Manatee Amazon River Cruise - 5 Days

Our adventure begins in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. After a 30-minute flight from Quito to the Amazonian city of Coca, we will transfer to the dock and board our motorized canoe for a 90-minute journey down the river, taking in the beauty of the Amazon, until we reach the Manatee Amazon Explorer and receive our warm welcome aboard. On the Manatee, we will be joined by expert local naturalist guides, who will provide us with a brief, informative introduction to the Ecuadorian Amazon; and afterwards guests will have the opportunity to explore our cruise ship and admire the rainforest landscape as we glide down the Napo River. After a delicious dinner, we will take a nighttime forest walk to hear the sounds of the rainforest and observe the nocturnal wildlife.

In the morning, we explore the lower section of the Napo River, an area rich in birdlife where it is possible to spot species such as eagles, oropendolas, and woodpeckers along the riverbanks. In the afternoon, we visit Yasuní National Park, one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet and a natural habitat of the legendary pink river dolphin. This visit offers insight into our pink dolphin conservation program, developed in collaboration with the Martinica community in the Cocaya area, which has helped create a safe haven where dolphins can live and feed naturally, free from the risk of hunting. The day concludes with a visit to a nearby Secoya community. The Secoya people, one of the region’s ancestral cultures, will share their traditions and demonstrate the preparation of traditional cassava bread.

We will begin the day by visiting an authentic Kichwa family on the banks of the Napo River, where we will have the opportunity to learn directly from members of the local community about their lifestyle. We will then board the Manatee and participate in a cooking class with our expert chef, who will show us how to prepare exquisite traditional Ecuadorian fare. Guests are also invited to try their hand at traditional handicrafting or to take in the magnificent Amazon environment from our open-air hot tub, enjoy cocktails at our Bar and Lounge, or delight in some nighttime stargazing from our Observation Deck. Our more active guests will have the opportunity to explore nature in this area by kayak.

We start the day by visiting an observation tower built in a giant millenary kapok tree, where guests can marvel at the impressive 360° view from the top overlooking the treetops of the forest canopy and contemplate the sheer vastness of the Amazon. In the afternoon, we will explore the primary forest and spot the different plant and wildlife species endemic to this ecosystem. We can also find the strange and unique bird known as the hoatzin, or as it’s known locally, the “stinkbird”.

This is where our adventure ends! But first, we will enjoy our return to Puerto Providencia where we will disembark the Manatee Amazon Explorer and ride back to the city of Coca in the motorized canoe.

The foregoing itinerary is our standard operating model. We intend to offer everything as planned, and will make every effort to do so, however depending on inclement weather, technical or operational difficulties beyond our control, the M/V Manatee Amazon Explorer reserves the right to modify the itinerary without notice.