Itinerary Napo Cultural Center

Day 1.-

Arriving at Napo Cultural Center, you have the outstanding chance to step onto the aboriginal territory of the Kichwa Añangu community, whose members will welcome you with a traditional and refreshing wayusa drink. The local Hotel Manager will give quick instructions and immediately will take you to your comfortable room with views of the rainforest in order to get ready for the first activity in the afternoon. Hike along the “Playas” trail, to experience amazon wildlife for the first time in the river islands and shores, amidst of one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. Kayaking is also available as an optional activity for around 45 min., to enjoy an overwhelming and colorful sunset in the vastness of Napo River. Then head back to your cabin, rest a little bit and be prepared for a well-deserved dinner. After dinner sleep with the relaxing sounds of the amazon.

Day 2.-

Early breakfast and then head in the motor boat to one of the highlights of Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, the parrot clay lick in the riverside of the Napo River. Bring your binoculars and camera lenses to see flocks of blue-headed, yellow-crowned parrots and even dusky-headed parakeets, from the boat. Then walk around 30 min, through the 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 (including parrotlets and macaws), 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 which means golden seed in native language and is managed by the women of the community, also known as mamakuna. Learn about the kichwa culture, crafts, customs and traditional use of natural resources, directly from the people of the aboriginal community. We return to the center of the community to have lunch at the dining hall and to take a break in the lodge, before hiking one hour in order to climb up the observation tower, reaching 36 meters above the surface, with high chances to spot a variety of birds, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, toucans, parrots and sloths. Time for dinner followed by a unique activity at Napo river, onboard the ancestral catamaran to learn more about their legends and traditional chants, while women grill some delicious snacks in the fire.

Day 3.-

Enjoy the sunrise at breakfast, visit the sustainable community projects, talk about the Kichwa worldview. Then, take a walk into the Mama Kuna trail, excellent opportunity to see wildlife, ceiba trees, strangler, bamboo cane, vines and shrubs endemic from Yasuní. In the afternoon after a delicious local lunch, paddle around “Añangu” creek, 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 wrapped grilled fish 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.

Day 4.-

To have a perfect last day, take part on the optional wayusada ritual. Early start at around 04:30 am, as it is the time when the kichwa family share together the sacred wayusa. This rite has been a way to pass their ancient knowledge to the new generations. There are traditional chants and the option to have dreams read with the wise old mamakuna of the community, a mystique experience indeed. Then head back for breakfast, while our staff pick you luggage for your return to El Coca, onboard our comfortable motor boats for the last chance to appreciate the Ecuadorian rainforest landscape, until you reach La Mision river port.

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In the vast Amazon rainforest there are areas where water replaces solid ground, rivers become narrow channels, large and medium-sized lagoons appear, and the canoe is the only way to move between trees and vegetation. They are the flooded forests of the Amazon, of which a good part is protected within the great Cuyabeno reserve which takes its name from the Cuyabeno River, which in its middle course overflows originating a complex of 14 lagoons and forming the largest wetland in the Ecuadorian Amazon. This area is the territory of dolphins, manatees, caimans, anacondas and otters, and the guarango de agua, the most unique tree in the reserve; Thanks to its special adaptations, it can grow on the banks of rivers and lagoons, creating a magical and mysterious atmosphere. The reserve is also considered one of the most culturally diverse protected areas in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Here there are communities of indigenous Siona, Secoya, Cofán, Kichwa and Shuar.

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WHAT INCLUDES?

River Transportation to Coca - Napo Cultural Center - Coca
Accommodations in Napo Cultural Center
All meats
Entrance to Yasuni National Park and parrot claylicks
Community and naturalist bilingual guide
Impermeable poncho and rubber boots
All excursions and activities like program detail

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?

$256 USD per person (subject to change) Air tickets
Quito - Coca - Quito with assistance from the airport in Quito on (help with check-in and land transfer in Coca)
Beverages, tips and other non specified requirements (laundry and internet)

Section

Subtítulo

Quilotoa