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5D/4N La Selva Tour Itinerary

Sample random itinerary

Please note that rainforest itineraries might vary slightly in order to maximize wildlife sightings and depend on the reports of our naturalist guides, your main interests and weather conditions.

DAY 1:

You will be transferred from your hotel to the international airport of Quito, followed by the assistance of our representative in the National Terminal area.

After a 30-minute flight to Puerto Francisco de Orellana “El Coca,” you will be transferred by private transportation (10 minutes) to the dock of the Hotel La Mision on the shore of the Napo River. Our representative will take care of your luggage and will provide to you with life vests and pure water bottles.

An amazing fluvial journey of two and a half hours in a motorized canoe with the assistance of a high quality English speaking naturalist guide will be the beginning of a great experience in the tropical rain forest. A delicious boxed lunch will be included.

At the end of the motorized canoe ride, you will be dropped on the main river’s La Selva port. A short 15-minute jungle walk will lead you to a creek where small fiber glass canoes will be taken to enjoy of an unforgettable 20 minutes paddle canoe ride across “Garzacocha” (the heron’s lagoon) in order to reach the lodge area.

Do not forget that you must only take care of your carry-on; your checked luggage will be transported by the lodge staff.

Once you arrive to the lodge, our resident manager will welcome you with a refreshing drink and snacks. A naturalist guide will provide a short briefing with information about the lodge and your schedule of activities. Rubber boots will be provided and accommodations assigned.

16H00 - MATAPALO TRAIL: This trail was named after the Spanish name of the famous Strangler Fig (Ficus sp), one of many remarkable trees that you will find during this short introductory walk. Your native and naturalist guides will share their knowledge about flora and fauna of the tropical rain forest.

19H00 - DINNER

20H00 - NIGHT WALK:A flashlight and a camera will be the most important tools you will need to enjoy of all those insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals that you might see during an hour walk in the darkness of the forest.

DAY 2:

05H30 - WAKE UP CALL

06H00 – BREAKFAST

06H30 – OBSERVATION TOWER: To reach this place you will need to leave the lodge and follow a trail for approximately 20 minutes. A platform located 135 foot-high atop a kapok tree will let you enjoy of an enchanting view of the canopy of the forest. Several different species of birds with bright colors and symphonic calls, as well as canopy mammals like red howler monkeys, white fronted capuchin monkeys, and squirrel monkeys, may be part of this experience of approximately 2 hours.

The day continues with a walk into the forest. A visit to the TUCANETA TRAIL will allow your guides to share with you more information about flora and fauna. The main characteristics of the tropical rain forest and the behavior of insects, frogs, toads, reptiles, birds and mammals will be part of this walk.

12H30 – LUNCH

16H00 – CHAGUAMANGO HERMANO TRAIL: This trail begins behind the lodge and finishes on the edge of the lagoon. During the walk your guides will talk about the neo-tropical pharmacy of the forest. Many plants have been used by the indigenous groups of the Amazonia to cure different illnesses; some of them will even be spotted along the way. At the end of the walk, you will take a canoe back to the lodge. With some luck you might even see big troops of squirrel monkeys approaching to the water, allowing you to take the great photos of wildlife.

19H00 – DINNER

20H00 – NIGHT CANOE RIDE: With the help of a spot light, your guides will take you in a paddle canoe around the lagoon looking for caimans, boas, bats, owls, night mammals and more nocturnal wild life. If the sky is clean, stargazing could be included.

DAY 3:

06H00 - WAKE UP CALL

06H30 – BREAKFAST

07H00 – PARROT CLAY LICKS: This visit is to a park considered the most diverse spot in the earth, The Yasuni National Park. A 20-minute canoe ride and a 15-minute walk will take you back to the Napo River. Then, a 10-minute motorized canoe ride will allow you to enjoy of one of the most amazing displays of wildlife in the world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets will approach the treetops and later will come down to a clay bank to eat this soil, rich in minerals. It is highly recommended to bring binoculars to have a better glimpse of this wonder.

Your naturalist guide will help you identify the different species of parrots and parakeets, providing you a lot of interesting information about these birds’ behavior. The motorized canoe ride will continue approximately 30 minutes longer for bird watching along the river banks.

Next on the program is a CULTURAL ACTIVITY. An amazon Kichwa family will receive you in their home and you will visit the farm called “chakra.” This visit will allow you to interact with the local population and give you a taste of the Amazon culture not found in guide books: The Amazon people. Then, a motorized canoe ride, short walk, and paddle canoe will take you back to the lodge.

12H30: LUNCH

16H00: GARZACOCHA LAKE: A 2-hour canoe ride around Garzacocha Lake, observing herons, flycatchers, birds of prey, the famous Hoatzin, troops of squirrel monkeys, and red howler monkeys perched on the top of the highest trees, among other interesting animals you might see during your lagoon trip. Do not forget your binoculars and your camera.

19H00: DINNER

20H00: LECTURE´S TIME: A cup of coffee, a piece of paper and a pencil will help you to take note of important extra information provided by your naturalist guide in an interesting lecture on nature.

DAY 4:

06H00 - WAKE UP CALL

06H30 – BREAKFAST

07H00 - MANDICOCHA LAGOON: A 1.5-hour walk will lead you to Mandicocha, a smaller lagoon surrounded by an Igapo Forest. You’ll observe an interesting ecosystem and will be able to take fascinating photos. A canoe ride (1.5 hours) around the lagoon and along its creek will let you learn about important species of flora and fauna that you find only in this type of forest. You might see sloths, caiman lizards, fruit bats, and jacanas, among others. A 1-hour walk along a different trail will lead you back to the lodge.

12H30 – LUNCH

16H00 – BUTTERFLY FARM: This visit will give you the chance to learn about the biology of this amazing insect. Our farm will show you the different stages of the butterfly growth complemented by important information provided by your naturalist guide. You will have the opportunity to take wonderful photos of these beautiful creatures.

The afternoon continues with PIRANHA FISHING in the Garzacocha Lagoon. Fishing lines will be provided by your native guide so you’ll have the chance to catch your own piranha. Depending on the size of the fish, you will either put it back in the water or if it is big enough you can give it to our Cook and enjoy a tasty fish for dinner. Remember that the fish is much more delicious when you catch it yourself!

19H00: DINNER

20H00: DEPARTURE BRIEFING: Your naturalist guide will provide all the necessary information for you departure to Coca and Flight back to Quito.

DAY 5:

You will have an early wake up call, breakfast and departure from the lodge in order to catch your flight.

The staff of the lodge will assist you with your checked luggage. You will take a motorized canoe ride upstream to go back to Coca, where our representative will take you to the airport to help you check your luggage and receive boarding passes.

Sample itinerary subject to change according to your interests and weather conditions