4 Days / 3 Nights Yasuní Biosphere Reserve
Amazonian birds, black caimans and a close encounter with the amazing flora represented by cedar trees, orchids, and bromeliads
Day 1: Arrival Francisco de Orellana – Coca - Sani Lodge
Your journey starts with a 35-minute flight from Quito- to Coca where the staff will pick you up and transfer to a local hotel located on the banks of Napo River. There, your bilingual guides will explain about safety before embarking for a 3 hour boat trip on the largest Ecuadorian affluent of the Amazon, the Napo River. During the journey you get a taste of the Amazon; ancestral communities, birds such as: herons, egrets, vultures, while enjoying packed lunch. The canoe ride is followed by a 5 minute walk and 20-minute paddle canoe across the Challuacocha creek. The staff will welcome you with refreshing cold drinks and snacks before you settle down in your cabins.
Later, you’ll have the option to take short walk on nearby trails or take a canoe ride with the chance to observe primates, Amazonian birds, black caimans in their primitive setting. You’ll also have a close encounter with the amazing flora represented by cedar trees, orchids, and bromeliads. Upon your return to the lodge, our chef will be happy to offer a wide variety of national and international cuisine that caters celiacs, vegetarians and vegans.
After dinner explore our black-water Oxbow Lake, a haven for one of the increasingly endangered species, the black caiman. This lake supports a healthy population of these large South-American crocodiles, which can measure up to 6 meters (18ft.) long. Return to the lodge.
Day 2: Discover wildlife in its natural state
After breakfast, experience the life on the tree tops from the 36 meter (118 ft.) observation tower. To get there, your leaders will paddle on the Challuaco-cha Lake for about 30 minutes through a beautiful Igapo Forest and a short 10-minute walk. Over 565 species of birds have been registered so far, including colorful birds such as macaws, toucans, honey-creepers, tanagers, flycatchers, hummingbirds and with a bit of luck a close view of howler, squirrel monkeys and sloths resting on the canopy. The tower gives you a unique perspective, opening up a whole new world of Amazon biodiversity that is often difficult, if not impossible to see from the understory. The journey continues exploring the nearby trails searching for more Amazonian creatures. Return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, there are many alternative activities for your enjoyment, bird-watching from the dining hall or simply getting to relax on the hammocks. In the after-noon, hike Chorongo or Coto trails of 3 hours, fantastic terra-firme forest to discover the relationships among the different living creatures and the role they play in this complex ecosystem. Orchids, vines, strangler figs, ancient trees; bromeliads are all part of this fabulous tropical rainforest. Dinner at the lodge.
After dinner take a night walk to see how myriads of insects, spiders and frogs come alive.
Day 3: Visit Kichwa Commune
After early breakfast head back to the Napo River to board the motor canoe and visit the parrot clay lick at Yasuní, a natural land slide where hundreds of parrots search for a gap to land and eat the earth. Here you will see Mealy Amazon, Yellow-crowned, Orange-winged and Blue-headed parrots. Continue with a walk on the south of the Yasuní for a wonderful view of flora and fauna of this area considered by scientists to be the most biodiverse area in the world. Here some species that cannot be found in the north like the gold- en-mantled tamarins, spider monkeys, Blue and yellow macaws and with a bit of luck a close encounter with white-lipped or collared pecca- ries. Head back to Sani Community Center to visit a native house to get a taste of how a typical Kichwa family lives. Enjoy their food, drinks, customs, and culture of the Sani community and learn how the lifestyle of the locals is environmentally sustainable. Return to the lodge for piranha fishing and a well-de- served diner.
Day 4: Return to the Napo River - Coca
Depart from the lodge at 5:00 a.m. for the last canoe ride and encounter with the flora and fauna of the Amazon jungle to board the canoe and get on time for your flight back to Quito. Packed breakfast will be served on the way.
Rates per person 2024 in US$ DOLLARS
4 Days / 3 Nights
Superior Cabins: 1 queen size bed + 1 twin
| Program | Single | Double / Triple |
| 4d/3n | $1321.00 | $979.00 |
FAMILY CABIN : 4 twin + 1 queen size beds
Minimum 4 people
| Program | Rate |
| 4d/3n | $1085.00 |
SUITE : 1 King size bed
| Program | Single | Double / Triple |
| 4d/3n | $1385.00 | $1026.00 |
The operator reserves the right to change the itinerary without previous notice due to weather, regulations or unforeseeable circumstances.
Flights
- One way USD 120
- Round trip USD 240
- Includes assistance at the airports
The rate includes:
- Accommodation
- Transfer Coca – Lodge – Coca
- English-speaking guide (Shared)
- Excursions
- Full board meals
The rate does not include:
- Air ticket Quito – Coca – Quito
- Personal expenses, drinks, tips
- Services not specified.
Important info
- Children under 12, get 50% off
- Prices are subject to change without previous notice
- Sani Lodge acts only as an intermediary with the airlines, it is not responsible for cancellations, delays made by the airline that might affect our itineraries.
