Napo Wildlife Center Ecolodge
From the capital city of Quito, a 30 minutes flight to the city of Coca. Known as the “Gateway to the Amazon” since Francisco de Orellana’s expedition here in 1541, Napo Wildlife Center is conveniently located at the confluence of the Coca River and the Napo River.
A modern covered motorboat will take you on a comfortable 2.5 hours ride from the port of La Misión to the Napo Wildlife Center welcome station in Yasuní National Park. From there, we transfer to dugout canoes operated by expert guides in order to quietly paddle up Añangu Creek.
As we enter Añangu Lake and approach the Napo Wildlife Center ecolodge, be prepared to be struck with awe as you soak up the magical vista!
Napo Wildlife Center has 12 ample and comfortable standard cabins and 8 suites, the lodge accommodates up to 40 people, distributed in suites, doubles, and triple rooms. Our fully equipped cabins feature electricity, a security box, ventilation, hot water, a private bathroom, a balcony surrounded by beautifully groomed natural gardens, and more. The restaurant offers national and international dishes.
Jungle Tour Yasuni
Napo Wildlife Center Ecolodge (4Days Itinerary – 5 Days Itinerary)
Itinerary 4D/3N – PREMIUM TOUR
DAY 1
Departing from Quito, a 30 minute flight to Coca over the eastern Andes mountain range. After landing, about mid-morning, 5 min transfer will take you to “La Mision” Port, where you will embark onto a comfortable covered motor boat. Here we start a canoe ride along the Napo River for about 2 hours, box lunch and coffee are provided in route. Along the way, birds like herons, kingfishers, and others can be spotted. After arriving at NWC’s entry dock we disembark for restroom then take a majestic and peaceful 2 hours paddle canoe ride surrounded by trees, paddling along a narrow creek that connects to the lake where the lodge is located.
Chances to spot some species of monkeys as well as large birds like toucans, parrots, or even macaws. Late afternoon arrival to Napo Wildlife Center with an overwhelming view of the Añangu Lake, welcome drink followed by a briefing of the local manager.
DAY 2
Wake up for an early breakfast and an early start to reach the most accessible parrot clay licks in Ecuador, about 1 hour away from the lodge. Guests reach this destination just before parrot activity kicks off at the clay lick between 7:30 to 8:30 am to ensure the best viewing experience. A total of 11 species of parrots, parakeets, and macaws can be seen on a daily basis. Many other animals also visit on a less frequent basis.
Later, hike along a forest trail to visit the Kichwa Community of Añangu and share time with a family on one of their many activities. Enjoy lunch at Napo Cultural Center, where you share with people of the Kichwa community.
Then return to the creek and hike through a Terra Firme Forest for about 30 minutes until we arrive at the second parrot clay lick. If the weather conditions permit, we will be able to find different species of parrots, parakeets, and even macaws.
When you arrive back at the lodge during the late afternoon or early evening, a delicious dinner will be awaiting you.
DAY 3
After another early breakfast, we leave the lodge to experience an amazing view of the rainforest from a 36 meter tall canopy tower, a great way to see the hustle and bustle of life above ground level. This is the second tower at the Napo Wildlife Center, located about 30 minutes from the lodge deep within the Terra Firme forest. As you ascend the 12-floor tower, you pass through different levels of the forest and emerge at the top of a huge Ceiba tree.
Flocks of colorful tanagers pass right through the canopy of the tree. Blue-and-yellow macaws fly past while, in nearby trees, adorable spider monkeys search for fruit. Two species of large toucans call in the early mornings and afternoons, and the life of the forest canopy is laid out before you. Birds that are virtually impossible to see from the forest floor far below are suddenly right beside you, usually oblivious to your presence. The canopy tower opens a whole new world to guests of the Napo Wildlife Center!
Lunch is served at the lodge. Your afternoon can include discovering another Terra Firme trail, where we hike along the primary forest to see the forest interior, and possibilities of finding lizards, colorful manakins, or the unique and endemic Golden-mantled tamarin monkey. After the hike, explore the lake and creeks in a dugout canoe and enjoy a likely chance to meet with our local Giant otter family on the way.
DAY 4
Early departure and last excursion canoeing back to the Napo River, the creek may reveal new sights of Giant otters, Monk Saki monkeys or many other rare birds. Transfer to the motorized canoe in order to return back to Coca, arrival approximately after a 2 hours boat ride in order to check-in for Coca – Quito flight, schedule to be announced according to departure details and arrangements.
Itinerary 5D/4N – EXTENDED STAY
DAY 1
This morning we will take a short flight from Quito to the town of Coca, lasting about half an hour. A short drive from the airport to “La Mision”, the main port of Coca, will bring you to “the gateway to the Amazon” where Francisco de Orellana set sail in 1541.
Our method of transportation will now be a comfortable covered canoe powered by twin outboard motors where we can enjoy a box lunch and coffee provided en route. This craft will take us downstream on the Napo River for about 2.5 hours to the Napo Wildlife Center (NWC) welcome station.
Here we will take a short break and make use of the facilities before transferring to smaller canoes that are used instead of motorized vehicles to maintain the pristine landscape and habitats. Over the next couple of hours, we will paddle you up Añangu Creek to the NWC lodge, which is situated on the bank of a tranquil lake amid a vast tract of primary rainforest where hunting is prohibited. On this canoe ride, you have a high chance of spotting wildlife! Various species of monkeys, as well as large birds like toucans, parrots, and even macaws, can be seen.
DAY 2
After a buffet breakfast, experience the life above the forest floor visiting the 36-meter canopy tower. This tower is located about 30 minutes from the lodge deep within the forest. Get a very good sample of the 567 species recorded so far, with a close look at colorful tanagers, macaws, toucans, flycatchers, and even Spider or Howler Monkeys feeding themselves on the nearby trees. The canopy tower opens a whole new world to the guests of the Napo Wildlife Center.
Return to the lodge for a typical Ecuadorian lunch. After lunch there are many options to choose from before you start the afternoon activity: climb the central tower for birdwatching, or just relax in your hammock.
In the afternoon, hike through a marvelous terra- firme forest to discover the ecology and the role of plants in the complex world of the Tropical Rain-Forest: vines, ancient trees, bromeliads, orchids stand out in this impressive natural garden. After the hike, explore the surrounding creeks with the possibility of running into a Giant otter family. A delicious dinner awaits you at 7:30 pm.
DAY 3
This morning we will visit the best parrot clay licks in Ecuador!! An early start will allow us to see different creatures while paddling downstream on the Añangu Creek as far as the welcome area. Then, we take the motorboat for a 10 minutes ride for a beautiful view of thousands of parrots such as the amazon-mealy, blue-headed, and orange–cheeked, among others who land at the natural river-side formation to eat some clay.
Later, we return to the welcome area and start a short hike to the parakeets’ clay lick. Here hundreds of cobalt-winged parakeets remain crowded in the trees waiting for the most confident members of the flock to decide it’s the best time to get minerals from the clay. Marvel as they all take turns landing at this clay lick in a flurry of color and sound.
Lunch at Napo Cultural Center. In the afternoon, visit the interpretation area to learn about the traditions of the ancestral Kichwa community of Añangu through song, dance, and conversation. Then head back to the lodge late in the afternoon. You will be welcomed back with a refreshing fruit drink, and dinner following at 7:30 pm.
DAY 4
This morning we hike along the Tiputini trail and its terra-firma forests and swamp forests, searching for more wildlife such as Golden-Mantled Tamarins, White-Faced capuchin monkeys, two and three-toed sloths, pigmy squirrels, carnivores and their tracks on the forest floor.
Back to the lodge for lunch and a well-deserved rest. In the afternoon paddle canoes will take you to explore deeper areas in the surrounding creeks with more possibilities of seeing unique wildlife. After dinner, you will share a talk about the community and Napo Wildlife Center.
DAY 5
Early breakfast and last excursion canoeing back to the Napo River. The creek may reveal new sights of giant otters, monk saki monkeys, black-capped donacobius, and other birds. The motorized canoe will take you back to Coca for the flight back to Quito.
NOTICE: For security reasons, swimming into Añangucocha (lagoon) is forbidden.
Additional Day(s): Optional excursions such as hikes through different trails and forest types. Canoe rides, exploring deeper areas of surrounding creeks with more wildlife possibilities, additional mammal clay lick excursions, and handcraft workshops with the local community among other options are available.
Itinerary 5D/4N – BIRDING TOUR
DAY 1
A 30 minutes flight from Quito to Coca over the eastern Andes mountain range is the beginning of this fantastic experience. After landing, a short 5 minutes drive will bring you to the Coca port where you will take a comfortable covered motorboat ride along the Napo River. Approximately 2 hours later, and after spotting some birds along the way, we arrive at Napo Wildlife Center’s first welcoming area which is complete with restroom facilities.
After arriving at Napo Wildlife Center’s welcoming area, we will switch watercraft and take a magical and peaceful 2 hours dugout-canoe ride along a narrow creek where motorized vehicles are prohibited. The Añangu stream connects to the lake where the lodge is located. Along the way, we’ll see our first hoatzins and get a taste for the diversity of the region, with birds perhaps including rufescent tiger-heron, sungrebe, red-bellied macaw, and green-and-rufous kingfisher. We reach our final destination by arriving at the lodge in the late afternoon. Enjoy your first night at NWC lodge.
DAY 2-3-4
Three full days or more, to scratch the surface of the avifauna in western Amazonia and get a feel for the complexity of rich habitats and microhabitats within easy reach of the lodge. One or two mornings we’ll visit the very sturdy canopy tower, which offers privileged access to a world apart from the rest of the rainforest.
Flocks of oropendolas, aracaris, tanagers, and euphonias roam the canopy in search of fruit, Spangled and Plum-throated Cotingas glow from the treetops, raptors perch on vantage points to dry off in the morning sun, White-browed Purpletufts and Crowned Slaty Flycatchers sally for insects, numerous parrots and macaws fly by or drop in if there is a fruiting tree nearby, and many other species wander past (and through!) the tower tree.
Good forest trails offer access to another component of the avifauna, with woodcreepers, antbirds, and tinamous particularly well represented, and we should encounter the vocally striking Screaming Piha and the visually striking Blacknecked Red Cotinga.
A number of clay licks (or “saladeros”) exist on the NWC lands, and here we should see (and hear!) the spectacle of hundreds of parrots and parakeets coming in to eat clay. We’ll also enjoy merous canoe rides around the lake by the lodge and along adjacent creeks, where the songs of Silvered and Plumbeous Antbirds reverberate through the flooded forest.
Birds we’ll be seeking here include the poorly known Zigzag Heron, the habitat specialist Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Orange-crested Manakin, and the striking Long-billed Woodcreeper, plus several species of monkeys and the impressive Giant River Otter.
The river-edge forest, where we’ll visit the local community that built and so ably runs the lodge, is home to numerous other species such as Turquoise and Magpie Tanagers, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, and Swallow- winged Puffbird.
And then there are islands in the Río Napo, which, depending on their age, support a varied avifauna distinct from that found on the “mainland” only a few hundred yards’ distant! Island specialties we hope to see include Black-and-white Antbird, Olive-spotted Hummingbird, and at least three species of spinetails, plus more “expected” river birds such as Capped Heron, Collared Plover, and Yellow-billed Tern. Nights at NWC lodge.
DAY 5
Today we will make the journey back along the Añangu stream and head back up the Napo River to Coca for the return flight to Quito.
Nestled deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest lies a hidden gem – Napo Wildlife Center.
This eco-lodge is located in the Yasuni National Park, which is situated in the heart of the Ecuadorian jungle. The untouched beauty of this region is simply breathtaking, with its lush greenery and diverse wildlife.
The Napo Wildlife Center offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience this pristine environment while being immersed in local culture. Guests can explore the jungle on guided hikes, canoe trips, and birdwatching excursions. They can also learn about the traditions and customs of the Kichwa Añangu community, who are native to this area.
This eco-lodge is committed to sustainable tourism practices that support conservation efforts and benefit local communities. By choosing to stay at Napo Wildlife Center, visitors not only get to experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure but also contribute towards preserving this precious ecosystem for future generations.
Itinerary 4 Days
Itinerary 5 Days
Rate includes:
Rate does not include:
WHAT TO BRING:
We suggest you take the necessary for the jungle excursion please note the follow packing list with the essential and useful items:
- ORIGINAL PASSPORT
- Clothes of cotton and dry faster material
- Long-sleeved shirt or blouse and long pants for the hikes into the rainforest
- T-shirts & shorts
- 2 pairs of socks
- Rain poncho
- Sandals or sneakers
- Light wind-breaker and sweater or fleece ( for the early and night activities )
- Bath suit and personal towel for swimming
- Sun cap or hat
- Sunglasses with a strap
- One small daypack ( waterproof )
- Insect repellent o Sun block o Headlamp or flashlight ( with spare batteries, it could be better re-chargeable)
- Personal water or canteen
- Toilet kit ( biodegradable soap & shampoo recommended )
- Personal first aid kit (it might include your personal travel medicines )
- Camera ( bring your own charger and adapter)
- Binoculars ( 10×40 are suggested )
- Notebook
- Plastic bags ( zip lock bags could be better for your items in special camera, phones, binoculars, medicines and documents to keep them dry ).
- Wet wipes
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The Flora and Fauna of Napo Wildlife Center: A Biodiverse Haven
Napo Wildlife Center is a true haven for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. Situated in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, this wildlife sanctuary offers a unique opportunity to witness some of the most diverse and fascinating flora and fauna in the world.
For birding enthusiasts, Napo Wildlife Center is a paradise. With over 600 species of birds, including toucans, macaws, and parrots, it’s no wonder that this place is considered one of the best birding destinations in South America.
The spider monkeys sightings are also common in this area. These playful primates can be seen jumping from tree to tree with their long limbs and prehensile tails. And let’s not forget about giant otters sightings – these fascinating creatures are known for their playful behavior and can often be spotted playing in groups along the riverbanks.
Overall, Napo Wildlife Center offers an unforgettable experience for those who seek to immerse themselves in nature’s wonders.
Experiencing Indigenous Culture at Napo Wildlife Center’s Kichwa Ecolodge
If you’re looking for an authentic and immersive experience of Indigenous culture, the Napo Wildlife Center’s Kichwa Ecolodge is a must-visit destination. The Kichwa community tourism projects offer visitors a unique opportunity to engage with the local community and learn about their traditional way of life.
The Kichwa Ecolodge also provides an opportunity for visitors to give back to the community by supporting sustainable tourism practices that benefit both tourists and locals alike. By visiting this ecolodge, you not only get to experience an unforgettable adventure but also contribute towards preserving Indigenous culture for future generations.
Exploring the Amazon Rainforest with Guided Tours and Activities at Napo Wildlife Center
The Amazon Rainforest is a place of unparalleled natural beauty and diversity, and there’s no better way to experience it than with guided tours and activities at the Napo Wildlife Center. With a variety of options available, visitors can explore this incredible ecosystem in a safe and responsible way.
Canoe trips along the river offer a unique perspective on the rainforest, allowing visitors to see wildlife up close and immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of this vibrant ecosystem. Guided hikes through diverse forest trails offer an opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna that call this place home, while night walks provide an unforgettable chance to observe nocturnal wildlife in their natural habitat.
For those interested in birdwatching, parrot clay licks visits are a must-see. Witnessing these colorful birds gather at mineral-rich clay deposits is truly a sight to behold. With so many incredible experiences available, Napo Wildlife Center offers an unforgettable adventure for anyone looking to explore one of the world’s most fascinating ecosystems.