5D/4N | Coca/Coca | All year
DAY 1 - QUITO – COCA – NAPO RIVERAfter taking a short 30- minute flight from Quito to the Amazon city of Coca, located in the Province of San Francisco de Orellana, we will transfer to the dock and board our motorized canoe to begin our journey down the river for approximately an hour and a half, taking in the first sights and sounds of the Amazon. Soon, we will reach the M/V Manatee Amazon Explorer and receive our welcome aboard. Once we have settled into the M/V Manatee Amazon Explorer, we will be joined by expert local naturalist guides who will provide us with a brief and informative introduction to the Ecuadorian Amazon. After dinner, we will plunge straight into the Amazon by going for a nighttime forest walk to observe the forest’s nocturnal activity and experience the thrill of the vivid noises and aromas that come from so much biodiversity. DAY 2 - THE HEART OF THE YASUNI NATIONAL PARK (HOME OF THE LEGENDARY PINK RIVER DOLPHIN)Early in the morning, we will visit Yasuni National Park. This is a pristine and relatively undisturbed region of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Our guests will be pleased to learn that this is the home of the legendary Pink River Dolphin! In this area we can also find anacondas, river turtles and various primate species, as well as the colorful Hoatzin, a unique bird that is known locally as the “Stinky Turkey”. DAY 3 - QUECHUA FAMILY & CANOEING IN A BLACKWATER LAKEWe will start the day off by visiting an authentic Quechua family located on the banks of the Napo River, where we will receive cultural immersion and the opportunity to learn directly from members of the local community. We will then board the M/V Manatee Amazon Explorer for lunch and some leisure time as we continue our journey upstream. At this time, our guests are invited to participate in a cooking class with our chef who will share recipes and techniques for preparing exquisite traditional Ecuadorian food that you can replicate at home. Later in the afternoon, we will go canoeing in a blackwater lake, home to giant otters and the magnificent, albeit elusive manatee. We will also enjoy a pleasant hike in the Riparian/Gallery Forest, where we have the chance to spot a flock of birds and marvel at the intricate organization of a colony of leaf-cutter ants by the “Giant Fig Tree”, a truly majestic tree that is home to an abundance of wildlife, much like the “Giant Kapok Tree” that we will be visiting tomorrow. DAY 4 - FOREST ADVENTURE & OBSERVATION CANOPY TOWEROur passengers can relax and enjoy the M/V Manatee Amazon Explorer during the morning and disembark to explore the nearby forest for a walk to discover a myriad of different animals and plant species that can only be found in the Amazon basin. In the afternoon, we will visit a canopy tower, built against a giant Kapok tree. The perspective at the top of this observation tower is truly glorious, looming above the lush treetops and providing a view of the sheer vastness of the Amazon Basin. In the evening, we will bravely venture into the river on a canoe to search for black caimans with the help of our flashlights. DAY 5 - RETURNThis is where our adventure ends! Enjoy the last part of our return journey onboard and then disembark the M/V Manatee Amazon Explorer to take the motorized canoe back to Coca (a one-and-a-half-hour ride).
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