Coca, Ecuador: Yarina Ecolodge

Want to get away from it all, or at least most of it? You can't pick a better spot than this one.

Welcome to the Yarina Ecolodge, which might have a mailing address of Coca but in reality is near very little to anything that can be called civilization. (I'm sure hustle and bustle is closer than it seemed while sitting in the jungle.) It's located in the rainforest of Ecuador just off the Napo River, which has an eventual connection to the Amazon River.

At one point, this bit of classic jungle was scheduled to fall to Chinese developers' interest in mineral rights. Considering the land was right next to Yasuni National Park, that would have been more than a shame - more like a tragedy. A benefactor came along when the land became available and said that no matter what the other side bid, he would pay more to keep it wild. And he won the, um, argument. So in essence, the national park grew by more than 400 hectares. 

The lodge has 22 huts that surround a central lodge that serves as the headquarters for the operation. Considering the location, it's all quite comfortable ... and of course is beautiful. The grounds are well decorated, as the photo shows. Guests only have to walk a few feet to have meals or gather for other group activities such as hikes or boat rides. The facility even supplies big rubber boots for those who wish not to worry about their footwear in the rainforest.

And to quote the website, "The Yarina Ecological Reserve was created as a program to educate local indigenous populations and national and international visitors on the importance of local wildlife preservation and its surroundings." Some of the money paid by guests goes to helping the efforts to improve and preserve the environment.

It takes less than an hour to get their from Coca by motorized canoe, and it makes quite an entrance. A turn off the Napo leads to a little stream than looks like it could be used as the backdrop for "Jurassic Park." Then the lodge complex comes into view, as the photo shows. If you are desperate to stay in touch with the outside world, there is a cell tower on the grounds and visitors can purchase internet access. But really, if you are going to come here, you probably should store your interest in the Boston Red Sox for a few days.

There's definitely more to see than just the entrance. The lodge produced a video to show the place off. You won't mind that it's essentially a commercial.