Hakuna Matata
From its inception to present day the lodge has been given tender loving care, dedication and passion, with several years of nurturing it has become a small paradise in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
The combination of a rustic design, careful adaptation and respect for the environment implemented with world class standards, have given way to the perfect atmosphere to enjoy the jungle in high end comfort. The ideal location, between 600 mts (1968 ft.) and 850 mts (2788 ft.) above sea level, a moderate temperature and a micro-bioma made up of heliconia’s and bromeliad plants create the perfect mosquito free setting for a relaxed stay.
The heart of Hakuna Matata is its native staff, always ready to greet guests as friends and share their home (the rainforest). Our favourite gathering spot is our chonta shaped swimming pool, a privileged water hole 27 x 22 mts (72 x 88 ft.) and 40 to 240 cm(16 to 95 inches) in depth, surrounded by the spectacular Llanganates mountains. The pool is constantly flowing, fed by an underground spring, it keeps a medium temperature of 25 Cº (77 Fº) idea to dip in, splash and swim a few laps, specially after jungle walk. The pool area has loungers and a covered hammock terrace, the setting is ideal to read a book, relax and just soak in the tropical scenery. Another magical spot at Hakuna Matata is the private beach at the Inchillaqui river. The crystal clear waters invite visitors to bathe, take stroll and have fun for all ages.
Our Ethos
Hakuna Matata means “no worries” This is exactly what the lodge offers you as a guest! You can enjoy the exotic Amazon rainforest in a relaxed, carefree atmosphere. You can live our slogan to its fullest: “Enjoy the luxury of nature” in a family friendly environs where you will feel comfortable, safe and truly welcome as a friend. You can experience the warm Amazonian hospitality, as our guest there are “no problems”, we are committed to fulfill your every wish and need. The happiness of our guests is our biggest prize!
We are committed to promoting responsible tourism, sustainability is the founding pilar behind our lodge. We build upon this day by day although being green may be the longer and more costly path, we know that in the long term this will benefit our future generations and the wellbeing of our entire planet.
Our space is an eco lodge and our objective is to share a learning experience with our guests, where they can learn about conservation and the importance of living in harmony with nature. Our objective is to protect our patch of rainforest and promote respect for the local tribal cultures and their ancestral knowledge of the rainforest. A great part of our private forest reserve has been created by decades of reforestation. Our cabins have been built respecting the topography of the land and using recycled wood from already fallen trees. We use spring water for our lodge and pool, this means we use almost no chemicals to balance the water for bathing. We have a towel reuse program where we motivate our guests to use the same towel through their entire stay, we believe that together we can help reduce our environmental impact. Our cleaning products are biodegradable and we have been very careful in creating a sustainable supply chain where our partners respect and follow our same philosophy and environmental policies. We apply the same strict standards when hiring out our tours and excursions.
One of the most distinctive and attractions and features about Ecuador is it’s multicultural population. We work together with several indigenous communities with whom we have established a strong bond and we pay a fair price for their services.
The majority of our staff come from neighboring indigenous communities, they all enjoy proper labour benefits and most important they are treated with respect. As we mentioned above, they are the heart and soul at Hakuna Matata and together we are a small great family.
