Day 1 Napo Wildlife Center (L,D)

Departing from Quito, Ecuador’s capital city, a 30-minute flight over the eastern Andes brings us to the jungle town of Coca. On arrival, Napo Wildlife Center staff will welcome us and take us to the river port, a journey of just 5 minutes by vehicle from the airport.

Here is where the real adventure begins! At the port we get on a motorized canoe and travel downstream along the Napo River, a major tributary of the Amazon. During the trip, we will be on the lookout for different birds such as kingfishers and herons and have plenty of time to admire the incredible views of the Amazon jungle. Box lunch will be provided.

After a two-hour canoe ride along the Napo River, we arrive at the lodge’s welcoming area where we take a short break to freshen up and use the restrooms. Then, we continue our journey to the lodge in paddle-canoes. This majestic and peaceful dugout canoe ride along a narrow stream will lead us to the Añangu Lake, where the lodge is located. Late afternoon arrival at the Napo Wildlife Center.

Dinner and overnight at the Napo Wildlife Center.

Day 2

Adventure at the Napo Wildlife Center begins early in the morning with a visit to the parrot clay lick.

A visit to a clay lick is a noisy and colourful experience. Around 10 species of birds including parrots, macaws and parakeets visit the clay lick every day to feed on the minerals that are concentrated in the soil which is found here.

Later on, we hike along a forest trail to visit the Kichwa Añangu people to share time with the men, women and children of the community and learn about their every-day activities, routines, ancestral customs and traditions.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight at the Napo Wildlife Center.

Day 3

After breakfast we depart for the Canopy Observation Tower, a high platform from where we get a bird’s eye view of the jungle. The tower is around 30 minutes from the lodge within the Terra Firme forest.

This wooden platform which is 36 meters high was built next to a huge and ancient Kapok tree. To get to the top we pass through different levels of the forest. Then, when we are finally there, the immensity and beauty of the Amazon jungle opens up before us. There are no words to describe it, you have to experience it yourself!

Birds that are just virtually impossible to see from the jungle floor will pass right by us. Flocks of vibrantly colored tanagers, macaws and large toucans fly past in the early mornings and afternoons.

After lunch back at the lodge, we will go deep into the jungle along a Terra Firme trail to discover the beautiful and mysterious wildlife that hides in the forest’s interior. There are great possibilities to see lizards, different species of monkeys such as the endemic Golden Mantled Tamarin, rare and unique insects and even snakes!

Also, we will have the chance to explore the black water streams of the Añangu lake by paddle canoe. These waters are home to many different species of fish and mammals such as caiman and the giant otter, a species unique to the Amazon.

Day 4

On the last day we will depart after an early breakfast to go back to Coca, going out the way we came in with a ride on a paddle-canoe to the welcome area and then embarking on a motorized canoe back to the jungle town of Coca. During this last excursion the creek may reveal new sights of rare bird species and monkeys.