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Highlights
Spend 5 days kayaking and exploring the beautiful Ecuadorian rainforest.
Visit jungle habitats to see native wildlife in their natural habitats, including many species of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Enjoy pleasant kayak trips and easy hikes through the tranquil beauty of the rainforest.
Learn about all the medicinal plants that grow in the rainforest and the important role they play in the community.
Experience Kichwa culture as you spend time with the local indigenous people and learn about their traditions and way of life.
Discover the true heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle as you explore the Yasuni National Park on this paddling adventure. This guided adventure lets you truly experience the natural beauty of the rainforest as you kayak through the vibrant jungle by day and camp in the jungle by night.
As you kayak the rivers, you’ll encounter the birds, monkeys, frogs, and countless other animals that live in the rainforest. You’ll also have a chance to look for anaconda and fish for piranha during your adventure. Between kayaking journeys, you’ll have a chance to meet the people who live in this beautiful wilderness. You’ll be visiting the children of the Mandaripanga community and will spend some time with an indigenous Kichwa family. Spending time connecting with the people who are the stewards of this pristine corner of the world will give you insight into a completely different way of life.
Dive into the Ecuadorian Amazon and take on this paddling adventure in one of Earth’s most special corners, the Yasuni National Park!
Discover the true heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle as you explore the Yasuni National Park on this paddling adventure. This guided adventure lets you truly experience the natural beauty of the rainforest as you kayak through the vibrant jungle by day and camp in the jungle by night.
As you kayak the rivers, you’ll encounter the birds, monkeys, frogs, and countless other animals that live in the rainforest. You’ll also have a chance to look for anaconda and fish for piranha during your adventure. Between kayaking journeys, you’ll have a chance to meet the people who live in this beautiful wilderness. You’ll be visiting the children of the Mandaripanga community and will spend some time with an indigenous Kichwa family. Spending time connecting with the people who are the stewards of this pristine corner of the world will give you insight into a completely different way of life.
Dive into the Ecuadorian Amazon and take on this paddling adventure in one of Earth’s most special corners, the Yasuni National Park!
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Paddling through Ecuador’s Rainforest Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Coca
Meet your group in the city of Coca, where you’ll be driven together to the Tiputini River. Here you’ll canoe upriver for an hour until you reach the Madaripanga community.
Meet the friendly residents and visit the children at the local school. In the afternoon, you’ll take a three-hour kayak trip to look for wildlife and learn about the plants grow along the riverbank. You’ll be arriving at your campsite in time for dinner.
Overnight Location: Camping in Yasuni National Park
Distance: About 4 hours of paddling
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Day 2 Bird and Wildlife Watching by Kayak
This morning, you’ll have an early breakfast and will be on the river early enough to catch the mist rising off the water, a magical sight.
During your 4 hour paddle, you’ll be looking for trogons, eagles, tanagers, macaws, parrots, kingfishers, and other exotic birds. You’ll park your kayaks and trade them for canoes as you search for anacondas in the black water lagoon. These snakes are important symbols to the local Kichwa people and are often found along the shoreline, so keep an eye out!
You’ll finish your afternoon with a fishing trip where you can try your hand at catching a piranha!
Overnight Location: Camping in Yasuni National Park
Distance: About 5 hours of paddling
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 Hike to the Clay Lick and Visit a Local Family
Today you’ll be trekking into the jungle to learn all about the medicinal plants in the area and how they’re used in daily Amazon life.
You’ll be hiking to a mineral deposit called Clay Lick where many animals get important minerals that they are missing from their regular diet. You may even see howler monkeys and parrots in the area!
After lunch at camp, you’ll visit an indigenous Kichwa family who will teach you about their culture and daily life. You will also be able to purchase locally made handicrafts, which will directly support the families in the area.
Overnight Location: Camping in Yasuni National Park
Distance: About 2 hours of hiking
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Canoeing the Rumiyacu
You’ll start your day in the canoe with a 45-minute trip up the Rumiyacu River. After a short hike, you’ll visit a spot that is popular for seeing parrots. After spending some time watching these colourful birds you’ll return to the city of Coca for the evening.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Coca
Distance: About 2 hours of paddling
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 5 Departure
Today your tour officially ends after breakfast and check out. From here you can begin your trip home or continue on your journey.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Private Tour:
- 2-3 Travellers: USD1925 per person
- 4+ Travellers: USD1150 per person
Accommodation on the Paddling through Ecuador’s Rainforest Tour
This tour is based in campsites and 3-star hotel accommodations. While you are camping in the rainforest you’ll be accommodated in a rustic “glamping” camp. Rooms are double occupancy and single travellers will pay a supplement.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel (please inquire for the pricing). We can try and match single travellers up where possible.
What’s Included in Paddling through Ecuador’s Rainforest Tour?
Meals
4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, snacks, and water are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 4 nights are included. Accommodations before and after the tour in Coca are not included.
Transportation during the Tour
Transport for you and your luggage is included as per the itinerary. Pick up at the beginning of the tour will be from the Coca meeting point.
Also Included
- Experienced English-speaking guide
- Water bottle
- Paddling equipment, NRS expedition kayaks, NRS paddleboards, paddles, and life jackets
- Rubber boats are provided for jungle hikes
- All fees to reserves and museums
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Flights to and from Ecuador
- Airport transfers
- Lunches and dinners or drinks and snacks not previously mentioned
- Tourist taxes if applicable
- Visas if required
- Optional activities
- Personal equipment
- Fees not mentioned as ‘included’
- Gratuities for tour guides and drivers are not included
- How hard is the Paddling through Ecuador’s Rainforest Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Ecuador?
- Are meals included on the Paddling through Ecuador’s Rainforest Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Coca to start this tour?
- Is the Paddling through Ecuador’s Rainforest guided tour?
- Where does the Paddling through Ecuador’s Rainforest Tour end?
- Are equipment rentals included?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Ecuador?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Ecuador?
- When is the best time to travel to Ecuador for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 3/5. This adventure is for kayakers with all levels of experience. The paddling is on calm water and the average trip is about 2 to 3 hours. The short hikes are through rough, muddy terrain but aren’t overly demanding.
The accommodations are somewhat rustic, so you should be comfortable with more basic amenities.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, snacks, and water are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover kayaking. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can reach Coca Francisco de Orellana Airport (OCC) by plane, it is a short flight to connect from the Quito International Airport. You will need to arrange your own transportation from the airport to your hotel.
Yes, you will have an English-speaking guide for the duration of the tour.
The tour ends when you check out of your hotel in Coca. You will need to arrange your own ride to the airport from your hotel.
Yes, kayaks and all your paddling equipment are included in your tour. Please bring any additional equipment required.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to visit Ecuador for this tour is between July and February when the Amazon experiences less rain on average. Kayaking during the wet season can occasionally be difficult due to high water levels.
Customer Ratings
The creation of Activexpedition is to inspire adventure travelers to explore our world from a different perspective. At Activexpedition they prioritize eco-friendly activities in every destination they go, as well as support local people and traditions through sustainability efforts.
Activexpedition’s mission is to deliver educational experiences of a lifetime with stellar service and provide human powered holidays that go beyond typical adventure travel.
