Napo Cultural Center - Sumak Kausay

Take a 30-minute flight over the Andean Eastern Cordillera to Puerto Francisco de Orellana (El Coca). A representative will meet you and transfer you by private vehicle to the dock on the Payamino River. Here, you can rest, use the facilities, and have a refreshing drink before receiving a box lunch for the journey. Your luggage will be sent directly to the accommodation.

Board a covered boat for a two-hour trip along the Napo River. Upon arrival at the Napo Cultural Center, explore the ancestral territory of the Kichwa Añangu Community, located in Yasuní National Park. Staff will welcome you with a traditional Guayusa drink, and the manager will provide an overview of the hotel's services before guiding you to your room overlooking the rainforest.

In the afternoon, hike to a 40-meter observation tower for a chance to see toucans, parrots, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, sloths, and other wildlife. The tower offers a panoramic view of the Amazon and a stunning sunset.

Alternatively, take a kayak ride on the Napo River to experience the sunset from the water.

Return to the hotel to freshen up and enjoy a well-earned dinner.

*Please note that Air tickets for Quito – Coca – Quito, including assistance at the Quito airport, check-in support, and land transfers in Coca, are available at an additional cost. Please discuss with your trip planner for more information and booking options.

After breakfast, take a motorized canoe to the Parrot Clay Lick along the Napo River in the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve. Arrive just before the morning activity begins, with chances to see parrots and parakeets such as the Blue-headed Parrot, Orange-cheeked Parrot, Yellow-crowned Parrot, Dusky-headed Parakeet, and White-eyed Parakeet. Continue with a 30-minute walk through terra firme forest to reach another clay lick, where conditions may allow sightings of more parrots, parakeets, and macaws. Other bird and mammal species may also be present. Visit the Kuri Muyu intercultural interpretation center, run by the women of the Añangu Community, to learn about Kichwa traditions, including music, dance, and their use of natural resources. Browse the handicraft shop featuring handmade items that support local artisans. Return to the community center for lunch and a break at the lodge.

In the afternoon, board a boat for an excursion along Añangu Creek, a blackwater ecosystem where monkeys, caimans, and possibly giant otters can be seen. After dinner, take a night walk with a flashlight to spot insects, reptiles, and nocturnal mammals, including some monkey species active after dark.

Start the day with breakfast at sunrise before visiting sustainable community projects to learn about Kichwa worldview. Then, walk through the terra firme forest, where you can spot wildlife, giant ceiba trees, strangler figs, bamboo canes, vines, and endemic shrubs of Yasuní.

Return to the lodge for lunch and a break before climbing the second observation tower, which stands 36 meters high. From the top, watch for colorful birds, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and other wildlife.

Back at the lodge in the afternoon, take time to unwind before a dinner featuring Amazonian flavors like maito, a grilled fish wrapped in a bijao leaf. Those feeling adventurous can try roasted chonta worms, known locally as chontakuru.

End the night on the Napo River aboard the ancestral catamaran. Listen to Kichwa legends and traditional songs as women prepare snacks over an open fire to share with guests.

The final day begins early with the guayusada ritual at 4:30 a.m. A Kichwa family shares the traditional guayusa drink, passing down ancestral knowledge through songs and storytelling. A mamakuna may interpret dreams for those interested. Afterward, breakfast is served while the staff handles luggage for the return to El Coca. A motorized canoe ride offers one last view of the Ecuadorian jungle before reaching the port.