With over 20 years of sailing in Ecuador’s Oriente region, the Manatee Amazon Explorer was and continues to be, the pioneer in Ecuadorian Amazon cruising. At 121-feet in length and with a capacity for 30 adventurous guests, the Manatee may be smaller than her luxury sister ship the Anakonda, but remains a superior and spacious option for comfortably cruising to one of the most biodiverse places on earth, the remote and remarkable Yasuní National Park.
DAY 1
MONDAY: QUITO – COCA – NAPO RIVER
Our adventure begins in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. After a 30-minute flight from Quito to the Amazonian city of Coca, we will transfer to the dock and board our motorized canoe for a 90-minute journey down the river, taking in the beauty of the Amazon, until we reach the Manatee Amazon Explorer and receive our warm welcome aboard. On the Manatee, we will be joined by expert local naturalist guides, who will provide us with a brief, informative introduction to the Ecuadorian Amazon; and afterwards guests will have the opportunity to explore our cruise ship and admire the rainforest landscape as we glide down the Napo River. After a delicious dinner, we will take a nighttime forest walk to hear the sounds of the rainforest and observe the nocturnal wildlife.