Ecuador Amazon cruises - Upper rainforest basin
Overview
Amazon cruises in Ecuador take place at the Napo Basin where we will explore the Napo River and its tributaries. The Manatee Amazon Explorer our riverboat in the Upper Amazon navigates in Ecuadorian territory through the Napo and Aguarico Rivers.
Traveling around Ecuadorian Amazon offers an unforgettable experience for anybody's sense. Our expedition is based around Limoncocha wildlife reserve and Yasuni National Park. Yasuni is Ecuador´s largerst protected area with such exceptional diversity of species that is has been classified by UNESCO as a World Biosphere reserve.
Over a million hectares of low-relief rainforest drained by countless tiny rivers that join the Rio Napo, twisting through patches of varzea forest and black water swamps. Significant portions of the park have remained undisturbed by humans and sightings of larger mammals and birds are commoner here than in other parts of the Ecuadorian Amazon basin.
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Manatee Amazon Explorer itinerary
MANATEE AMAZON EXPLORER PROGRAM PREVIEW
Itinerary
REFERENCIAL PROGRAM FOR 5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS AMAZON CRUISE
Day 1 - Amazon river expedition cruise
Quito / Manatee Amazon Explorer / Natural & Cultural Scenario
Morning flight from Quito over the Eastern Cordillera and down into the airstrip at the town of Francisco de Orellana, a hub for sustainable oil production and named after the discoverer of the Amazon River back in 1541.
The Manatee will be pulling up to dock in time for you to board this exciting adventure vessel, ready to take you on a rare journey packed with nature study, cultural interaction and even more of the magical wonders of the largest unexplored wilderness on earth. Navigation starts promptly during lunch until mid-afternoon to disembark for our first encounter with the rainforest and its people, featuring 478 species of birds and thousands of botanical wonders. We meet our vessel at the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve.
(L,D).
Day 2 - Amazon river expedition cruise
Monkey Island & Flood Forest Habitats
Visit Monkey Island at a nearby Indian community and eke your way through a network of black water streams to a flood forest habitat. Enjoy a jungle barbecue and Amazon hammock siesta and back to our vessel. After dinner, enjoy caiman watching and other nocturnal activities. (B,L,D).
Day 3 - Amazon river expedition cruise
Rainforest at Yasuni Biosphere Reserve
After breakfast, get a great terrace view of the jungle before disembarking to admire a superb parrot salt lick and trek into the interior rainforest. Lunch at a native campsite. Refreshing afternoon swim at a lake and return by paddle dugout through blackwater creeks to our vessel or optional overnight in the jungle cradled by unbelievable sounds and a star-filled sky. (B,L,D).
Day 4 - Amazon river expedition cruise
Observation Tower & Rain Forest Trek
Terrace breakfast for early-birds. Trek through the understory of gargantuan kapok trees packed with bromeliads and tangling vines. After lunch reach an observation tower. Evening farewell cocktail and dinner on board. (B,L,D).
Day 5 - Amazon river expedition cruise
Francisco de Orellana / Quito
Arrival to Francisco de Orellana and a visit to this quaint town before our flight over the immense rainforest and midday landing in Quito. (B).
(B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
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