YASUNI
NATIONAL PARK
napo wildlife Center - Añangu community
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness"
PREMIUM ITINERARY 4D/3N NATURAL HISTORY TOUR
DAY 1
QUITO - YASUNI NATIONAL PARK (NWC)
Day 1: Quito - NWC
You’ll be transfer from your hotel in Quito to the airport to take your flight to the Amazon Region. Departing from Quito, Ecuador’s capital city, a 45-minute flight over the eastern Andes will take you to the city of Francisco de Orellana locally known as Coca. There, members of our staff will be waiting for you to give you a warm welcome and to take you to the Francisco de Orellana Port –which is only 5 minutes away from the airport. And here is where the real adventure begins! At the port you will get on a motorized canoe downstream the Napo River, the major tributary of the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador. During the trip, you will have the chance to see different birds such as kingfishers, herons, lapwings, oropendolas, and many others. Admire the incredible views of the Amazon jungle that opens before your eyes. A box lunch will be provided on the way. After two-hour ride along the Napo River, you will arrive at the NWC’s dock entrance to take a short break to freshen up and use the restrooms. Then, you will continue your way to the lodge on paddle-canoes, giving you the opportunity to admire the rainforest biodiversity in its purest state. Your bilingual naturalist and native guide will lead you through this majestic and peaceful dugout canoe ride along a narrow creek that brings you to the Añangu Lake, where the Napo Wildlife Center lodge is located. Our staff will welcome you with drinks and show your rooms and other areas of the lodge.
DAY 2
PARROT CLAY LICKS
DAY 2: PARROT CLAY LICKS
Adventure at the Napo Wildlife Center begins early in the morning! In this second day at the premium Amazon Jungle tour, you will witness one of the most incredible nature events: the parrot clay licks. It will only take you about an hour to get to the first parrot clay lick. Once you get there, at about 7:30 am you’ll witness a real show of colors and sounds. About 11 species of birds such as parrots, macaws and parakeets have been recorded visiting the clay licks every day.
These are extremely important sites of exposed clay rich in minerals and salts. Birds and mammals in the Amazon rainforest need to ingest soil (geophagy) in order to obtain salt and other essential minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium and, which are lacking in the food they consume. Later on, you will hike throughout a Terra Firme forest trail for 30 minutes to reach the second parrot clay lick where you’ll admire different species of parakeets and macaws. Later you’ll visit the Kichwa Añangu community to share time with the men, women and children of the community and learn about their every-day-life activities, routines and their ancestral customs and traditions. Then, you will say goodbye to the families and continue your adventure to return back to lodge by paddle canoe through the creek observing more wildlife. A well-deserved drink and rest wait for you while you enjoy from the lodge social areas and comfortable-luxury rooms.
DAY 3
CANOPY TOWER
DAY 3: CANOPY TOWER
A delicious breakfast will be served at the NWC restaurant early in the morning. After that, you will depart to the Canopy Observation Tower, a high platform from which you will get a close up view of the most amazing views of the jungle. The tower is about 30 minutes from the lodge within the terra firme forest. This platform is 36 meters high, it was built just next a huge and ancient Kapok tree. To get to the top you have to pass through different levels of the forest. Then, when you are finally there, the immensity and beauty of the Amazon jungle opens just before you. There are not enough words to describe it, you have to live it yourself! Birds that are virtually impossible to see from the jungle floor will pass right by you. Flocks of vibrantly colored tanagers, blue-and-yellow macaws and toucans fly past in the early morning. You’ll return to the lodge for lunch, time to rest and refresh yourself. Later in the afternoon you’ll hike deep into a terra firme trail to discover the beautiful and mysterious wildlife that hides in the forest interior. There are great possibilities to see lizards, different species of monkeys such as the endemic Golden- mantle Tamarin, plus rare and unique insects, amphibians and more.
DAY 4
NWC - QUITO
You will depart after an early breakfast to return to Coca city and repeat the adventure going out the way you came: a ride on a paddle-canoe to the docking area and then embarking on a motorized canoe to Coca. During this last excursion the creek may reveal new sights of rare bird species, monkeys and Giant Otters will possibly show up to see you off!
Trip considerations
PLEASE NOTE:
This is a sample itinerary subject to change due to weather conditions, safety, and particular interests of guests and groups. Changes and additions are made in order to maximize birding, wilderness enjoyment and cultural interaction with local people.
Pricing
private tour
PRICE PER PERSON
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
PRICE PER PERSON
- 2023 RATES SHARED SERVICE
- Single Standard Accommodation USD $2260
- Double or Triple Standard Accommodation USD $1425
- Suite Single Accommodation USD $2684
- Suite Double or Triple Accommodation USD $1685
- If you require a private specialized birding guide, please let us know to arrange this customized tour.
INCLUDED
-Accommodations:
-All meals, purified bottle water
-Air tickets Quito-Puerto Francisco de Orellana – Quito
-River transportation
-Transfers In-Out
-All excursions including visits to the exclusive Yasuni National Park parrot clay licks
-Bilingual Naturalist guide
-Entrance fees to the Yasuni National Park and all the reserve
NOT INCLUDED
-International airfare
-Drinks
-Tips
-Any other item not specified
– A city tour in Old Town Quito can be included upon request at the beginning of the trip.
