the discovery of petrol 30 years ago.

Here at the foot of the Andes the altitude is about 450 meter. It falls a lot of rain, from 3500 to 4000 mm per year. There are no marked seasons because of nearby equator. The rainfalls are spread equally over all the year; but specially from June to November. The temperature is in between 15-18° C by night and 28-33 C during day. During rainy  season the jungle is most attractive and the rivers are most navigable. Clothing is the same all the year: light, cotton clothes, long pants and long-sleeved shirts for the jungle walks, sun hats and sunglasses indispensable. (Rubber boots you get in your Lodge). Don't forget your photo camera!
The average of the daytime temperature is every day almost the same. There is a very high atmospheric humidity for which reason you have the impression that the temperature is higher.

In the so-called upper Napo region live the indigenous Quichua. The main cultivation is among others the Yuca (the most important local staple food, a starch root), several species of bananas and rice (both imported from Asia, nowadays staple food), corn (mainly for feeding animals), coffee and cocoa (for sale) and fruits such as pineapple, papaya, citric fruits, avocado and chirimoya.

The plants, which will be presented by your guide during the jungle tours can only be a part of the unbelievable botanical diversity of the Amazon region. They are chosen because of their importance and utilization as food, medicinal plant, colouring, drug or building material for the natives.

 I. We minimize environmental impacts
          1. using only biodegradable products,
          2. saving energy by low energy light bulbs, 
          3. minimize unnecessary night time lighting,
          4. separating garbage , and recycle as far as possible
          5. saving water
          6. using septic tanks for the black and grey waters.

    II. Our efforts to conserve environment and to contribute
        to biodiversity is reflected in the protection of 556 acres
        (225 hectares) of primary and secondary Rainforest.

    III. We contribute to local sustainable development
          1. buying our supplies from local communities and stores
          2. using local services.

    IV. We sustain the well-being of local people
          1. by employing and training them
          2. additionally we help local people by medical problems.

     V. Security of our passengers is first
          1. Security equipment during the canoe trip (life vests)
          2. Security rules boarding and leaving the canoe
          3. Safe food handling by trained employees
          3. First aid
          4. All employees are trained in first aid
          5. Fire extinguishers
          6. Safety rules