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Overview

Discovery Cruise on the Amazon River in Ecuador

Like an immense emerald blanket, the Amazon River snakes through tens of thousands of kilometers across South America, carving myriad natural treasures along its course. This discovery cruise on the Amazon River will take you far from Brazil’s popular tourist routes to the most secret twists and turns of this exotic river as it meanders through the depths of jungles that stretch all the way to eastern Ecuador. Starting in Coca, you’ll float along the currents of the Napo River and discover remote communities that still live in complete harmony with nature, surrounded by countless species of plants and animals that have yet to be named. Your comfortable vessel will take you through wild, untamed and beautifully varied landscapes, navigating to villages and nature reserves like Yasuni and Limoncocha, where thousands of animal species thrive among giant flowers and immense webs of lianas that hang from the skies.
For a few days, see the world through the eyes of a conquistador as you follow in the footsteps of Aguirre, a Spanish explorer that took this very route five centuries ago and was awestruck by the incredible natural beauty of this magical area. Magnificent bird songs, slithering shadows of reptiles, and tribal rhythms from riverside villages will immerse you in a wild world unlike any you have ever experienced, for a complete change of scenery.

Make sure you contact Uniktour’s Ecuador specialist for more information on this incredible discovery cruise on the Amazon River!

Itinerary

Day 1| Quito – Coca – Yasuní National Park
Departure from Quito in the morning, flight to Francisco de Orellana (Coca), arrives 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 boat will start navigating down the Napo River during 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 the location).

Day 2| Sani and the Observation Tower
On the second day of our cruise, we will visit the Sani community which is located of the shore of the northern part of the Napo river. This community has gathered to work in tourism programs in a sustainable manner. They are our strategic partners who allow us to explore within their lands so we can develop our canoe expeditions, hikes, and observation tower visits. The “observation tower” was built around a tree to observe
the different ecosystems of the forest and a wide variety of birds. After lunch, which will be a delicious BBQ in the area, we will have the opportunity to swim, and to paddle on a fantastic canoe ride where we can see a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Day 3| Parrot'Lick – Kichwa Center
Breakfast will be served on board. Then starts our excursion to the Parrot’s lick, a great place to see plenty bird species. We will go back on board for lunch, and in the afternoon, we will visit a Kichwa Native house, where a native guide will explain their way of life and traditions.

Day 4| Museo del Agua - Limoncocha Biological Reserve
Breakfast will be served on boar, and later on we will stop at the Museo del Agua (Water Museum), which displays the species that live under water in the Amazonian rivers. In the afternoon, there will be a visit to the Limoncocha Biological Reserve, an incredible area to find plenty bird species, some monkeys and at night, a search for the black caiman. Return to the boat at night.

Day 5|Departure or connection
Return to the city of Coca to take the morning flight back to Quito. The canoe ride upstream will take around two hours.

Important: Departures on this specific cruise on mondays only
NOTE 1: Itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions, river water level, and logistic reasons. Every night there will be additional activities such as conferences and flora and fauna overview.
NOTE 2: Just ask our destination specialist for additional itineraries (4 and 8 days)

Budget

**Rates published on this website are for information purposes only and are not legally binding (since departure dates are not given). Prices on this website are known to fluctuate frequently in relation to changes in currencies and hotel pricing. In order to obtain a definite quote, please click here.

Other fees

Overview

The country of Ecuador lies on the Pacific coast of South America, bordered by Columbia to the north and Peru to the east and south. There 14.3 million Ecuadorians scattered across a territory whose total surface area is 283 000 km2. Ecuador takes its name from the fact that it straddles the line that separates the planet’s two hemispheres. The official language is Spanish, but many native communities living in the Andes and in the eastern shuar still speak Quechua, a language that dates back to the Inca Empire.

Ecuador is split into four main geographical areas: the Costa, the Sierra, the Amazon, and the Galapagos archipelago. Each region has its own distinct and unique climate and landscapes, which makes this a country of natural contrasts. Traveling through the wonderful natural world of Ecuador, we can float along the currents of wide rivers and narrow streams, take a rest on the shores of crystal-clear lakes, explore mysterious caves and gaze at bizarre and unique plant and animal species that evolved far from Man on deserted islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Geography

Continental Ecuador is divided into three clearly delimited geographical areas from east to west. The coast, known as Costa, covers a third of the western region, stretching for 800 km from the foothills of the Andes all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The mountain range, or Sierra, seems to split the country in half. Many mountains in this area reach dizzying heights, including Chimborazo (6310 m), the country’s highest peak, and the mythical Cotopaxi, the world’s tallest active volcano, with an altitude of 5897 meters. This region is also home to the country capital, Quito, as well as many other of the country’s important urban areas. The Oriente is the region starting along the eastern slopes of the mountains that is covered by the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. With such luxuriant vegetation, the Oriente is relatively hard to reach, and is therefore sparsely populated.

It is important to mention the Galapagos archipelago, a group of 48 volcanic islands located 960 km from the Ecuadorian coast: these islands’ rich biodiversity earned them the status of UNESCO world heritage site.

Culture

Like many other South American countries, Ecuador has had an eventful history. Early in the 16th century, it was conquered by the Inca Empire, which was conquered in one fell swoop with the arrival of Pizarro and the Spanish conquistadors in 1532, who the Incas saw as magicians. Offering no resistance, the Inca Empire was quickly overrun. This was the beginning of the colonial era, which dramatically altered the country’s identity. Nowadays, it is impossible to ignore the heritage left by this conquest, particularly when looking at the architecture and the superb baroque buildings in the bigger cities. The Catholic Church has also played a major role since the beginning of the Spanish conquest. Still today, Ecuadorians are very religious: close to 95% of the population is catholic. However, in many cases Catholicism was merely added to the country’s indigenous beliefs, which often has created some rather surprising religious views. Also, the more we travel into the Andean regions, the more we find Quechua traditions and other relics of the pre-Columbian era, offering a rare glimpse into the foundations of Ecuador.

Ecuador is a flamboyant country bursting with cultural contrasts and alive with traditional music. Rich from centuries of varied influences, Ecuadorian music blends Spanish sounds with the traditional pan flute music from the Andes. In addition, African influences dating back to a long period of slavery are still very apparent.

To properly get a grasp of this country’s soul, all you need is to make your way to any of the many typical markets that bring the cities and villages to life early in the morning: fruits and vegetables, cattle, ceramics, hats, carpets, and handicrafts of all kinds are waiting to dazzle you with their colors! Here, shopkeepers selling textiles and handicrafts exchange light-hearted and passionate rants with each other, creating a great spectacle that visitors are sure to enjoy! By far the country’s most famous market, flamboyant Otavalo market offers a condensed version of Ecuadorian handicrafts. Here you’ll find magnificent wools, carpets, and ponchos. Of course, this is also a great place to marvel at the beauty of the handicrafts produced by the Otavalo Indians.

Many festivals and celebrations give life to the Ecuadorian calendar and offer a great way to get to know the country:

- Mardi Gras in February: the country’s most important festival, celebrated with colorful carnivals.
- The Corn and Tourism Festival, held during the last week of June: with parades featuring traditional groups and street mimes, this colorful festival is also a great opportunity to view some of the local handicraft exhibitions. Not to be missed.
- The Fiesta de San Juan, in June: this lively Indian celebration features a wide variety of costumes and dances. It lasts for 3 days and 3 nights and ends with a mass.
- Esmeralda’s Independence, on August 5th: for almost a week, people celebrate dancing during this festival that focuses on merengue and salsa.
- Todos los Santos, November 1st: Day of the dead during which people converge to the cemeteries in order to invite the deceased to come back to the world of the living. This important day is an opportunity to honor the deceased by decorating their tombs, but also to play music and sample some local dishes.
- Foundation of Quito, in December: colorful vehicles and traditional music fill the streets, samba orchestras play and the atmosphere is out of this world.

Climate

Each of Ecuador’s main geographical areas has a its own distinct climate, allowing travelers to visit the country all year long. The climate is generally tropical, though the Andes’ influence means it is also moderate. Temperatures are therefore relatively cool in higher altitudes, and there are considerable variations between regions. In short, Ecuador has two main seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season lasts from December to May in the flatlands and from January to April on the coast, with daily showers that get stronger later in the day. It rains all year long in the Amazon region, though more precipitation occurs between April and June. The dry season lasts for the rest of the year.

The coast benefits from a warm and dry climate all year long, particularly between April and June. The beaches are lovely and the temperatures are generally ideal for swimming. The rainy season takes place between January and April. Later in the year between July and August, clouds and fog appear. The cold Humboldt Current influences climate in the southern coast, where temperatures are generally cooler.

The Sierra | The Sierra’s climate is often described as “permanent spring”. Here, temperatures stay cool, particularly in higher altitudes (14°C to 18°C), and temperature differences between night and day are surprising. The rainy season lasts from December to May, but there is considerable cloud cover throughout the year. The best time to visit is between June and September, when temperatures are generally comfortable and there is less humidity.

The Oriente | As one would expect, the Oriente climate is hot and humid, with rainfall occurring throughout the year, especially between April and June. The tropical forest covers most of the eastern half of the country, and the average temperature is 25°C. It can get pretty cold in the forest, particularly at night and when it rains.

The Galápagos | The climate of the Galápagos Islands is influenced by the Humboldt Current and is thus dry and tropical. There are two main seasons: the dry season (or Garua season) and the warm season. During the dry season, which lasts between June and November, temperatures oscillate between 20°C and 24°C and the waters are cooler than during the rainy season. There is very little rain, but the wind blowing from the south brings a quasi-permanent fog (Garuas). During the warm season, which lasts from December to May, average temperatures rise to 25°C, with a warm sun and sporadic rains.