Yachana Foundation

What Yachana Foundation does

Yachana Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1991-1992 by Douglas McMeekin in Ecuador's Amazon region, operating programs across conservation, education, health, and sustainable tourism. The foundation owns and protects 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of rainforest reserve along the Napo River and supports 75 communities through integrated development initiatives including a medical clinic (Mondaña, est. 1997), cacao cultivation programs (3,400 hectares across 2,500+ farmers, est. 1998), and microcredit services (est. 2010).

The foundation's core commercial product is Yachana Lodge, a 10-room award-winning geotourism eco-lodge offering all-inclusive Amazon experiences including adventure tourism (3-5 day packages), birding tourism (specialized packages for 488+ recorded species), and academic tourism for school and university groups. Complementary offerings include the Footprint for Life carbon offset program ($50 per 1,000 sq ft of protected rainforest, offsetting 2.5 tons of CO2) and direct donations supporting foundation projects. Bookings are processed through the foundation's website and the ipms247 booking platform, with WhatsApp and email as primary communication channels.

The revenue model blends tourism fees, carbon offset donations, and charitable contributions, with 20% of lodge profits directed to foundation programs. The foundation operates with 17 employees, does not disclose financials, and has no institutional investors or parent company. Founder Douglas McMeekin serves as Director and is the primary contact for all operations, partnerships, and sales.

Name

Yachana Foundation

Legal name

Yachana Foundation

Website

https://yachana.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yachana Foundation is a nonprofit operating since 1992 in Ecuador's Amazon, running an award-winning eco-lodge (Yachana Lodge) and conservation programs across 1,000 hectares of protected rainforest. It serves eco-tourists, academic groups, and conservation donors, supporting 75 local communities through integrated development initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Tourism and Rainforest Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Rainforest & Jungle Lodges (THAAAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD), Timberland Conservation & Easement Management (AFAMAKAI)

Keywords

• Eco-tourism services
• Rainforest conservation
• Carbon offset programs
• Community development
• Nature-based tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Napo Region

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Yachana Lodge Tourism: Revenue generated from eco-tourism lodge operations offering all-inclusive Amazon experiences including accommodation, meals, guided excursions, and activities. The lodge has ten spacious rooms, each accommodating up to 4 people with private bathrooms. 20% of profits support the foundation's education, health, and conservation programs.
2. Footprint for Life Carbon Offsets: Donation-based program allowing individuals to sponsor blocks of 1000 square feet (approx. 100 sq meters) of tropical rainforest with a $50 USD donation. Each block offsets 2.5 tons of CO2 and is protected for life with GPS coordinates. The program has a multiplier effect where funds enable additional rainforest protection.
3. General Donations: One-time donations to support the foundation's projects in education, health, and conservation. Donations can be made in the donor's name or in honor of someone special.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Yachana Foundation is a nonprofit organization that operates the Yachana Lodge, an award-winning eco-tourism facility on a 1,000-hectare private rainforest reserve along Ecuador's Napo River in the Amazon basin. It sells all-inclusive multi-day tourism packages (adventure, birding, academic) and runs the Footprint For Life carbon offset donation program where individuals and corporations sponsor blocks of protected rainforest at $50 per 1,000 square feet. Revenue funds conservation, education, health, and community development programs across 75 communities in the upper Amazon region.

Product overview

Yachana Foundation operates as a unified portfolio of conservation and sustainable tourism offerings centered on protecting the Ecuadorian Amazon. The core offering consists of Yachana Lodge, an award-winning geotourism eco-lodge that generates revenue supporting the foundation's mission, combined with the Footprint For Life carbon offset program. These are complemented by three specialized tourism verticals—Adventure Tourism, Birding Tourism, and Academic Tourism—all offering multi-day immersive Amazon experiences. The organization also accepts direct donations through its donation program. Twenty percent of lodge profits fund the foundation's education, health, and conservation initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Yachana Lodge: Award-winning geotourism eco-lodge located on the Napo River in Ecuador's Amazon, offering wildlife experiences, cultural immersion, and educational programs. 20% of lodge profits support the foundation's conservation and community projects.
• Footprint For Life

Products and services

• Yachana Lodge An award-winning geotourism eco-lodge located on over 1,000 hectares of private rainforest reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon near the Napo River. Offers all-inclusive accommodation across ten spacious rooms with private bathrooms, guided excursions, cultural immersion experiences, and meals. 20% of lodge profits fund the foundation's education, health, and conservation programs.
• Footprint For Life A carbon offset donation program that allows individuals and corporations to sponsor blocks of 1,000 square feet of tropical rainforest for $50 USD. Each block offsets 2.5 tons of CO2 and is protected for life with GPS coordinates. Funds enable additional rainforest protection through the foundation's conservation program.
• Adventure Tourism Packages Adventure-focused tourism packages ranging from 3 to 5 days, featuring activities such as birdwatching safaris, jungle hikes, night hikes, waterfall visits, canoe rides, tubing on the Napo River, and chocolate making experiences. Targeted at travelers seeking active Amazon experiences.
• Birding Tourism Packages Specialized birdwatching tourism packages within a private reserve containing over 488 species recorded on eBird. Offers 4-day/3-night and 5-day/4-night programs with expert local guides and access to unique Amazonian ecosystems.
• Academic Tourism Programs Customized academic programs for students providing immersive learning experiences in the Amazon. Programs include biodiversity education, field research opportunities, local school exchanges, and participation in social and ecological impact initiatives. Targeted at schools, universities, and educational groups.
• Charitable Donation Program One-time donation option allowing supporters to contribute to the foundation's conservation, education, and health projects. Donations can be made in the donor's own name or in honor of someone special.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20% of lodge profits support conservation and community projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AshokacoreOthers · 1 January 2008Douglas McMeekin, Director of Yachana Foundation, was selected as an Ashoka Fellow in June 2008, providing recognition as a leading social entrepreneur and access to Ashoka's network of social entrepreneurs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Pachama: Technology-driven carbon credit marketplace focused on forestry and nature-based solutions. Comparable to Yachana's Footprint For Life carbon offset program as a competing channel for rainforest-based carbon credits.

Direct peers

• Napo Wildlife Center: Community-owned eco-lodge in Ecuador's Yasuni National Park along the Napo River. Directly comparable to Yachana as an Amazon rainforest eco-lodge offering wildlife, birding, and cultural experiences to international travelers.
• Pachira Lodge: Costa Rica/Amazon-style eco-lodge in Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Comparable as a Central/South American eco-lodge offering all-inclusive guided rainforest experiences to international nature tourists.
• Casa del Suizo: Napo River eco-lodge in Ecuador's Cuyabeno region. Directly comparable as a Napo-area Amazon eco-lodge catering to international tourists seeking wildlife and cultural experiences.
• Refugio Amazonas / Rainforest Expeditions: Peruvian Amazon eco-lodge operator with multiple properties. Comparable as a community-partnered Amazon eco-lodge and conservation enterprise targeting birders, researchers, and nature tourists.
• Sacha Lodge: Established eco-lodge in Ecuador's Amazon basin on the Napo/Pastaza rivers. Competes with Yachana for the same eco-conscious, birding, and academic tourism segments in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
• La Selva Amazon Ecolodge: Luxury eco-lodge near Yasuni National Park in Ecuador. Directly comparable as a Napo-region Amazon eco-lodge offering all-inclusive guided experiences and biodiversity tourism.

Others

• Ashoka: Global network of leading social entrepreneurs. Comparable as the fellowship and ecosystem that legitimizes and supports Yachana's founder; not a competitor but a peer relationship relevant to the foundation's positioning and resources.

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International: Large global environmental NGO operating conservation and carbon offset programs in the Amazon. Comparable to Yachana's nonprofit conservation mission and carbon-offset offering, though at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Mashpi Lodge: Award-winning cloud forest eco-lodge in Ecuador (not Amazon). Comparable as a high-end Ecuadorian eco-lodge targeting international nature and birding travelers, though in a different ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@yachanafoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/yachanafoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/yachanafoundation
• TikToktiktok.com/@yachana.com
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yachana-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yachana Foundation