No experience necessary for this unique and adventurous Amazon tour! Paddle in expedition kayaks and camp for one night, and enjoy the Bataburo jungle lodge in Huaorani territory in the vast Amazon basin. Kayak through one of the country's largest national parks and one of most important bio diverse ecosystems on earth.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Quito
Day 2: Into the Jungle (B,L,D)
A morning flight carries you over the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes and down into the Amazon basin to begin your Amazon tour. A three-hour drive will take you to your put-in on the Shiripuno River and the start of your amazing journey. You'll meet your Huaorani guide and spend time in a local community were you'll have the unique experience of learning about the Huaorani people, their traditions, their history and their commitment to preserving the natural treasures of the region. Tonight's campsite is hosted by a local Huaorani family - enjoy a campfire dinner.
Day 3: Huaorani Community and Shiripuno Paddling (B,L,D)
Following breakfast, visit the nearby Noneno Community where the local Huaorani share more traditions and aspects of daily lifestyle. After our visit we'll continue kayaking down the Shiripuno - you'll have nearly 25 km of river kayaking to do-- a challenging trip, but along the way you will be treated with the wonders of the Ecuadorian Amazon. This incredible region boasts some of the world's highest biodiversity and sustains the traditional lifestyle of numerous indigenous groups. On your silent journey downriver you'll have an excellent chance of spotting monkeys, capybara, toucans, macaws, tapir and maybe even the elusive jaguar. There will be plenty of short stops to stretch and rest your muscles. Expect a late arrival to this evening's campsite.
Day 4: Kayaking and Hiking (B,L,D)
Today you'll paddle to the remote Shiripuno Jungle lodge; the wooden buildings and thatched roofs blend into the surrounding landscape. In the evening, enjoy a hike into the forest as the wildlife becomes more active, where your naturalist guide teaches you about the complex ecology of the rainforest. Relax and overnight in the rustic jungle lodge.
Day 5: Rainforest hiking and lake exploration (B,L,D)
A short trip upriver in motorized canoe will take us to the start of our rainforest hiking adventure. We'll explore old-growth and flooded (varzea) forest. We'll hike for 4-5 hours, keeping an eye out for monkeys, white-lipped peccaries, and jaguar tracks. During our walk the expedition guide and Huaorani guide explain their practical, medicinal and spiritual relationship with the Amazon jungle.
After lunch we will reach a series of small lakes, where we will paddle in wooden canoes. You'll reach a region of flooded forest and small jungle lakes where you'll have the chance to spot the prehistoric Hoatzin bird and caimans (a relative of the alligator). There is also great fishing in the area. Tonight, you'll return to Shiripuno where you can relax in a hammock and share stories about your Amazon adventures.
Day 6: Motorized Canoe to Coca. Overnight (B,L,D)
After a short wildlife hike in the morning to see a glorious sunrise -- and one more chance to spot some Amazon wildlife -- you head back upriver by motorized canoe, and transfer to Coca where you'll overnight before your flight back to Quito in the morning.
Day 7: Fly Quito. Overnight.
Day 8: Return Home
Accommodations: 3 nights hotels, 2 night camping, 2 nights rustic jungle lodge
Food Includes: All meals as indicated (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner); most of our hotels offer free continental breakfast.
Transportation: Local flights, taxi/jeep, motorized and paddle dugout canoes
Discover the Amazon rainforest on active excursions, with an emphasis on wildlife and ecology. Accommodations are clean and comfortable and food is good, but this is not a luxury Amazon tour.
Start Dates 2008: Feb 3, Mar 2, Mar 30, Apr 27, May 25, Jun 22, Jul 20, Aug 3, Aug 17, Sep 14, Oct 12, Nov 9, Dec 7
Start Dates 2009: Jan 4, Feb 1, Mar 1, Mar 29, Apr 26, May 24, Jun 21, Jul 18, Aug 16, Sep 13, Oct 11, Nov 8, Dec 6
Custom dates are available upon request!
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Single Supplement: US$45
Note: Internal flights Quito-Coca-Quito is not included. Please add US$120 for roundtrip (flight cost subject to change).
Personal Budgeting: Allow US$40 US for meals not included, US$41 international departure tax.
Pre & post tour accommodations: Share US$45, Single US$75
Arrival/Departure Transfers: 1 person $50 USD each, 2 or more people $25 USD
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Ecuador
Outdoor: Water Drifter
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
Rainforest
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