Amazon River Cruise

Welcome to Quito, the capital of Ecuador! Make your way to your hotel and prepare to start your tour in the morning.

Leave Quito and fly to the town of Coca, which is also known as Puerto Francisco de Orellana. The short flight only takes about 30 minutes. After landing in Coca, a short transfer takes you to the river, where your rainforest journey begins with a 1-hour motorized canoe ride. This ride ends at the incredible MV Anakonda, where you can settle into your luxury suite. The Anakonda will navigate downstream today, giving you time to explore this delightful ship and admire the beautiful rainforest that surrounds you on the banks of the Napo River. After sunset, take a walk in the forest to experience the sights and sounds of nocturnal creatures.

Begin the day with breakfast on the ship, then go ashore to experience the tropical rainforest in the daylight. Your guide is a certified naturalist who will teach you about the interconnected relationships among the plants and animals that call this amazing environment home. See for yourself how this amazing ecosystem flourishes together.

After lunch aboard the ship, the Anakonda travels to a pristine and rarely visited area of Amazonia which is home to pink river dolphins, black caiman alligators, and anacondas. You may also see a variety of monkeys and river turtles. There is also a unique bird called a hoatzin, which the locals refer to as a “stinky turkey”. This area can only be explored by canoe and you will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the dense vegetation in this world apart. For those looking for a little more adventure, ask for more information about “glamping” in this environment.

After breakfast, go ashore again to visit a local school that’s situated beside the Napo River. Here you can interact with the children from this area who attend this school and learn more about the challenges and opportunities of an educational system serving the communities of this remote rainforest region. Return to the ship to eat lunch and relax onboard as the Anakonda takes you back upstream. Pass the time on the ship with a lecture or watching a documentary. Try your hand at some traditional local crafts. Then spend the afternoon exploring one of the Napo River’s largest islands.

Today’s adventure begins with a visit to an observation tower. Built with the support of a huge kapok tree, this tower rises 100 feet into the air, where you can gain a spectacular new perspective on the rainforest. Here, above the canopy, you’ll look down on the expansive Amazon Basin. Later, you’ll have the chance to visit the Limoncocha Biological Reserve. There are nearly 500 documented species of birds living in this protected area, as well as several species of monkeys. Continue exploring Limoncocha as darkness falls over the jungle, then use flashlights to spot enormous black caiman alligators. Return to the ship for dinner and one last night aboard the Anakonda.

Say farewell to the MV Anakonda today as a motorized canoe takes you back to Coca. After this 1-hour canoe ride, fly from Coca to Quito. This concludes your tour. Pleasant travels from Quito on to your final destination.