Join an 8-day journey to the Amazon Basin, the world´s largest body of freshwater, aboard the ample and comfortable Manatee. During your stay in the Napo River experience jungle walks, kayak adventures, swimming activities, and cultural encounters with local communities. Your journey includes the chance to see the famous pink river dolphin, common squirrel monkeys, monkey fish, white caiman, and the infamous piranha.
Highlights
Admire the enchanting rainforest landscape of the Napo River
Have a special and intimate encounter with the pygmy marmoset
Engage in a wonderful kayaking adventure along the river shores
Attend a cooking class inspired by the rich cultures of the Amazonia
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Your adventure begins in El Coca, at the Province of Francisco de Orellana, where your navigation along the Napo River begins. First, embark on a motorized canoe and navigate down the Napo River in order to board the New M/V Manatee Amazon Explorer. Throughout this expedition have a chance to admire the enchanting rainforest landscape of the great Napo River.
Once on board the M/V Manatee, enjoy lunch and begin navigating down the Napo River. In the evening, there is a welcome cocktail and a presentation about the trip, and an optional nocturnal forest walk.
At sunrise, begin navigating downstream while through the Napo River. Be able to admire the different animals and plants that make up the fascinating Amazonia.
After navigating for a couple of hours, have a special and intimate encounter with the pygmy marmoset. This is perhaps the smallest primate in the Amazon and even in the world, weighting just over 100 grams. After you have taken lifetime pictures, visit Nuevo Rocafuerte. Here you can learn about first mestizo who settled in the Ecuadorian Amazon, their culture, and the interesting objects found here such as: rubber, gold, and leather.
Enjoy lunch onboard, with distinct and delicious flavors only found in the Amazon. Continue navigating on the Napo River to later change to the Aguarico River (which empties into the Napo River and runs along the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border). In the late afternoon, visit Cocaya, where you are able to have an on-hands encounter with the Amazon wildlife, only this time, with dolphins. In Cocaya explore some creeks, around sunset return to the New M/V Manatee and spend the night on the Aguarico River.
Day 3: Aguarico River | Lagartococha | River of Caimans
When birds begin chirping and the sun rises, the New M/V Manatee rows upstream the Aguarico River until reaching Lagartococha or River of Caimans by the late afternoon. This is a river and lake system surrounded by pristine rainforest.
Enjoy breakfast on board at sunrise. This is the perfect opportunity to spend time at the top the observation deck to enjoy the wonderful sensory experience offered by the cruise navigation. A morning walk is offered after breakfast. This walk is filled with adventure and knowledge provided by the rich history of the Amazon. The New M/V Manatee continues rowing upstream to the final destination of the night, River of Caimans.
After breakfast, visit the Cofan indigenous community. Enjoy a guided walk where you are able to step on the very lands in which this culture was formed. In the morning have the opportunity to engage in a wonderful kayaking adventure along the river shores and encounter unique species within a few meters of your kayaks Here enjoy a tasting of Casabe, a thousand-year-old recipe that has endured the test of time. Casabe is a flat tortilla made of the native cassava.
Return to Rocafuerte after lunch and board the New M/V Manatee. As you navigate through the enchanting river, enjoy a BBQ style dinner aboard. After dinner, you can rest for the exciting day ahead, or enjoy some of the amenities the cruise ship has to offer.
Your adventure begins bright and early in order to explore the notorious Yasuni National Park. Try to cover a significant extension of the national park that holds, “The Most diverse biosphere on Earth.” After spending the entire morning in the Yasuni National Park, lunch awaits on board the New M/V Manatee.
After lunch visit the Oraco Family which is a Quechua house where you can learn about their traditions and lifestyle. In the evening, enjoy various optional activities including: a cooking class inspired by the rich cultures of the Amazonia. In the afternoon enjoy kayaking activities and discover incredible species at the river shores. The optional activities are definitely ones you do not want to miss!
After an early morning breakfast, watch the sun rise as you walk to Warmi Yuturi. In this destination, explore an enchanted lake where there are good chances to sight the magnificent manatees.
Lunch on board the new M/V Manatee before you continue your navigation upstream to the Pañayacu River delta. Take a canoe trip up the river to experience the sights of this fascinating reserve. Here you have the option of kayaking in the river and/or camp in Pañacocha. In the afternoon, head out on exploration trails, and return onboard for a delicious Amazon-style BBQ meal.
Option 1
Visit the Sani Warmi Kichwa Interpretation Center, where a group of Kichwa women speak to you about their customs, cuisine and everyday life. They have created the center in order to showcase their culture, and it is a unique opportunity to learn about Amazonian lifestyles along the Napo River. You also have the opportunity to buy crafts, local products and souvenirs.
Option 2
Join an early morning visit to watch the most amazing spectacles this side of western Amazon is known for, the parrot clay licks. These unique pools of mud become rich in minerals and attract hundreds of parrots, parakeets and amazons every day. If weather permits, have a chance to marvel at this astonishing natural phenomenon. Enjoy breakfast upon return to the new M/V Manatee. In the afternoon visit a canopy Tower for spectacular views of the Rainforest.
Day 8: Disembark | Coca | Fly to Quito
1 Breakfast
In the morning disembark the New M/V Manatee and transfer by motorized canoe to Coca (1-hour ride). Then fly to Quito and prepare for your return home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$2,429
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Standard
20 sq meters, 10 cabins, 8 with twin single or double beds and 2 triple occupancy cabins with a twin bunk and a single bed. Each cabin features large picture windows and a balcony. Equipped with air conditioning, closets, bedside table, 24 hours of electricity and 110-voltage outlets and switches.
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Deluxe
24 sq meters, 4 suites with twin single or double beds, or a double bed and a single pull out bed in the triple occupancy cabins. Each cabin features large picture windows, a balcony, and private Jacuzzi style baths. Each cabin is equipped with air conditioning, closets, bedside table, 24 hours of electricity and 110-voltage outlets and switches.
Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
1 day ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
3 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
4 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
