Manatee River Cruise

Arrival Day

A cruise representative will meet you at the Coca airport, from here we have a short drive to the Rio Napo port. We will take a motorboat about 90 minutes down the river to board the cruise. The port itself is a bit of a sight, well-organized chaos. Once aboard the ship, our local naturalist guides will give a safety briefing for both the cruise and the Amazon forest. From here we start navigating the river, so sit back and enjoy a cocktail while taking in the stunning scenery. We will have a gourmet dinner followed by a night walk, observing the jungle’s bustling nocturnal activity.

Amazon Wildlife in the Heart of Yasuni

We will enter the legendary Yasuni National Park in the early morning. With an estimated 600+ bird species in the area, it is quite possibly the most diverse section of rainforest in the world. We will have the chance to see the mystical pink river dolphins, anacondas, turtles, and a variety of primates. Birders will certainly be pleased, as we quite often see the Hoatzin in the area. In the afternoon we will by motorized canoe to a black water lagoon. Here we will be looking for the elusive manatee and the giant river otters. We will take a light hike, looking for more birdlife and observing the flora.

Kichwa Community Visit

We will visit a traditional Kichwa community living on the riverbanks. It’s customary for one of the women to greet us and be our host. She will invite us to her home and explain about their way of life. We will have a chance to participate in some local customs. We will have lunch on the Anakonda and continue our navigation. While cruising you will have a chance to join a cooking class hosted by our onboard expert chef. We will be preparing some traditional Ecuadorian meals, with an executive twist. Also on board, we will have a handicrafts workshop. Most of the afternoon we will be cruising, you can enjoy a soak in the jacuzzi while taking in the amazing Amazon scenery. Maybe enjoy a cocktail and enjoy some spectacular stargazing. Have you ever seen the Southern Cross?

Forest Adventure & Canopy Observation Tower

We will be anchored in the morning, and you will be able to choose to enjoy the facilities on the boat or accompany us for some exploration on the trails. We will go out looking for wildlife and the guide will point out some of the endemic plant species. In the afternoon we will have a chance to scale a canopy observation tower, approximately 120 feet tall. This is one of the best opportunities we will have to view and photograph a variety of bird species. Often times monkeys come in close to see who is lurking about in the treetops. In the evening we set out on the black water in search of caiman. They are the easiest to spot at night, with their reflective eyes giving them away.

Indillama Napo River & Northern Yasuni

Let’s start the day off with a bit of kayaking, as we paddle along the Indillama River quietly soaking in our surroundings. Canoes are also available if you prefer to focus on your photography rather than your paddling. The morning departure activity should do a sufficient job depleting our energy, so we will recharge with lunch and some relaxation time back on the Anakonda. At night we are hoping for clear skies, so we can experience mesmerizing stargazing. For those with some spring left in their step, lets go wander some trails in search of some nocturnal critters.

We will travel to the Pañayacu river delta, where we will depart by canoe towards the Pañacocha Lagoon, aka Piraña Lake. This is a flooded ecosystem with black water, that is home to some interesting marine life. Piranhas are abundant, White Caiman call it home, and the massive Paiche/Arapaima fish frequently breach the surface ad dusk. We will walk some of the trails and have a break at a local campsite. Here we will have a barbeque, followed by some water activities such as kayaking or swimming. We may even get a chance to try some Piranha fishing.

Pañacocha Biological Corridor

We will start the day by canoe, heading towards the clay licks. This is a photographer’s delight, as the dancing colors will have your shutter on overdrive. The minerals in the clay attract the most colorful species, with an abundance of parrots and parakeets fluttering about. Late morning we will set towards the Kichwa Cultural Center. We will learn about the many communities that inhabit this section of the Amazon. Members of the community will share their ancestral traditions, culture, and cuisine with us. This is also a great opportunity to pick up a souvenir, directly from the maestro. In the afternoon we will get a chance to visit our second canopy observation tower. We will have 360-degree views, with one last chance to really feet the Amazon. Relish this moment.

After breakfast, we jump on the speedboats back towards Coca. This will be a two-hour ride, followed by a transfer to the airport.