3 Night Cruise sailing from Quito roundtrip aboard Manatee.

Although expedition cruising by its very nature is characterized as adventurous, the safety of our staff and passengers is of paramount importance to us. The Manatee Amazon Explorer is fully-equipped and maintained in order to be able to cope with the most challenging conditions and circumstances, and is manned by experienced and conscientious officers, crew members and expedition staff. The canoes used for daily shore landings are rugged and versatile and are operated in a responsible manner by experienced personnel. Onboard you will be fully briefed on all pertinent safety issues as well as our environmental policy, and you will receive appropriate and detailed briefings before each landing.

Our vessel is comfortable, and it complies with both national and international navigation norms, as well as safety, security, and environmental protection standards. We are certified by Smart Voyager and Rainforest Alliance, both of which guarantee the sustainability of our operation.

EXPLORE THE AMAZON

The most incredible voyage to the Amazon Rainforest with an itinerary that includes visits to an ecosystem with an impressive diversity that is only possible onboard the Manatee Amazon Explorer. The Cuyabeno Natural Reserve, Yasuni National Park (the largest national park in Ecuador), Limoncocha Biological Reserve (the only one in Ecuador), the observation tower, canoe expeditions, walks in the rainforest and the wonderful indigenous peoples in this part of the world await your visit.

DAY 1 - FRIDAY : Quito - Coca - Yasuni National Park

Departure from Quito in the morning, to board the flight (additional cost) to Francisco de Orellana (Coca), which arrives at Coca after a short 30-minute trip. Afterwards, there will be a transfer from the airport to the Napo River port, where a motorized canoe will take you downstream for approximately one and a half hours; during the trip we will provide important information about the region. Once on board the MANATEE AMAZON EXPLORER, we will start navigating down the Napo River. Lunch will be served and later on we will stop at the Life Under Water Museum and will return onboard after a night walk, for dinner. Everything will depend on the river water level, weather conditions, wildlife behavior, and accessibility to the location.

DAY 2 - SATURDAY: Parrot Clay Lick and Observation Tower

Breakfast will be served on board. Then our excursion to the Parrot Clay lick (additional cost), a great place to see a lot of bird species. Back on board our lunch will be ready, and in the afternoon we will explore the Chaullacocha black water system, and depending on the river´s water level; we may access this wonderful system either by walking or by paddling a canoe. Then an exploration of the lake shores looking for wildlife, such as turtles, herons, and caymans, and later in the day, a visit to the canopy tower, which is more than 30 meters high, from which an impressive view of the forest can be seen from the top. From this perspective, we can appreciate the secrets of this vast ecosystem that cannot be seen from another angle. The tower has 300 steps that will be worth climbing to get to the top, where the most amazing view awaits you. Return to the MANATEE at night, after searching for caymans on the lake Chaullacocha Lake.

DAY 3 - SUNDAY: Visiting the Pañacocha Biological Corridor

We will continue our navigation downstream to arrive at the mouth of the Pañayacu (Piranha River). After arrival, there will be a canoe trip through the Piranha River to see the sights of this interesting protected forest. There will be the possibility to observe Pink River Dolphins, the agile Common Squirrel Monkeys and much more. The Piranha Lake area is an ecosystem flooded by white waters. The rivers and lakes of that place are the perfect habitat for the infamous Piranha, the Water Monkey Fish (Arawana) and White Caymans. After a refreshing swim in the Piranha Lake, we will enjoy a delicious Amazon-style BBQ and a cold drink at a nearby camping site. In the afternoon, we will go fore an exploration walk, and later on, when we are back on board, we will have dinner and receive a briefing about the next day's program

DAY 4 - MONDAY: Native Dwelling and returning home

Early in the morning we will visit a native dwelling, and then return to the boat and head back to the city of Coca to take the afternoon flight back to Quito (additional cost). The boat ride upstream will take around two hours; a lunch box will be served enroute.