3 DAYS IN YASUNI / NAPO RIVER PROGRAM
So what makes the Napo River so special…
3 DAYS/2 NIGHTS
- *Prices per person
- $ 799*
Payment methods
All payments must be made via bank transfer, credit card, (we use the platform WETRAVEL (2.9% fee) or deposit. All payments are required 30 days BEFORE the program begins.
Read the itinerary
- Easy Access: In just 30 minutes by plane from Quito, you’ll reach the jungle town of Coca, gateway to the Napo River. Or, if you prefer, take a comfortable overnight bus;
- World’s Most Diverse Jungle: Flowing along Yasuní National Park, the Napo River gives you front-row access to the richest biodiversity on Earth, and you will be visiting all its highlights!;
- Incredible Wildlife: Here, the rainforest blends land and water. You’ll encounter monkeys, colorful birds, and forest mammals, while the river and lakes teem with caimans, ducks, cormorants, herons, and more;
- Living Indigenous Culture: The Kichwa communities of the Napo live along its shores. You’ll visit several villages, meet local families, and discover their traditions;
- Community Lodges: Our programs are run in collaboration with Kichwa families who share their culture, hospitality, and two of their lodges with us;
- Canopy Adventure: Climb Ecuador’s tallest canopy tower, a 54 meter high platform, built around a majestic giant ceibo tree. From there you’ll experience the forest at its most vibrant - home to monkeys, sloths, exotic birds, orchids and countless insects;
- Our programs are organized in collaboration with small Kichwa Indian communities and use two or their wonderful lodges.
Along the upper Napo River, you’ll find about eight luxury lodges, each offering excursions that
rarely venture more than one or two kilometers from their base, often overlooking the truly
remarkable highlights that lie just a bit further away. We believe our guests deserve more. That’s why
we’ve designed a program that brings you to all the must-see wonders of the upper Napo River,
without the luxury price tag.
That’s why we partner with two wonderful indigenous lodges – Pashpanchu Lodge and Pilche Lodge
– to offer you authentic, affordable accommodation and tours covering all the highlights of the Upper
Napo and Yasuní National Park.
With the experience of Dr. Daan Vreugdenhil, Ecuador’s ecotourism pioneer, founder of Cuyabeno
Lodge and explorer of the Napo River since 1975, we are the most knowledgeable people to organize
tours along the Napo River. He developed this program to be short, but he recommends that you
should actually stay 4 days so you can more thoroughly enjoy all the marvels of Yasuni at your leisure.
Itinerary
Arrival & Pashpanchu Lodge
- Upon arrival at the airport or bus station, you’ll be greeted and transferred to our motorized canoe;
- To skip the less scenic stretch of river from Coca, we’ll take you overland to Puerto Pompeya, where you’ll board the canoe for a ride across the Napo River to Pashpanchu Lodge - a welcoming lodge run by the Pashpanchu Kichwa tribe;
- After a delicious lunch, set out with a local naturalist guide on a walk through the rainforest to Pashpanchu Lake, a haven for birds, wildlife, and exotic plants;
- Dinner will be served at the lodge, followed by a night excursion to discover the fascinating world of nocturnal animals.
Owner Dr. Daan Vreugdenhil developed this program to be short, but he recommends that you should actually stay 4 days so you can more thoroughly enjoy all the marvels of Yasuni at your leisure.
Lakes, Canopy & Wildlife Encounters
- Early breakfast at the lodge.
- Journey to Challwuacocha Lake, home to rich birdlife and the legendary Paiche, the Amazon’s largest predatory fish, growing up to 3.5 meters long. Often seen hunting breaking the surface with its back emerged, this giant is an unforgettable sight;
- Ascend a 35-meter canopy tower built alongside a giant Ceibo tree, offering breathtaking views of the rainforest and palm marshes;
- Continue to Sani Lodge, where you may encounter a Black Caiman usually resting near the landing (sightings not guaranteed).
- Cross the Napo River to Pilche Lodge, another great and welcoming community-run lodge, where you’ll enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.
Parrot Salt Lick at Lake Añangu and Highest Canopy Tree
- At dawn (5:00 AM), witness hundreds of green parrots flocking to a salt lick along the Napo River - a spectacular natural show between 5:30 and 6:30 AM. Return to the lodge for breakfast and luggage collection.
- Travel to the Añangu Kichwa community and Lake Añangu, home to the world-renowned Napo Wildlife Center. Here you’ll visit the Macaw Clay Lick, where scarlet, red, and yellow macaws gather in dazzling flocks.
- Climb Ecuador’s tallest canopy tower (54 meters high) with three observation platforms - offering panoramic jungle views.
- Return to Coca.
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