There are about 35 members of the Sani Isla Comuna who are currently employed at Sani Lodge. The comuna decided to hire an administrator from outside the comuna to eliminate any chance of impartiality in hiring. The assistant administrator is from the comuna, as well the chef, boat drivers, native guides and waiters.

As the Lodge is owned by the entire community, every one has the right to be working at the facilities. Therefore, we created a system in which our staff has to rotate giving the opportunity to others of having an experience at the lodge.  Nowadays, almost 90% of the communa has already been hired by the lodge.  

Fredy Jimenez V. (general manager)

Raised in the Ecuadorian Amazon. He has spend all his life in this region; without being a Kichwa he understands their language. He got a degree on Commercial Engineering and also has several graduate studies. After this, he returned to work with the Kichwa communities. Before managing Sani Lodge he worked in a non profit foundation for social help for the Kichwas where he contributed with projects that caused a positive impact for several communities seated in the Yasuni biosphere reserve. His yearn is to prepare the people of the Sani Isla community so they, in a near future, are the ones managing the lodge, making this project into one of the pioneers in sustainable ecotourism in Ecuador.

Manuel Condo (head chef)

Manuel Condo has been working as a cook and later as a chef at other local lodges for the last 15 years. We are very fortunate that after Sani was completed Manuel decided to return to his comuna to become the head chef at Sani Lodge. Manuel’s specialty is healthy food with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables, occasionally serving chicken and fish dishes.

Javier Hualinga (guide's chief)

Javier Hualinga, his knowledge of the forest gotten from being a local gets improve with his studies of biology. Javier stayed in United States for almost a year improving his english and taking biology and ecology classes. He has two years of experience guiding at Sani lodge and he has just the best reviews from his groups. Javier's dedication has earned the trust of all his co-workers and for that reason he was choosen as a chief guide.

Fredy Gualinga (native guide)