Unique Amazon Sustaintable Comunities Encounter in Ecuador
Tour Overview
Embark on a unique journey through the heart of Ecuador's Amazonia with our "Unique Amazon Sustainable Communities Encounter." Begin your adventure in Quito with a culinary experience, then fly over the Andes to the Amazon Basin. Cruise down the Napo River to Napo Lodge, your base for exploring the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve. Witness vibrant parakeet clay licks, learn about Kichwa culture, and hike through lush rainforests. Enjoy local delicacies and night walks to spot nocturnal wildlife. Conclude with an optional "wayusada" ritual before returning to Quito. This customizable tour offers an immersive experience in Ecuador's rich natural and cultural heritage. ...more ...less
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Quito
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Garden Hotel San Jose de Puembo
Arrival to Quito International Airport Mariscal Sucre
Airport meet and greet. Transfer to your accommodation at Garden Hotel San Jose de Puembo. (Suite category)Depending on your tiarrival me- This day we could organize a lunch and cooking class: “You have to taste a culture, in order to understand it” – Deborah Cater. Ready to learn how to prepare one of those delicious dishes that you will learn to love along your journey? Take a cooking class with a local chef. This is a culinary tour dedicated for those food lovers, with no previous cooking experience. Take home the knowledge of an unforgettable experience in flavors, colors and products that Ecuador has to offer, so you can share back at home with your loved ones. Begin with a visit of a local food market to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for today’s menu according to the Chefs buying list. Then go back to restaurant kitchen where the chef will give you some tips and history before, he shows you how to prepare those local and savors dishes.
Garden Hotel San Jose de Puembo. (Suite category) ...more ...less
Day 2 : Quito – Coca (Rainforest)
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Napo Lodge
Meet at the Lobby and transfer to the airport to take your flight to the Amazon Basin. The journey to the jungle Lodge begins in Quito, Ecuador's capital city. From here, a 35-minute flight takes you over the Andes Mountains and snow-covered peaks to soaring over 8500 feet (2600 meters) into the Amazon Region. The flight destination is the port town of Puerto Francisco de Orellana, locally known as Coca, where you will be met by a bilingual guide and taken to a private dock. Here we will pause to use the restrooms before boarding a covered motorized canoe for a 2-hour, 50-mile (80-kilometer) trip down the sediment-rich waters of the Napo, the largest river in Ecuadorian Amazonia. During the ride, it is easy to spot handsome shorebirds such as herons, kingfishers, spoonbills and ospreys between the scattered native huts as you travel steadily away from civilization. Home base for an exciting jungle experience
Overnight at Napo Lodge
Day 3 : Yasuni Biosphere Reserve
Location: Yasuni Biosphere Reserve
Accommodation Name: Napo Lodge
Head in the motor boat to one of the highlights of Yasuni biosphere Reserve. Then walk around 30 min, through “pericos” trail to reach the blind in the forest with a direct view to the amazing parakeet clay lick, which brings visitors face to face with up to 11 species of parrots and parakeets, sometimes even mammals like howler monkeys, tapir and peccaries come to this place to drink water and get vital minerals for their body. We end this morning with a visit to the intercultural interpretation center "Kuri Muyu", handled by the women of the community also knows as “mamakuna” learn about the kichwa culture, crafts, customs and traditional use of natural resources. We return to the center of the community, before hiking one hour in order to climb up the observation tower reaching 35 meters above the surface.
Overnight at Napo Lodge
Day 4 : Mama Cuna Road
Location: Yasuní National Park
Accommodation Name: Napo Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy the sunrise at breakfast, visit the sustainable community projects, talk about the worldview Kichwa Addition to medicinal and walk in the Mama Cuna road, excellent opportunity to see more wildlife, ceiba trees, strangler, bamboo cane, vines and shrubs endemic from Yasuní. In the afternoon after a delicious local lunch paddle around stream, a black water ecosystem where you can spot monkeys jumping from tree to tree, caiman and sometimes even giant river otters trying to catch fish. Upon arriving you will have time to settle back and prepare for a traditional typical dinner to taste local flavors of the amazon, such as “maito” which is grilled fish wrapped in a “bijao” leaf and if you have an adventurous palate try the grilled worms of the “chonta” locally known as “chontakuru”. After dinner, prepare your flashlight for a night walk around the lodge to see different kind of insects, reptiles and even nocturnal mammals like the night monkeys.(B/L/D) Overnight at Napo Lodge
Overnight at Napo Lodge
Day 5 : Quito
Location: Quito
Meals Included: Breakfast
Departure from the Amazon and flight back to Quito
To close with a flourish, take part on the optional “wayusada” ritual, in which at dawn around 4:30 am is the time when the kichwa family share together the sacred “wayusa” and has been a way to past their ancient knowledge to the new generations, here you also share traditional chants and have the chance to “interpret dreams” with the wisest “mamakuna” at the community, a mystique experience indeed. Then head back for breakfast, while our staff pick you luggage for your return to Coca town, onboard our comfortable motorboats for the last chance to appreciate the Ecuadorian rainforest landscape, until you reach “La Mision” river port. Arrive in Coca and be escorted to the airport to board the plane. Scheduled arrival at Quito´s airport 15h10 (may change)(B.-) Depending on your international flight, you will have a private transfer to the airport.
What's Included
Lunch
Breakfast
Dinner
Professional Tour Guide
Transfers
What's Not Included
-
Gratuities
Gratuities are not included in the tour package.
-
Wheelchair Accessibility
The tour is not wheelchair accessible.
-
Pets
The tour is not suitable for pets.
-
Public Transportation
There is no public transportation nearby.
-
Infant Seats
Infant seats are unavailable.
Know Before You Go
- Stroller Or Pram Accessible
- Infants Must Sit On Laps
- Passport Required
Please Note
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not suitable for pets
- No public transportation nearby
- Infant seats unavailable
Mode of Transport
Travel includes a flight from Quito to Coca, followed by a motorized canoe ride down the Napo River to the Napo Lodge, and return flights to Quito.
Accommodation
Stay at the Garden Hotel San Jose de Puembo in Quito and the Napo Lodge in the Amazon, offering comfortable suites and an immersive jungle experience.
Check out our Q&As
-
Can this tour be customized or provided as a private service?
Yes, this experience can be customized according to your interests and can also be provided as a private service for an extra cost. Please let us know if you are interested in a private tour, and we will provide a quote.
-
What meals are included in the tour?
The tour includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
-
What kind of wildlife can I expect to see during the tour?
During the tour, you can expect to see a variety of wildlife including shorebirds such as herons, kingfishers, spoonbills, and ospreys. In the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, you may see up to 11 species of parrots and parakeets, as well as mammals like howler monkeys, tapir, and peccaries. You may also spot monkeys, caimans, and giant river otters. ...more ...less
-
What cultural experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a visit to the intercultural interpretation center 'Kuri Muyu,' where you can learn about the Kichwa culture, crafts, customs, and traditional use of natural resources. You will also have the opportunity to participate in the 'wayusada' ritual, a sacred Kichwa family tradition involving traditional chants and dream interpretation. ...more ...less
-
What activities are included in the tour?
Activities include a cooking class with a local chef, a motorized canoe trip down the Napo River, a visit to the parakeet clay lick, hiking, climbing an observation tower, visiting sustainable community projects, paddling around a black water ecosystem, and a night walk to see nocturnal wildlife. ...more ...less
-
Are there any special requirements or restrictions for this tour?
Yes, the tour is not wheelchair accessible, not suitable for pets, and there is no public transportation nearby. Infant seats are unavailable, and infants must sit on laps. A passport is required for this tour.
-
What is the 'wayusada' ritual?
The 'wayusada' ritual is a sacred Kichwa family tradition that takes place at dawn around 4:30 am. It involves sharing the sacred 'wayusa,' traditional chants, and dream interpretation with the wisest 'mamakuna' of the community. It is a mystical experience that allows you to connect with the ancient knowledge of the Kichwa people.
-
Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The tours are in small groups with the same interests. But it also depends on the operators at the destination.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 15 years we have been taking travelers to visit South America, we have always been committed to being there for our travellers.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
No, We do not operate this option.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes, the accommodation will include meet local health and safety regulations.
-
Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
No, You don't contributing to any charity by booking the tour.
-
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
Services and hotels can be changed up to 15 days before your trip., except for services and hotels with prepaid. Changes in flights are subject to a penalty fee.
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Before your trip, you will receive the voucher with the booked services.
-
Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It all depends de the tour and the operator. Usually, you can not join the tour once it has departed.
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Biosecurity protocols all along the journey according to the local Sanitary Authorities The majority of tours require travelers to be fully vaccinated and the full/final COVID-19 vaccination must be at least 14 days before the first day of the tour. There are some tours and departures that are only ‘Travel-Ready’ which means all travelers must be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
2025 Apr
2025 May
2025 Jun
2025 Jul
2025 Aug
2025 Sep
2025 Oct
2025 Nov
2025 Dec
2025 Jan
2026 Feb
2026 Mar
2026
Thursday - Monday
Mar 20, 2025 - Mar 24, 2025Friday - Tuesday
Mar 21, 2025 - Mar 25, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Mar 22, 2025 - Mar 26, 2025Sunday - Thursday
Mar 23, 2025 - Mar 27, 2025Monday - Friday
Mar 24, 2025 - Mar 28, 2025Tuesday - Saturday
Mar 25, 2025 - Mar 29, 2025Wednesday - Sunday
Mar 26, 2025 - Mar 30, 2025Thursday - Monday
Mar 27, 2025 - Mar 31, 2025Friday - Tuesday
Mar 28, 2025 - Apr 01, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Mar 29, 2025 - Apr 02, 2025Sunday - Thursday
Mar 30, 2025 - Apr 03, 2025Monday - Friday
Mar 31, 2025 - Apr 04, 2025Book with Confidence
-
Low Deposit
Signature DMC requires a minimum deposit of 15% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 50 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of signature dmc charges.
Up to 50 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 49 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
Unique Amazon Sustaintable Comunities Encounter in Ecuador
5 Days Starting and ending in Quito, Ecuador
Visiting: Quito, Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, Yasuní National Park
Tour operator:
Tour code:
442873
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
1-99
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Cultural, Eco Conscious, Foodie and Wine Tours, Wildlife Tours
