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Your Amazon Basin river cruise will begin in the town of Francisco de Orellana,
on the banks of the Napo River, where you board the Manatee, a comfortable and modern 3-deck vessel
designed especially for rainforest exploration. The Manatee has an experienced crew of 11 including
English speaking naturalist guides. The ship accommodates up to 26 guests in 13 double cabins all with
air conditioning and running hot water and it also has a large dining room, bar and lounge area.
The Manatee will be your home for the next 5 days while cruising the Napo River to discover the pristine
rainforest of the eastern Ecuadorian Amazon Basin including a visit to Yasun’ National Park.
Your Amazon adventure will include a visit to Monkey Island, observing parrots at a superb salt
lick, trekking into the interior rainforest, enjoying lunch at a native campsite, paddling in dugout canoes,
and bird watching from an observation tower, to name a few.
ITINERARY
DAY 01
QUITO - MANATEE AMAZON EXPLORER
Morning flight from Quito over the Eastern Cordillera
to the town of Francisco de Orellana. Located on the banks of the Napo
River, the town is named after the discoverer of the Amazon River back
in 1541. You will board the Manatee to begin your exciting journey to
discover the magical wonders of Ecuador's largest unexplored wilderness.
Navigation on the Napo starts during lunch and continues until
mid-afternoon where we disembark for our first encounter with the rainforest,
its people, and the flora and fauna including 478 species of birds and
thousands of botanical wonders. Activities will include motorized canoe
travel into small tributaries for treks through areas covered by the
dense forest canopies. The forest is home to many species of birds,
such as oropendulas, yellow-rumped caciques, white collared toucans,
hoatzins, greater anis, trogons, and macaws, just to mention a few.
Along the way we will look for several species of monkeys, tapir, agouti,
and caiman. We will meet our vessel again further down river close to
the entrance of the Yasuni
Biosphere Reserve. L,D
DAY 02
MONKEY ISLAND & WETLAND FOREST HABITATS
Visit Monkey Island at a nearby Indian community, where visitors
will have the best opportunity to observe white-faced capuchin monkeys living in small troupes
high in the forest canopy. The local Amazonian Quichua Indians will be your guides in exploring
their village and surrounding territory. You will see their native thatched homes constructed
in a traditional manner from forest products and it may be possible to witness the preparation
of Amazonian "chicha" made from tapioca roots. We will make our way through a network of black
water streams that owe their name to the rich tanins released into the water from decomposing
plants. The wetland forest is characterized by a profusion of palm trees and cecropia bushes.
Enjoy a jungle barbecue of chicken and/or beef and an Amazonian hammock siesta before return to our
vessel. After dinner and weather permitting, enjoy caiman watching along the river's edge in
dugout canoe and other nocturnal activities. B,L,D
DAY 03
RAINFOREST AT YASUNI BIOSPHERE RESERVE
After breakfast, get a great terrace view of the jungle before
disembarking to admire a superb parrot clay lick and trek into the interior rainforest
for more exploration. Lunch at a native campsite. Refreshing afternoon swim at a lake
and return by paddle dugout canoe through black water creeks to our vessel or optional
overnight in the jungle to experience the magical sounds and a star-filled sky. B,L,D
DAY 04
OBSERVATION TOWER & RAINFOREST TREK
Terrace breakfast for early-birds. Trek beneath the
gargantuan kapok trees packed with bromeliads and tangling vines. After lunch reach an
observation tower. The kapoks are the largest and oldest trees in the forest,
considered by the natives as sacred due to the energy they release from the roots
and branches. Evening farewell cocktail and dinner on board. B,L,D
DAY 05
FRANCISCO DE ORELLANA - QUITO
Arrive at Francisco de Orellana and a visit to this quaint
town to see how locals make a living in various family-run businesses before taking our
flight over the rainforest of northeastern Ecuador. Back to Quito. Arrive midday.
Afternoon free for relaxing and individual activities. Overnight in Quito. B
Note: The activities on the itinerary above may
change due to weather conditions and unpredictable events. 4-day program
includes the same activities as the 5-day program except Tuesday's or
Thursday's activities, depending on the conditions of the river at time
of cruise.
TRIP PRICING
Pricing below is for one person sharing
accommodations. Single supplement will apply for individuals not sharing accommodations.
Call for group pricing and cost of single supplement.
5- day Cruise Departures on Monday
$615 - in double cabin
$525 in triple cabin
$923 - in single cabin
$308 - children under 12 sharing cabin with parents
4- day Cruise Departures on Friday
$461 - in double cabin
$393 in triple cabin
$692 - in single cabin
$231 - in single cabin
TRIP DIFFICULTY: Journey requires
moderate walking along trails and sufficient mobility to board small boats in variable
land and river conditions.
INCLUDES: All hotel and boat accommodations based on double occupancy. Meals as specified
in the itinerary, transfers, English speaking guides. B=Breakfast; L= Lunch; D=Dinner.
NOT INCLUDED: International airfares, internal flight to Francisco de Orellana
($120 adults $60 children), park entrance fee ($20), airport departure taxes or visa fees,
meals not specified, tips and gratuities, excess baggage charges, alcoholic beverages,
insurance of any kind.
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