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Ecuador Adventure - Manatee Voyage and Sacha Lodge

By : Stephen Krupnick
Trip Begins April 24, 2010
Trip Ends May 6, 2010

Delving into the rich wildlife of the Amazon, we explore the Napo and Aguarico Rivers of Ecuador. Then it on to Sacha Lodge to experience the unique atmosphere at this ecolodge on our Ecuador tour.
See my photos : Ecuador Adventure - Manatee Voyage and Sacha Lodge

Want to go? Sacha Lodge, Manatee: 4 Day Amazon Exploration: Search for the Pink Dolphin

I went to: South America, Ecuador, Amazon, Quito, Coca, Sacha Lodge, Hotel Eugenia, Amazonas - Ecuador
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April 24, 2010
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Ecuador - Home of big rivers and BIGGER bugs.

Hotel Eugenia, Quito

(Photo 1: Here's a bug crawling on a 2 by 4. He's a big guy.)

Another item on the bucket list -- to visit the Amazon. A trip is planned to Ecuador, part of the Amazon basin and the Napo River, one of the major sources of the Amazon River.

My flight leaves from Los Angeles, with a change of planes in Miami, and then it's off the Quito, Ecuador. There is always a level of excitement whenever I'm on a flight to another continent, and this flight is no different.

Landing in Quito is an interesting exercise -- the airport appears to be in the center of the city, and the city is surrounded by mountains. Thankfully I'm on American Airlines, my favorite airline. We land, clear customs, and it's off to my hotel for a day or two prior to my flight to Coca, and the beginning of my Amazon journey.

April 25, 2010
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Around Quito

Hotel Eugenia, Quito

(Photo 2: Fresh fruits and Veggies at Quito market)

While in Quito though I have the pleasure of visiting some markets, seeing the city, sampling the wonderful Ecuadorian cuisine, and standing on the equator. The guides put you through a series of ''tests'', while standing on the northern hemisphere side of the equator, then on the southern side, and then directly on the equator. Very fascinating actually. A great day in Quito.

(Photo 3: The Equator)

April 26, 2010
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The start of my river cruise

Coca, Ecuador

It's time to start the next part of my journey -- my river cruise on the Manatee. I arrive in Quito, meet up with my fellow passengers, and head upriver in a motorized canoe. Within a couple of hours we see the Manatee anchored next to a dense growth of rain forest. We board, meet our guides and staff, and are assigned cabins. There are only 12 guests on board, which makes for a very fun and lively group.

(photo 4: The Manatee river boat)

A clean stateroom, a comfy bed, a good air conditioner, and plenty of hot water. It's a great way to start the trip

April 27, 2010
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Cruising the Napo

Napo River

The next five days are spent cruising the Napo, visiting indigenous settlements along the river. Taking canoe excursions up tributaries, and walks through the rain forest. At one stop, our guide Ernesto informs us that we're going to go swimming in Piranha Lake. OK, sure, we'll do that. Now Ernesto is a fairly big guy, so I decide to let him go in first. If the piranhas don't attack him first, I'm thinking we should be ok. Ernesto dives in and starts swimming around. After five minutes he's still in one piece so in I go. The water is a tea color from the run-off and the temperature is just about perfect. About an hour later it's time to get back in our canoe and head back to the Manatee and another great meal. By the way, the food on board was great, I'm very pleased. I'm definitely recommending this boat to my friends.

(Photo 5: Here is a shot of Ernesto diving into the piranha-infested waters - good luck Ernesto.)

April 30, 2010
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Next stop - Sacha Lodge

Sacha Lodge, Amazonas - Ecuador

To get there you take a canoe to the shore, walk about a mile or two, and then cross a lake by another canoe -- but no motors allowed on the lake. It's a great location, nestled in the rain forest, away from civilization.

(Photo 6: Welcome to Sacha Lodge)

(Photo 7: A cayman)

The next five days are spent at the lodge, taking canopy walks, walks through the rain forest, finding all sorts of creatures -- snakes, spiders, monkeys, Caymans, lots of different birds (especially one kind lovingly called ''stinky turkeys''), frogs, turtles, and assorted other creatures.

(Photo 8: ''Stinky turkeys'')

(Photo 9: A snake)

May 1, 2010
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Highlights

Sacha Lodge, Amazonas - Ecuador

A couple of highlights of the trip: Catching a piranha with a bamboo pole, seeing an anaconda, several caymans, spiders, and a beautiful meteor shower. By the way, we went swimming in the lake where we caught the piranha and saw the caymans and the anaconda. All I could think of was the opening scene of Jaws, just in miniature.

(photo 10: The piranha I caught)

The last part of the trip is coming up -- a two hour canoe ride back to Coca, and then back to Quito, and then home.

(photo 11: Canoe ride with everyone)

May 6, 2010
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A great trip

Quito, Ecuador

A great trip, lots of very interesting things to do, and one where I came away with an appreciation of the rain forest and it's amazing diversity of plant and animal life. This is definitely a recommended trip.

Next blog -- my trip to SE Asia -- another great trip planned by Adventure Life.

(Photo 12: Cambodia monks)

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