LAGARTO COCHA EXPEDITION
Journey to the Last Untamed Amazon of Ecuador
4 DAYS/3 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
Far beyond the well-traveled headwaters of the Amazon lies a place where few outsiders have ever
ventured: Lagarto Cocha—the “Crocodile Lake.” Hidden in Ecuador’s far northeastern frontier, along
the border with Peru and close to Colombia, this mysterious region is part of one of the world’s largest
trinational protected areas, protecting over 1.5 million hectares of pristine Amazon rainforest.
This is the Amazon as it has been for thousands of years: wild, raw, and untamed. An endless maze
of rivers, lakes, and swamps stretches in every direction. Here, directed by wind and currents,
enormous floating islands of vegetation drift across blackwater lakes, opening new channels and
closing others. Here, giant otters splash and hunt in noisy family groups, manatees graze in the still
waters, and pink river dolphins rise unexpectedly at the confluences of rivers. Here, the forest is alive
with wings, as herons, macaws, toucans, and the strange Hoatzin bird, a clumsy, prehistoric-looking
creature. Change to: Here, the forest is alive with wings of herons, macaws, toucans, and the strange
Hoatzin birds, the latter being a clumsy, prehistoric-looking creature.
Unlike other expeditions that take days of exhausting canoe travel to reach this remote corner, our
route gives you fast and direct access. You’ll fly from Quito to Coca in the morning, board an
incredibly fast (60km/h) public speedboat along the Napo River, and by late afternoon you’ll already
be at the Peruvian border, ready to begin your adventure. That means less time on the way, and more
time where it matters most – in the wild heart of Lagarto Cocha.
A Living Waterworld
Lagarto Cocha is not a forest you walk through – it is a forest you navigate. There are no trails or dry
paths connecting the lakes and swamps; everything here is linked by water. Every day, your boatman
and guide will read the water levels, scout the shifting mats of aquatic plants, and choose the routes
that nature has opened. This is not a scripted tour. It is true exploration.
At every bend, there is the possibility of a new encounter. Amazon dolphins – both the famous pink
species and their smaller grey cousins – hunt in the channels. The Paiche, one of the largest freshwater
fish in the world, reaching up to 3.5 meters. This fish has the habit of hunting for other fish right from
the surface of the water, with its back emerged so it is easy to spot. Monkeys leap across flooded
branches, while countless herons, kingfishers, and hawks keep watch from above. This ever-changing
landscape makes every visit unique. No two days are the same in Lagarto Cocha.
The Secoya People
For centuries, the Secoya community has lived in harmony with these waters. Today, only 7 families
still live along the Peruvian banks of the Lagarto Cocha River. As part of your expedition, you will
stay in their wooden homes, sleeping in tents set up inside as protection against the jungle’s insects.
Your meals will be simple, partially canned food, as it is logistically impossible to bring in cooled
food.
By traveling with us, you are not only discovering a hidden corner of the Amazon – you are also
supporting the Secoya people, ensuring that their traditions and their stewardship of the forest
continue into the future.
Wildlife Encounters
Each day is a safari by canoe, with opportunities for wildlife observation that rival anywhere else in
the Amazon. During your stay, you may encounter:
- Pink and Grey River Dolphins at river junctions;
- Manatees, shy giants of the lakes;
- Giant Otters, hunting in groups and making their distinctive calls;
- Paiche, enormous surface hunting fish of the lakes;
- Hoatzins, unique leaf-eating “prehistoric” birds;
- Macaws, toucans, herons, egrets, hawks, and countless other birds;
- Monkeys swinging through the canopy above;
- 3 species of Caiman.
Itinerary
Quito → Coca → Nuevo Rocafuerte
Morning flight (or night bus) from Quito to Coca. As 1 PM, Board the afternoon public speedboat
down the Napo River to Nuevo Rocafuerte (300km), the last Ecuadorian village before the Peruvian
border. Overnight at Hostal Chimborazo.
Entering Lagarto Cocha
Travel three hours upstream the River Aguarico to the mouth of the Lagartococha River. Stop at the
ranger station of Peru’s Protected Areas agency. Watch for dolphins where the to rivers meet before
continuing slowly upriver into the wilderness. Arrive at the Secoya community of “Puerto Estrella”
for your first night with your hosts.
Exploration of the Lagartococha Lakes
Spend the day navigating the labyrinth of lakes, marshes, and creeks. Depending on the season and
water levels, your guide will open routes through floating plant islands to access hidden lakes. Watch
for dolphins, otters, and manatees, and marvel at the incredible birdlife. Overnight again with the
Secoyas.
Return to Coca
Say goodbye to your Secoya friends and departure early in the morning from Puerto Estrella to catch
the afternoon speedboat back from Nuevo Rocafuerte to Coca. Arrival in Coca at sunset.
5 days or more
With an extension you can explore much more into this remarkable Amazon water world. In that case,
you would start out your expedition with a visit to Jatuncocha, the famous beautiful lake in Yasuni
National Park.
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