Luxury Cruise on the Amazon River: Anakonda Cruises 8 Day/7 Night

QUITO — COCA — NAPO RIVER  Our adventure begins in the city of Quito, Capital of Ecuador. After taking a short 30- minute flight from Quito to the Amazon city of Coca, located in the Orellana Province, we will transfer to the dock and board our motorized canoe to begin our 90-minute journey down the river, taking in the first sights and sounds of the Amazon. Soon, we will reach the Anakonda Amazon Cruise and receive our welcome aboard.

After dinner, we will plunge straight into the Amazon rainforest by going for a nighttime forest walk (optional excursion) to observe the forest’s nocturnal activity and experience the thrill of the vivid noises and aromas that come from so much biodiversity. 

YASUNI NATIONAL PARK & SECOYA COMMUNITY  After breakfast, depart on a motorized canoe and spend some time exploring one of the large islands. Then board the Anakonda Amazon Cruise for lunch and enjoy one of the many on board experiences.  Later in the afternoon visit Yasuni National Park, home to the legendary pink river dolphin.  In this area you will also find anacondas, river turtles and various primate species & birds. Near Yasuni live the Secoyas, a minority community that you will have the opportunity to visit while they share their traditions and lifestyle. 

KICHWA FAMILY & LIFE ON BOARD  We will start the day off by visiting an authentic Kichwa family located on the banks of the Napo River, where we will have the opportunity to learn directly from members of the local community.

We will then board the Anakonda Amazon Cruise for some leisure time as we continue our navigation upstream. At this time, our guests will be delighted with our life onboard activities and participate in a cooking lesson with our expert chef who will share recipes and techniques using fresh and organic ingredients to prepare exquisite traditional Ecuadorian food that you can replicate at home. After lunch, guests are also invited to try their hand at making traditional handicrafts and attend an ancestral cultures lecture with one of our local guides. For our more active guests, a kayaking activity is the best choice to explore the surrounding nature. There is an option for everyone.

**For our adventurous guests, this day, we are pleased to offer a glamping program as an alternative manner to explore this enchanting destination (Optional activity for the 5 & 8 days Itinerary). 

OBSERVATION CANOPY TOWER & FOREST ADVENTURE  Our guests can relax and enjoy the Anakonda Amazon Cruise during the morning. After, they will disembark to visit an observation tower in the rain forest canopy, which offers astonishing 360-degree views. The perspective at the top of this observation tower is truly glorious, looming above the lush treetops and providing a view of the sheer vastness of the Amazon Basin. This is the perfect photo opportunity! Birdwatchers and bird-lovers alike will especially enjoy this outing.

In the afternoon, we will explore the nearby forest for a walk to discover a myriad of different animals and plant species that can only be found in the Amazon basin. A kayak activity is also available to explore this area.

INDILLAMA & NAPO RIVER – THE NORTHERN SIDE OF YASUNÍ NATIONAL PARK  We will begin the day kayaking along the Indillama River, one of the Napo River’s tributaries, which leads us into Yasuní National Park. Kayaks are smooth and silent, providing the very best opportunity to observe wildlife. Canoes can also be used to travel in search of more wildlife. The choice is yours! In these waters, you will find yourself surrounded by lush greenery.

After an adventure-filled day, you may choose to take advantage of our observation deck where you can relax and experience a magical view under the stars. Our more energetic guests may choose to unwind with a night walk through the jungle to observe nocturnal creatures.

PAÑACOCHA BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR  We continue to travel downstream to the Pañayacu River delta, where we will take a canoe trip to experience the sights of this fascinating water reserve. Pañacocha Lake is an ecosystem flooded by black-waters. Pañacocha means “Piranha Lake” in the native Kichwa language. The surrounding protected rain forest is home to 9 species of primates, 500 species of birds and more than 100 fish species. This is the perfect habitat for piranhas, paiches (one of the largest freshwater fiches in the word) and the white caiman.

In this little piece of paradise, we will participate in nature walks led by our local naturalist guides, and relax at a nearby campsite where we will enjoy a delicious Amazon-style BBQ with refreshing beverages.

After lunch, we will do some kayaking, and the bravest among us can enjoy a nice refreshing swim in the Piranha Lake! We promise it’s not as dangerous as it sounds!

Back on board the Anakonda Amazon Cruise, our guests will have the opportunity to attend a lecture given by our concierge and watch an educational documentary about the region.

PARROT CLAY LICKS – AMAZONIAN COMMUNITIES  This morning we will set out on canoes to observe one of the most incredible sights on this side of the Western Amazon – the parrot clay licks. This unique place is rich in minerals and attracts hundreds of colorful parrots, parakeets, and Amazon birds every day.

Later in the afternoon, we will visit a Kichwa Cultural Center, where we will learn about Amazon communities and their ancestral culture, traditions, and cuisine. Members of the local community will teach us about indigenous lifestyles along the Napo River. Guest will have the opportunity to support the local community by purchasing handicrafts, local products, and souvenirs.

Back on board the Anakonda Amazon Cruise, we will be delighted with an exquisite farewell dinner.

RETURN  This is where our adventure ends! Enjoy the last part of our return journey onboard and then disembark the Anakonda Amazon Cruise to take the motorized canoe back to Coca (90 minutes ride approximately).