NAPO WILDLIFE CENTER
Napo Wildlife Center is a lodge located in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest, in the Yasuní National Park. It is a unique and sustainable eco-lodge that offers visitors the opportunity to experience the incredible biodiversity of the Amazon, owned and operated by the Kichwa Añangu community, who have lived in the area for centuries and are committed to the protection of the rainforest and its wildlife. The Napo Wildlife Center offers visitors a variety of activities, including guided rainforest walks, bird watching, canoeing and visits to the local community to learn about their way of life. The lodge offers visitors luxurious accommodation with spacious and comfortable rooms designed to blend in with the natural surroundings.
ITINERARIES & REGULAR DEPARTURES
DAY 1:From Quito, a 30-minute flight to El Coca. Upon arrival, a 5-minute transfer to “La Mision” Port. Begin a 2-hour canoe ride along the Napo River with a provided box lunch.
Arrive at NWC’s dock, short restroom break, 2-hour peaceful paddle canoe ride through a narrow creek for monkey and bird sightings. Late afternoon arrival at Napo Wildlife Center, greeted with a view of Añangu Lagoon, welcome drink, and briefing.
DAY 2: Early wake up to reach the easiest access parrot claylicks in Ecuador, about 1 hour away from the lodge, guests reach there just before parrot activity kicks off at the clay lick between 7:30 to 8:30. A total of 11 species of parrots, parakeets and macaws can be seen.
Hike to Kichwa Interpretation center, learn about Kichwa culture, hike to second parrot clay lick, spot parrots. Return for lunch and dinner at the lodge.
DAY 3: After early breakfast, we leave the lodge to experience an amazing view of the rainforest from a 36m. tall canopy tower, a great way to see the life above the ground of the forest.
Napo Wildlife Center offers an unforgettable experience with a tree-built canopy tower, providing breathtaking bird’s-eye views. Safety is paramount, with a top-notch, engineer-inspected metal tower and expertly crafted top platform.
Enjoy lunch, then venture into the primary forest to spot lizards, manakins, and Golden Mantle Tamarin monkeys. The day ends with a canoe excursion on the lake, a chance to see Giant Otters.
DAY 4: Early departure, canoeing back to Napo River, transfer to El Coca by motorized canoe. Arrive after a 2-hour boat ride, check-in for Coca to Quito flight (schedule to be announced).
DAY 1: Begin with a 30-minute flight to El Coca over the Andes. Transfer to a motorboat for a 2-hour ride along the Napo River, spotting birds. Arrive at Napo Wildlife Center and embark on a peaceful 2-hour dugout canoe trip to the lodge, with opportunities to see monkeys and large birds. Arrive at the lodge in the late afternoon.
DAY 2: After a buffet breakfast, experience the life above theforest floor visiting the 36-meter canopy tower. Thistower is located about 30 minutes from the lodge deepwithin the forest.
Afternoon hike in terra-firme forest, learn about plant ecology and explore creeks, chance to see Giant otters. Dinner at 7:30 pm.
DAY 3: Early wake up to reach the most accesible Parrot Clay Licks in Ecuador, about 1 hour away from the lodge, guests reach there just before parrot activity kicks off at the clay lick between 7:30 to 8:30. A total of11 species of parrots, parakeets and macaws can be seen.
Hike to Kichwa Interpretation center, learn about Kichwa culture, hike to second parrot clay lick, spot parrots. Return for lunch and dinner at the lodge.
DAY 4: Morning hike along Tiputini trail in terra-firme and swamp forests, seeking wildlife like Tamarins, capuchin monkeys, and sloths. Afternoon canoe paddling to explore deeper creeks for unique wildlife. Evening discussion about the community and Napo Wildlife Center after dinner.
DAY 5: Early breakfast and last excursion, canoeing back to the Napo river. The creek may reveal new sights of Giant otters, Monk Sakimonkeys, hoatzins, blackcapped donacobius, or other birds. The motorized canoe will take you back to El Coca, for the flight back to Quito.
DAY 1: This morning we’ll take a short (about 30-minute) flight from Quitoto the town of Coca, gateway to theAmazon, whence in 1541 Franciscode Orellana set sail on a locally constructed brigantine and made the first navigation to the Atlantic. Our ride will be far more comfortable, a canoe powered by twin out board motors that will take us downs tream about 2.5 hours to the Napo Wildlife Center (NWC) welcome station, where we’ll be transferred to smaller canoes. From here, guides will paddle up Añangu Creek to the lodge, set on the bank of a tranqui lake amid a huge tract of primary rainforest (where huntingis prohibited). Along the way, we’ll see our first Hoatzins and get a taste for the diversity of the region.
DAY 2-4: Three full days or more, to scratch the surface of theavifauna in western Amazonia and get a feel for thecomplexity of rich habitats and microhabitats withineasy reach of the lodge.During one or two mornings, we’ll visit the very sturdycanopy tower, which offers privileged access to a worldapart from the rest of the rainforest.
The river-edge forest, where we’llvisit the local community that builtand so ably runs the lodge, is home to numerous other species such as Turquoise and Magpie Tanagers, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, and Swallow- winged Puffbird. And then there are islands in the Napo river, which, depending on their age,support a varied avifauna distinct from that found on the “mainland” only a few hundred yards’ distant.
DAY 5: Today we’ll head back to Coca for our returnflight to Quito.
INCLUDED
- River transportation Coca – Napo Wildlife Center – Coca
- Accommodation in Napo Wildlife Center
- All meals.
- 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.
NOT INCLUDED
- 256 USD per person (subject to change): Air tickets
Quito-Coca-Quito with assistance from the airport in
Quitoon(helpwithcheck-inandlandtransfersinCoca) - Beverages, tips and other non specified requirements
(laundry and internet)
NOTICE: For security reasons, swimming into Añangucocha (lagoon) is forbidden.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a sample itineraries subject to change due to weather conditions, safety, and particularinterests of guests and groups. Changes and additions are made in order to maximize wildlife viewing and wilderness enjoyment, cultural interaction with local people, and all possible time at the richest rain forest in Ecuador: the Yasuni National Park. Please check with us to tailor-made your itinerary and cater to your particular interest for a unique life experience at the finest Amazon lodge: the Napo Wildlife Center.