Anakonda: Explore the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest

Day 1     Wednesday     Arrive to Coca / Napo River

Today you will take a short 30-minute flight from Quito to the frontier town of Coca and transfer to the dock, where you will embark on a motorized canoe and navigate down the scenic Napo River about 1 hour to board the Anakonda. Once onboard, you will have time to relax and settle in while the boat begins navigating downriver. An evening walk is organized after sunset, giving you the opportunity to discover the forest’s nocturnal activity and listen to the sounds of nature.

Day 2     Thursday     Peruvian Border / Yasuní

After breakfast, you will disembark on land for your first daylight tropical rainforest experience. Walk through the rainforest with your naturalist guide, learning about Amazonia’s incredible biodiversity and the relationship between the local plants and animals. After lunch back onboard, the Anakonda will navigate to one of the most pristine and little-explored sections of Ecuadorian Amazonia, home to the legendary pink river dolphin, black caiman and anaconda. Here you may find river turtles and various species of monkeys, as well as the primitive Hoatzin, a unique bird locally known as “the Stinky Turkey.” The only way to visit this flooded ecosystem is by canoe, a ride that will let you get up close with the creatures of the lush jungle. Tonight you have the option of sleeping onboard or glamping: luxurious, full-service camping in the rainforest.

Day 3     Friday     Napo River Community / Activities On Board / Island Exploration After breakfast you will disembark to visit a school located on the banks of the Napo River, where you will learn about the educational system of a remote jungle community in Ecuador. You will return to the Anakonda for lunch and have time to relax while the boat navigates upstream. You will have an informative lecture and documentary screening, and if time permits, learn about (and make) typical handicrafts of the area. In the afternoon, you will disembark to explore one of the largest river islands of the Napo River.

Day 4     Saturday     Parrot’s Clay Lick / Limoncocha Biological Reserve

After breakfast you will set out to visit one of the most amazing spectacles in western Amazonia: parrot licks. These unique pools of mud become rich in minerals and attract hundreds of parrots, parakeets and amazons every day. You will also visit a small community arts and crafts shop, an excellent place to find souvenirs to take home. In the afternoon, you will visit Limoncocha Biological Reserve, a fascinating protected area where more than 478 bird species and several monkey species have been recorded. This activity will extend into the evening, when you will have a chance to spot black caiman with the help of flashlights.

Day 5     Sunday     Return to Coca / Fly to Quito

This morning you will disembark and take a 1-hour motorized canoe ride to Coca to meet your flight back to Quito.

Day 1     Sunday     Arrive to Coca / Napo River

Today you will take a short 30-minute flight from Quito to the frontier town of Coca and transfer to the dock, where you will embark on a motorized canoe and navigate down the scenic Napo River about 1 hour to board the Anakonda. Once onboard, you will have time to relax and settle in while the boat begins navigating downriver. An evening walk is organized after sunset, giving you the opportunity to discover the forest’s nocturnal activity and listen to the sounds of nature.

Day 2     Monday     Sani Warmi / Observation Tower

This morning you will visit the Sani Warmi Kichwa Interpretation Center, where a group of Kichwa women will talk to you about their customs, cuisine and everyday life. The center was created to showcase the local culture and allow visitors to learn about Amazonian lifestyles along the Napo River. You will also have the opportunity to buy crafts, local products and souvenirs. In the afternoon, you will climb to the top of a 100-foot high observation tower 100-feet high, built against a giant kapok tree, for a spectacular view out over the treetops of the Amazon Basin.

Day 3     Tuesday     Yasuní National Park / Yakukawsay

After breakfast you will disembark for a walk within the Yasuni National Park, where your expert naturalist guides will lead you through the Amazon’s incredible biodiversity and tell you about the relationships of the local flora and fauna. After lunch, you will make a stop at the Yakukawsay Kichwa Interpretation Centre, then take an evening walk through the forest.

Day 4     Wednesday     Return to Coca / Fly to Quito

This morning you will disembark and take a 1-hour motorized canoe ride to Coca to meet your flight back to Quito.