Manatee Amazon Explorer Cruise

Day 1: Quito - Coca - Napo River

Morning departure from Quito. A short 30-minute flight takes you to the frontier town of Coca (Francisco de Orellana) and transfer to the Río Napo port where you will embark on a motorised canoe and navigate down river for about 1 hour to board the M/V Manatee. Along the way you will have a chance to admire the rainforest landscape and banks of the great Napo River. Immediately after boarding, the M/V Manatee will start navigating downstream, a great opportunity for observing from the sundeck the amazing flora and fauna of the region. After dinner, enjoy an optional nocturnal walk into the forest to discover the mysteries of this unique environment and see how life emerges in the dark right before your eyes.

Day 2: Heart of Yasuni National Park

Visit Yasuni National Park in the early morning. This is a pristine and relatively undisturbed region of the Ecuadorian Amazon. In this area, you will find anacondas, river turtles and various primate species, as well as the colourful Hoatzin, a unique bird that is known locally as the "Stinky Turkey",

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”.

Day 3: Quechua Family & canoeing in a blackwater lake

We 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 return to the vessel 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. Guests are also invited to try their hands at making traditional handicrafts.

Day 4: Forest adventure & Canopy Tower

Relax and enjoy on-board facilities 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: Coca - Quito - Airport

We head back to the city of Coca to take the morning flight back to Quito. The canoe ride upstream takes around 1.5 hours.

• On-board accommodation 
• Transfers to/from ship
• Bilingual naturalist guides
• Activities as specified
• Meals as specified

• International airfares 
• Return flight between Quito and Coca 
• Transfers to/from Quito's airport
• Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable 
• Community and park entrance fees - US$70 pp
• Gratuities
• Any items not mentioned as included