This is the perfect Amazon jungle cruise for most travelers, even beginners.  Goldilocks would love it.  Not too soft.  Not too hard. JUUUUUUSSST right. Comfortable cabins with private bathrooms and running hot water, individual air conditioning, on-board laundry service, large glass-enclosed dining room, attractive bar and lounge area, panoramic terrace, delicious cuisine and the finest multilingual naturalist guides in Ecuador.  Plus high safety standards, personable service and efficiency. And when the boat is parked at night, there's even internet, mobile phone service and satellite TV if you want to know what's cooking in the outside world. (also a great option to escape the outside world for a few days!) The riverboat offers 4, 5 or 8 day cruises year round.

7 Day Trip - Ecuador Riverboat cruise June 21-27, 2015

Day 1 June 21 (Sun): Depart your hometown - Arrive Quito where our driver will be waiting - transfer to Hotel Sebastian
Day 2 June 22 : Quito / Coca / Riverboat Cruise Adventure Transfer to airport. Depart from Quito in the morning for a 25-minute flight to Francisco de Orellana (Coca), named after the Spanish explorer that led the first European expedition into Amazonia in 1541. A motorized canoe will be waiting at the dock to ride downstream for approximately 90 minutes. Once on board the riverboat, we navigate down the Napo River while relaxing on our sundeck and observing the amazing flora and fauna of the region. After lunch, our first live experience with the Ecuadorian Amazon basin begins with a visit to a native home or canoe ride, depending on the water level, weather conditions, wildlife behavior and accessibility. After dinner, you have opportunity to enjoy an optional nocturnal walk into the forest to discover the mysteries of this unique environment and see how life emerges in the dark. (LD)
Day 3 June 23: Peruvian Border / Cuyabe Disembark to visit one of the local homes to meet members of an Amazonian community for an understanding of their culture, talents and ways of life. See how these giving and joyful people live, utilize and protect their resources, and how they cherish the fragility of their ecosystem. After lunch, the riverboat continues navigation towards one of the most pristine black-water systems of the Amazon Basin, the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, home to legendary pink river dolphins, black caimans and the enigmatic Amazonian anaconda; also a chance to spot river turtles and several monkey species, such as the black-mantled tamarin, red howler monkey and squirrel monkey, as well as three-toed sloths and the primitive hoatzin, a bizarre bird locally called 'Stinky Turkey'. The canoe trip upstream will reveal the stunning beauty of this aquatic jungle world. (BLD)
Day 4 June 24: Flooded Forest & Monkey Island Explore a swamp forest while enjoying the comfort of a high rise board walk. Chances are "high" to discover wildlife that frequents these "moretales" (or "morete" palm forests), where birds, primates and different aquatic creatures congregate. Afterwards, visit a local home where funerary urns from the XVII century have been discovered in archaeological excavations. After a wholesome lunch, relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings as the vessel navigates upstream. We will spend some time exploring one of the larger islands, where many surprises await us. (BLD)
Day 5 June 25: Parrot Clay Lick & Limoncocha Biological Reserve Enjoy a cultural encounter with the local community of Añangu as they welcome you at their Kuri Muyu Interpretation Center to learn more about their amazing everyday lifestyle, as well as the chance to purchase local handicrafts. Then, head over to the parrot clay lick to witness one of the most exciting wildlife spectacles in Amazonia. The Yasuní Biosphere Reserve has the most accessible parrot and parakeet clay lick in Ecuador, where these birds eat the clay as a form of antidote that permits them to digest fruits and nuts that would otherwise be poisonous - as a matter of fact, that is what modern-day "Kaopectate" is made from! We have the best spot to enjoy this natural spectacle up close (providing it is not a rainy morning!). Imagine hundreds, sometimes thousands of parrots and parakeets coming all together at once to this clay lick! In the afternoon, visit the Limoncocha Biological Reserve, an incredible natural reserve, with over four hundred bird species. Search for black caimans after dusk in complete safety! Evening return to the Manatee. (BLD)
Day 6 June 26: Coca / Quito After breakfast we will bid farewell to the riverboat and the and take the motorized canoe upstream for about 2 ½ hours to reach the city of Coca. Return flight to Quito. Transfer to Hotel Sebastian / Free afternoon (B)
Day 7 June 27 (Sat): Transfer out home (B)

Price per person: USD $1693 dbl or tpl/ $2322 sglDeadline to register: Nov 15, 2014. Contact: info@adiosadventuretravel.com We accept VISA/MC/DISCOVER via phone in our US office in Virginia.  There is no extra cost for paying with credit card. Includes:

  • all accommodations in hotel/cabin with private bath & hot water
  • all ground transportation
  • domestic flights in Ecuador
  • 4 night cruise
  • airport transfers
  • all meals during the cruise
  • entry fees
  • English-speaking guides

Not included:

  •     international flights
  •     lunches/dinners/bottled water in Quito & in transit (budget $25 pp per day)
  •     gratuities (budget $10 per day for guides on the riverboat & 15% in restaurants in Quito)
  •     travel insurance

Note:

  •  Participants need to be able to go up/down stairs & steps on the boat, take short hikes over flat terrain and step on/off canoes. There is always someone around to help with luggage and lend a hand, but each person should be able to carry a small day pack with water, sun screen, hat, rain gear & camera equipment. Everyone is required to wear a life jacket (provided) on all small boat rides.
  •  Food prepared on the riverboat is amazing and vegan/vegetarian options are available with advance notice
  •  Recommended for ages 10 and older
  •  No visas or special vaccinations required for US citizens

Trip Extensions:  continue your travels in Ecuador (or Peru!)

OPTION 1:  Galapagos Islands Day 1 (Sat): Fly from UIO / Connect to SCY / Frigate Hill & Kayak (BLD) Day 2 (Sun): Kicker Rock & Lobos Island (BLD) Day 3 (Mon): Sail to Santa Cruz / Highlands & Garrapatero + BBQ (BLD) Day 4 (Tue): Day trip to Seymour, Plazas, Bartholomew or Santa Fe / Dinner on your own at Kiosk Street (BL) Day 5 (Wed): Sail to Isabella / Breeding center, wall of tears, wetlands & Tintoreras (BLD) Day 6 (Thu): Sierra Negra Hike & Concha Perla snorkel/kayak (BLD) Day 7 (Fri): Sail to Santa Cruz / The Twins / Baltra / GYE or Quito - home (B) Prices per person: USD 2076 dbl / USD 2382 sgl - Superior Hotels USD 1837 dbl / USD 2076 sgl - Standard Hotels Includes Galapagos flights and Galapagos tour package as described. OPTION 2:  Otavalo & Cotopaxi Day 1 (Sat): Full day trip to Otavalo - Hotel Sebastian (L) Day 2 (Sun): Quito / Cotopaxi National Park - Tambopaxi Lodge (BLD) Day 3 (Mon): Cotopaxi activities / Quito - Hotel Sebastian (BL) Day 4 (Tue): Transfer out (B) Price per person: USD 537 dbl-qpl / USD 637 sgl Includes airport transfer, accommodations in Quito and Cotopaxi, indicated meals, and escort guide.