YASUNI EXPLORER
With the Amazon camping expedition, you will have the Amazon Basin at your fingertips. It is the perfect adventure for nature lovers, jungle explorers and wildlife watchers who would like to experience the untouched Amazon. You will discover Ecuador’s Amazon in the Yasuni National Park, world famous for its tremendous biodiversity and its authentic indigenous cultures which are still very much alive. On this trip, while passing through rivers and lagoons, you will feel as if the animals are following you. You will see displays of parrots, toucans, macaws, king fishers, herons flying across the river, as well as curious giant otters who will approach the canoe to have a look. Many different types of monkeys will be jumping on the trees and there will be chances to spot jaguars, the master cat predators of the jungle. The Kichwa native people will share their history and we will learn about their rich connection with Mother Nature.
Flip to the Ecuador mainland and depart for this deep Amazon expedition in a remote and untouched area of the UNESCO YASUNI Biosphere Reserve & National Park. Experience the tremendous biodiversity and wildlife of the reserve and connect with a native Kichwa tribe still living in the authentic and traditional way, while camping in the heart of the dense rainforest. Live the adventure as you promote long-term conservation and sustainability in two of the most precious,diverse ecosystems in the world!
Unique Experiences:
- Camp along the river shore in the heart of the Amazon rainforest and explore the jungle in the dark through an amazing night hike.
- Share time with native Kichwa people, hearing their stories and legends and learning about their traditions, which are still alive.
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DepartureQuito / Ecuador
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IncludedActivitiesLand TransportationFees and entrances to parks and museumsMeals detailed in the itinerary
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Not IncludedDomestic flightsAirport tranfer in & outInternational flight
FROM OUR GALLERY
DAY 1: QUITO - COCA - MANDARI PANGA
Upon arrival in the city of Coca, you will be picked up by the staff of Mandari Panga to begin your tour. They will have the option to have breakfast before starting the journey to the camp, which is located within the Yasuní National Park, immersed in the enormous biodiversity of the area that is considered worldwide as one of the largest in the world. The trip will take 2 hours in land transport, an hour and a half in motorized canoe traveling along the Tiputini River with the whole extension of the park adorning the landscape. They will arrive to Mandari Panga where they can be accommodated in the first class camping tents (located in typical constructions of high platforms with roof safe of mosquitoes), they will enjoy a delicious lunch. They will have a traditional welcome drink along with a small introductory talk by a guide. In the afternoon you will make a walk in the jungle with a duration of one hour and a half or two hours where you will observe some species of animals that live in the area, and then enjoy a delicious dinner served in the common dining room, where you can also share a pleasant moment with the rest of the passengers and staff of Mandari Panga. Accommodation: Campsite in Mandari Panga
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 2: HUANGANA TRAIL WALK (WILD PIG) TRAIL- VISIT GRAN MOTHER NATIVE HOUSE
After a delicious breakfast in the morning, you will cross the Tiputini river by canoe to the other shore to begin your hike in Huangana Trail that crosses the virgin forest where you will be partakers of the wild life in its maximum splendor, surrounded by the surrounding sounds of the nature and the screams of howler monkeys. The duration of the walk in a circle is approximately 5 to 6 hours and at the end will be the canoe to go back to the camp. Enjoy a delucious local lunch delicious local cuisine in a place full of history and tradition, an old family home, which was rebuilt and now is the dining room of visitors. You can rest a bit, before continuing with a one hour walk in the Lamedero Sahino (wild pig clay lick), named for the species of mountain pig called pecari, which exists in the area. You can rest a bit, before continuing with a one hour walk in the Lamedero Sahino (wild pig clay lick), named for the species of mountain pig called pecari, which exists in the area. They will return to the camp and enjoy a delicious dinner, and then go on a night walk of about 1 hour where they can see all kinds of amphibians, fireflies, insects and arachnids.Accommodation: Campsite in Mandari Panga
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 3: VISIT TO PARROTS CLAY LICK - LOMA TUCAN BIRDS WATCHING - TUCAN TRAIL
After breakfast, you will take a canoe trip of approximately 40 minutes again the current of Tiputini River , in this way you will be able to observe some species of animals, until you reach a small branch of a stream called Rumiyacu (stone river) that will guide you to the Parrot Lick: the place most representative of animal life and especially in variety of birds among them are: toucans, parrots, macaws, pigeons and other species of animals such as small tamarin monkeys, pigmy marmoset monkeys. In addition the place has sometimes predators such as: snakes, boas and raptors. At noon, they will return to the camp where lunch will be served to rest a little later. At around 3:30 p.m., the trek will begin along a new trail near the camp known as the Tucan Trail, which lasts approximately one hour. Back in the camp, you will go fishing for piranhas and other fish along the Tiputini River that can be served at the dinner that will be prepared upon arrival at the camp. Accommodation: Campsite in Mandari Panga
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 4: RETURN TO COCA
Breakfast will be served early in the morning depending on the time your transport returns to Quito. They will leave the camp in a motorized canoe for an hour and a half and then take a 2 hours land transport to the city of Coca, then continue with their return trip. If the group has a flight in the afternoon or departure from the group by land, you could have an activity in the morning and have an early lunch in Mandari Panga.WRITE A REVIEW
What's Included?
- Transportation: private and comfortable land transportation, motorized canoe, dugout canoe.
- Accommodation based in double occupancy: 3 nights in Amazon Explorer Campsite - comfortable safari stile tent camping inside of Yasuni National Park.
- Meals: 3 Breakfast, 4 Lunches and 3 Dinners.
- Activities: Navigations in Tiputini River, Anaconda lagoon, parrots clay lick (Saladero), Hiking in pristine forest, Visiting the native Kichwa communities, Wildlife spotting, Night hikes.
- Gear: Dry bags, life jackets, dugout canoe with outboard motor, rubber boots.
- Staff: Certified AJ expert English-speaking naturalist trip leader and local guides
What is not included?
- Airfare Quito-Coca round trip (optional travel by bus).
- My Own Room & Tent supplement $260.
- International flights.
- Airport transfers to/from Quito airport.
- Travel insurance (mandatory).
- Required immunizations (mandatory) (yellow fiver vaccination).
- Meals not described in the itinerary.
- Personal expenses.
- Tips ($30 – $40 per person for guides and staff).
- Donations to the community – Contact our info@adventurejourneys.com for guide lines.
IMPORTANT DETAILS
FLIGHT TIME: 30 min. flight each way (Quito-Coca-Quito).
DRIVING TIME: 1 hours driving each way to river.
SEASON: All year.
PROVINCE: Pichincha, Orellana and Pastaza provinces.
TERRITORY: Yasuni National Park.
ALTITUDE:
220m (700 ft)
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Moderate to Challenging. This program is located in an undeveloped remote area, the canoeing is not difficult, because both Tiputini river and Amarum - cocha Lagoon have no big rapids, the hiking is in irregular terrain sometimes muddy and wet.
ADVENTURE GEAR: Rubber boots, tents (EUREKA & COLEMAN ) matresses.
ACCOMODATION: All prices are based on double-occupancy. If you are traveling solo, you will be matched with another participant of your same sex. If you prefer to have a single room, please contact AJ prior to your departure to arrange your accommodation at an extra cost.
MEALS: Traveling with Adventure Journeys you will have the possibility to experience and taste local food and snacks. Your guide will help you identify typical food and suggest the best places to enjoy it. Some meals are not included in order to give you some flexibility about where, what and with whom to eat. You have the option to share these meals with the group, however there is no obligation to do this. If you have any allergies or food restrictions, please inform AJ prior to your departure.
YOUR TRIP LEADERS AND GUIDES: All AJ guides and trip leaders are highly experienced, licensed from the Tourism University to operate in Ecuador and certified as Wilderness Adventure First Aid respondents. They all have approved several extra training courses for kayaking, rafting, biking and horse riding, besides this they all are Ecuadorian and have a fantastic personality. We always carry a complete first aid kit in our trips.
In some locations and for some activities, local guides join the trip leaders to provide an added service and make sure we practice sustainable tourism involving local indigenous people in our operation.
SUSTAINABLE ECO AND CULTURAL TOURISM: Clients receive interpretation and education about the ecology and conservation of the Andes, Amazon rain forest and Galapagos Islands, and learn about the factors that threaten it. We aim to promote long-term conservation of both local people cultural identity and the environment. We transport out and recycle all non-organic garbage and we prefer to work with local suppliers. Your visit will encourage the local communities to support responsible eco-tourism as a sustainable alternative for their living.
HEALTH INFORMATION: Please inform AJ of any existing medical conditions (i.e. pregnancy, diabetes, etc). Yellow fever, Hepatitis B vaccination and Malaria Medication are recommended when traveling to the tropics. Please ask your doctor for advice.