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AMAZON RAIN FOREST

The Napo Wildlife Center

The Napo Wildlife Center, NWC Amazon Lodge, is the greatest and ultimate alternative luxury ecohotel in Amazonian Ecuador offering sustainable Amazon Tours and Jungle Expeditions. This ecotourism project includes the conservation of approximately over 82 square miles (53,500 acres - over 21,400 hectares ) of the most pristine Amazon Rain Forest within the Yasunì National Park, an important UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the largest tract of tropical rain forest in Ecuador.

Visitors will be divided up into small groups, and lead by a native Anangu guide, who is also an official Yasuni Park Ranger, expert on the forest's secrets about medicinal plants and other useful items of the rain forest, and an excellent bilingual naturalist guide with great deal of knowledge in tropical forest biology. Both guides using their unmatchable enthusiasm will create informative enjoyable excursions every day providing an educative fun experience. Groups and guides will tailor their excursions while taking advantage of the highest peaks of activity and weather conditions in the forest. They will schedule their outings before dawn or at sunrise. This will maximize wildlife observation and of course each group will decide with their guides how extreme and intense they take their Amazon excursion, this applies for afternoon excursions and night outings, when an overwhelming concert of natural sounds will flood the atmosphere.

DAY 1
Departing from Quito, 30 minute flight to Coca over the eastern Andes mountain range. After landing, about midday, and airport procedures a 5 min transfer in local chiva (hired bus) or local taxi from airport to Port Francisco de Orellana will drive us to embark onto a comfortable covered motor boat. Here we start a canoe ride along the Napo river for about 2 ½  hours approx, lunch box  in route. Along the way birds like herons, kingfishers and others can be spotted. After arriving at NWC’s entry dock we disembark for restroom then take a majestic and peaceful 1 ½  hours dugout canoe ride surrounded by trees overhead, paddling along a narrow creek that connects to the lake where the lodge is located. Good possibilities of monkeys sights of various species as well as large birds like toucans, parrots or even macaws. Late afternoon arrival to the NWC lodge by the overwhelming view of the Añangu lake, welcome drink and facilities. After dinner optional cayman (alligator) observation around the lake and natural sounds at night.

DAY 2
Early wake up to reach the best and easy access parrot clay licks in Ecuador, about 1 hour away from the lodge, guests reach there just before parrot activity kicks off at the clay lick between 7:30 to 8:30. A total of 11 species of parrots, parakeets and macaws can be seen. A visit that depends on weather conditions but usually successful. Later, hike along forest trail to visit to the Quichua community of Añangu and sharing time with a family on their activities. Return to the creek and hike through a Terra Firme Forest for about 30 minutes until we arrive to the second parrot clay lick where if the weather conditions help will be able to find different species of parrots, parakeets and even macaws.  Box lunch at the parrot clay lick observatory.  Late afternoon arrival to the lodge.

DAY 3
After early breakfast, depart from the lodge to the finest experience at a canopy tower on the Napo. A 36m high canopy tower opened to guests in November 2004, a great way to experience the life above the forest floor. This is the second tower at the Napo Wildlife Center (the first is attached to the dining hall and allows great views of the lake). The canopy tower is located about 20 minutes from the lodge deep within the terra firme forest. As you ascend the 12-story tower, you pass through different levels of the forest and emerge on top of a huge Ceiba tree. Here you cross onto a wooden platform that is actually built into the tree and experience the view formerly reserved only for the birds. The metal tower itself was constructed to the highest standards, galvanized, and carefully inspected by engineers. Safety is the priority. The platform in the top of the tree was constructed by tree platform specialists brought from EcoEcuador's Peruvian partner organization Perú Verde. From top to bottom, there is no finer canopy experience in Eastern Ecuador. Flocks of colorful tanagers pass right through the canopy of the tree, Blue-and-yellow Macaws fly past, in nearby trees Spider Monkeys search for fruit, two species of large toucans call in the early mornings and afternoons, and the life of the forest canopy opens before you. Birds that are virtually impossible to see from the forest floor far below are suddenly right beside you, oblivious to your presence. The canopy tower opens a whole new world to guests of the Napo Wildlife Center!! Served lunch at the lodge. Afternoon visit to a terra firme trail, hike along primary forest to discover the forest interior, possibilities of finding lizards, colorful manakins or the unique and endemic Golden mantle tamarin monkeys. After the hike,  explore the lake and creeks by dugout canoe with great possibilities of running into a Giant Otter family on the way…

DAY 4
Early departure and last excursion canoeing back to the Napo river, the creek may reveal new sights of Giant Otters, Monk Saki monkeys or many other rare birds. Entry dock arrival, restrooms and embarking on motorized canoe in order to return back to Coca, arrival approx around 11:00 am in order to check  for Quito flight scheduled  12:10 pm.

Additional Day(s): Optional excursions such as hikes through different trails and forest types. Canoe rides exploring deeper areas of surrounding creeks with more wildlife possibilities, additional mammal clay lick excursion, handicraft workshop with the local community among other options

Prices for 2008
Prices For	Single	Double
4 days / 3 nights	$780	$650
5 days / 4 nights	$980	$775

 

Sacha Lodge..

This Amazon lodge is located in the province of Sucumbios, northeast of Ecuador. A 40 minute flight will take you from Quito to Coca. Then you travel by motorized dugout canoe for approximately 2 hours down the Napo river, after which a 30 minute walk will get you to this comfortable lodge.

The lodge is located in a beautiful area surrounded by primary forest. The program consists of a combination of jungle tours and walks down narrow trails which take you through different types of forest (primary, secondary, etc) and canoe rides on local lakes and rivers. In addition, an observation tower enables visitors to climb 130 feet into the canopy for a spectacular view of intact Amazon Rainforest, where you may come into close contact with mammals, plants and dozens of different species of birds.

Groups of 5 to 8 people at the most will be formed and led by an English/Spanish naturalist guide plus a locall native guide. At the lodge you will find comfortable accommodation in rustic cabins of native design that blend in with the surrounding rain forest. At the same time you will enjoy the comforts you would expect of a first class hotel: modern bathrooms with hot running water, screened rooms with magnificent views of the rain forest; complimentary bottled water, and exquisite international cuisine that incorporates the delicious tropical fruits of the region.

Although the Napo River is a kilometer wide in places, it is often surprisingly shallow. Pushing a large canoe full of people off a sandbar is not something the crew wants to do, so the canoe zigzags its way down the river following the deepest channels. The riverbanks are home to Quichua communities. Traditionally, their thatched roof houses are raised on stilts and surrounded by small gardens or chacras, where they grow coffee, bananas and yuca, among other things. Your guide will be there to explain the surroundings in more detail and answer any questions.

Sacha Lodge owns 3000 acres of rainforest covering a variety of different habitats, mostly in primary jungle, they range from terra firma to swamp to rivers and lakes. Although most tours are on foot, some can be combined with river trips in a dugout canoe. Tours are not just limited to the ground either. The forest canopy has been made accessible by the construction of an observation tower that climbs 135 feet into the epiphyte-laden branches of a kapok tree. The jungle stretches to the horizon in all directions. On a clear day, the snowcapped peak of Sumaco, an extinct volcano 100 miles away, is often visible.

From this vantage point, flora and fauna, invisible from the ground, can be studied at close quarters. Water-filled tank bromeliads stand side by side with sprays of orchids, hopping between them are a host of exotic birds with equally exotic names: Paradise Tanager, Spangled Cotinga, Many-banded Aracari. The canopy is one of the least studied habitats and harbors thousands of still unknown plant and animal species. To be surrounded by such richness is a rare experience.

Further down the Napo from Sacha, a parrot salt lick offers the opportunity to see hundreds of parrots and parakeets. They are attracted to an impressive red cliff on the riverbank early each morning in order to fulfill their daily mineral requirements. Whether clinging to the cliff or wheeling in circles above it, they provide an unforgettable spectacle of color and noise.

The land was bought in 1991 by Beni Ammeter, a Swiss entrepreneur, who has been in Ecuador for the last 25 years, and Sacha Lodge received its first visitors in 1992. Because Sacha actually has title to the land, hunting and farming are not permitted. The adjacent Quichua villages benefit from employment and other services that the lodge provides. Through tourism, Sacha has made the land economically competitive, and by educating the visitors and promoting the knowledge and culture of the indigenous people, it offers a way to protect the rainforest.

Prices for 2008
Prices For	Single	Double
4 days / 3 nights	$1,062	$708
5 days / 4 nights	$1,338	$893

Manatee Explorer .

The new Manatee Amazon Explorer riverboat has been specially built for cruises in the Ecuadorian rainforest on the Rio Napo. You will visit Monkey Island,  Yasuni National Park and Biosphere Reserve, walk jungle trails and explore virgin rain forest. The Manatee Amazon Explorer is 90 feet long (27 m) 24 feet wide (7 m) and accommodates 30 lucky guests in comfortable cabins with private bathrooms and running hot water, individual air conditioning, on board laundry service, large dining room, inviting bar and lounge area, panoramic terrace, delicious cuisine and the finest multilingual naturalist guides. 

 

Sample 5 day Itinerary:

Day 1 Quito – Coca – Yasuní National Park

Depart from Quito in the morning, flight to Francisco de Orellana (Coca), arriving to Coca after a short 30 minutes trip. Transfer to the Napo River port then the motorized canoe ride downstream will be approximately one and a half hours; during the trip we will provide important information about the region. Once on board the Manatee Amazon Explorer will start navigating down the Napo River for the whole afternoon. At night our first live experience with the Ecuadorian Amazon basin will begin (night walk or canoe ride will depend on the river level, climatic conditions, wildlife behavior and accessibility to a location).

Day 2 Visiting the Pañacocha Biological Corridor

We will continue our navigation downstream to arrive at the mouth of the Pañayacu (Piranha River). After arrival, there will be a canoe trip through the Piranha River to see the sights of this interesting protected forest. There is a possibility to observe Pink River Dolphins, the agile Common Squirrel Monkeys and much more. The Piranha Lake area is an ecosystem flooded by white waters. The rivers and lakes of that place are perfect habitat for the infamous Piranha, the Water Monkey Fish (Arawana) and White Caimans. At night, there will be an optional excursion to explore the forest and riverbanks and also optional overnight at our camp for an extra fee of $30,00 per person can be arranged.

Day 3 Visiting the Observation Tower – Native House

On the third day of our cruise, we will explore the Observation Tower build around a tree to observe the different ecosystems of the forest and a wide variety of birds. After lunch at the Manatee, you will stop at a Native House of the Kichwas a native guide will bring into the light their way of life and traditions.

Day 4 Visiting the Kapok Tree – Limoncocha Biological Reserve

In the morning we will continue to visit one of the tallest trees of the Rainforest, the Kapok, a native guide also will explain to us the use of medicinal plants, if time permits we will have a visit to the CICAME Archeological Museum which preserves pottery from the Omagua Culture, one of the first forest pre-Columbian residents of the Napo River basin. This is also a good place to shop local handicrafts made from rainforest materials. In the afternoon, there will be a visit to the Limoncocha Biological Reserve, an incredible area to find lots of birds, some monkeys and at night looking for the Black Caiman, return to the Manatee at night.

Day 5. Returning home

Return to the city of Coca to take the morning flight back to Quito. The canoe ride upstream will take around two hours.

Sample 4 day Itinerary

Day 1 Quito – Coca – Yasuní National Park

Depart from Quito in the morning, flight to Francisco de Orellana (Coca), arriving to Coca after a short 30 minutes trip. Transfer to the Napo River port then the motorized canoe ride downstream will be approximately one and a half hours; during the trip we will provide important information about the region. Once on board the Manatee Amazon Explorer will start navigating down the Napo River for the whole afternoon. At dusk our first live experience with the Ecuadorian Amazon basin will begin (night walk, visit to a Native House or canoe ride will depend on the river level, climatic conditions, wildlife behavior and accessibility to a location).

Day 2 Visiting the Pañacocha Biological Corridor

We will continue our navigation downstream to arrive close to the mouth of the Pañayacu (Piranha River). After arrival, there will be a canoe trip through the Piranha River to see the sights of this interesting protected forest. There is a possibility to observe Pink River Dolphins, the agile Common Squirrel Monkeys and much more. The Piranha Lake area is an ecosystem flooded by white waters. The rivers and lakes of that place are perfect habitat for the infamous Piranha, the Water Monkey Fish (Arawana) and White Caimans. At night, there will be an optional excursion to explore the forest and riverbanks.

Day 3 Visiting a Native House and CICAME Museum – Limoncocha Biological Reserve

In the morning we will visit a Native House from the Kichwa people that lives inside of the Yasuni National Park with an interesting walk in a mature forest if the time permits after this a short visit to the CICAME Archeological Museum, which preserves pottery from the Omagua Culture, one of the first forest pre-Columbian residents of the Napo River basin. This is also a good place to shop local handicrafts made from rainforest materials. In the afternoon, there will be a visit to the Limoncocha Biological Reserve, an incredible area to find lots of birds, some monkeys and at night looking for the Black Caiman return to the Manatee at night.

Day 4. Returning home

Return to the city of Coca to take the morning flight back to Quito. The canoe ride upstream will take around two hours.

Please note: While it is our intention to adhere to the route described above, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. On daily basis of your tour you will be advised of any amendments.

The Exploration Leaders will always be offering information about the region, tours, weather conditions, navigation, native cultures and probabilities to encounter wildlife through lectures, briefings, recaps and videos.

DECK PLAN:

SPECIFICATIONS:

Our 90 foot long (27 mt) 24 foot wide (7 mt) Manatee Amazon Explorer riverboat has been specially built for cruises in the Ecuadorean rainforest, accommodating 30 lucky guests in comfortable cabins with private bathrooms and running hot water, individual air conditioning, on board laundry service, large dining room, inviting bar and lounge area, panoramic terrace, delicious cuisine and the finest multilingual naturalist guides.  In addition, it is equipped with two powerful 250 HP engines for a 12 knot output, two 60 kw generators for 110 and 220 V/60 cylces, Furuno GPS, deep sounder, radar, VHF, HF, satellite phone, video/cable and the highest safety standards, personable service and efficiency.

Prices for 2008
Prices For	Single	Double	Triple
4 days / 3 nights Friday to Monday	$761	$507	$432
5 days / 4 nights Monday to Friday	$1,015	$675	$577

Children under 12 receive a 50% discount (on double rate)
All rates are per person, in US dollars and subject to change at any time.
Itineraries are subject to change at any time and for any reason
NOT INCLUDED:
Quito-Coca-Quito add $120 US
Yasuni National Park Fee (paid locally) add $25

Casa del Suizo.

Only 300 km south-east of Quito lies the Casa del Suizo Eco-lodge. We start early in the morning for our 6 hour drive to the jungle. We pass through paramos and cloud forests, enjoying the different biodiversity of our country and experiencing the changes in the temperature due to the microclimates on the Equator. Once we get to our destination at La Punta, we embark in our canoe for the trip down the Napo river. We arrive at the lodge where lunch will be served. We are now ready to explore the nearest community of the Quichua Indians, to see how they live and work the plantations that they have in this region.

After breakfast we will be taken by our local and bilingual guide to the river. Having experienced a wonderful ride along the waters of the jungle, we will walk through the Amazon rain forest, where we will discover much more about the flora and fauna of the area.

After an early breakfast, we navigate our canoe back to La Punta. Our driver will then take us onwards to Quito. Once again we will experience the changes in climate and vegetation, but this time from lower to upper levels in the Andes. At the half-way point, we have lunch at Baeza and we are then ready to enjoy the stunning thermal springs at Papallacta which lies at an altitude of 3.300 m. We then make a late arrival at our hotel in Quito.

 
Note: Notice that you can request an extension at Casa del Suizo Lodge for an additional night, to enjoy all the activities that the Lodge offers

FOR MORE INFORMATION IN ANY OF OUR PACKAGES TO THE ECUADORIAN AMAZON JUNGLE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT A TRAVEL SPECIALIST; CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-454-9060.

 

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