The new Manatee Amazon
Explorer riverboat has been specially built for cruises in the
Ecuadorian rainforest on the Rio Napo. You will visit Monkey
Island, Yasuni National Park and Biosphere Reserve, walk
jungle trails and explore virgin rain forest. The Manatee Amazon
Explorer is 90 feet long (27 m) 24 feet wide (7 m) and accommodates
30 lucky guests in comfortable cabins with private bathrooms and
running hot water, individual air conditioning, on board laundry
service, large dining room, inviting bar and lounge area, panoramic
terrace, delicious cuisine and the finest multilingual naturalist
guides.

Some 60 million years ago, South America was an
enormous island, partly submerged in the Atlantic. The Amazon River
flowed west, as the Andes rose majestically eons later. Life
gathered in isolated patches, like Noah's Ark, bearing the promise
of continuity. Salt water retreated to the sea, rains clashed
against mountain slopes, and the Panamanian land bridge gave way to
genetic transactions with the North. The result? The greatest
orchestration of life ever heard on Earth - whose symphonies delight
the spirit as its rainbow of colors come alive with what scientists
call "biodiversity". What's more, not even the most
outlandish imagination, nor the most sophisticated multimedia
equipment, could ever emulate this "divinely computerized
programming".
In 1541, the very first Europeans set out from
Quito to explore these dense jungles east of this ancient Incan
capital in search of gold and cinnamon. Not the jungle or the
natives ever revealed where the precious metal of "El
Dorado" was to be found, as they floated for 800 miles down the
Napo to come upon what they thought to be the Atlantic. But it
wasn't the Atlantic - yet. It was the Great Amazon River, fed by
over a thousand tributaries that emptied one third of the Planet's
fresh water into the sea!
Almost 500 years have passed since the discovery
of this magnificent river system that flows through the world's
largest primeval forest, containing 10% of all existing trees, 70%
of all pharmaceutical compounds, and native Indians that live
symbiotically with their unique ecosystem. This is the habitat of
wildlife that is sure to be watching you - or vice versa - if you
are lucky: freshwater dolphins, 500 species of birds, half a dozen
species of monkeys, caimans, tapirs, 2500 species of butterflies. |
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Today, you can be a temporary guest in this
magical wonderland for young and old. Our Amazon Manatee Explorer,
designed for adventure, yet featuring the comforts and advantages of
modern technology - is the result of over 20 years of experience in
running expeditions others think are extinct. Come aboard for an
experience of a lifetime! |
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Our boat has the capacity to
accommodate up to 30 passengers in 14 of its charming
double, double-twin and single-twin cabins. Each cabin
is equipped with air conditioning, closets, a private
bathroom complete with a special shower massage, hot and
cold water, 24 hours of electricity and 110-voltage
outlets and switches. |
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Sample 5 day Itinerary:
Day 1 Quito – Coca – Yasuní National
Park
Depart from Quito in the morning, flight to Francisco
de Orellana (Coca), arriving to Coca after a short 30 minutes trip.
Transfer to the Napo River port then the motorized canoe ride
downstream will be approximately one and a half hours; during the
trip we will provide important information about the region. Once on
board the Manatee Amazon Explorer will start navigating down the
Napo River for the whole afternoon. At night our first live
experience with the Ecuadorian Amazon basin will begin (night walk
or canoe ride will depend on the river level, climatic conditions,
wildlife behavior and accessibility to a location).
Day 2 Visiting the Pañacocha Biological
Corridor
We will continue our navigation
downstream to arrive at the mouth of the Pañayacu (Piranha River).
After arrival, there will be a canoe trip through the Piranha River
to see the sights of this interesting protected forest. There is a
possibility to observe Pink River Dolphins, the agile Common
Squirrel Monkeys and much more. The Piranha Lake area is an
ecosystem flooded by white waters. The rivers and lakes of that
place are perfect habitat for the infamous Piranha, the Water Monkey
Fish (Arawana) and White Caimans. At night, there will be an
optional excursion to explore the forest and riverbanks and also
optional overnight at our camp for an extra fee of $30,00 per person
can be arranged.
Day 3 Visiting the Observation Tower –
Native House
On the third day of
our cruise, we will explore the Observation Tower build around a
tree to observe the different ecosystems of the forest and a wide
variety of birds. After lunch at the Manatee, you will stop at a
Native House of the Kichwas a native guide will bring into the light
their way of life and traditions.
Day 4 Visiting the Kapok Tree – Limoncocha Biological
Reserve
In the morning we
will continue to visit one of the tallest trees of the Rainforest,
the Kapok, a native guide also will explain to us the use of
medicinal plants, if time permits we will have a visit to the CICAME
Archeological Museum which preserves pottery from the Omagua
Culture, one of the first forest pre-Columbian residents of the Napo
River basin. This is also a good place to shop local handicrafts
made from rainforest materials. In the afternoon, there will be a
visit to the Limoncocha Biological Reserve, an incredible area to
find lots of birds, some monkeys and at night looking for the Black
Caiman, return to the Manatee at night.
Day 5. Returning home
Return to the city
of Coca to take the morning flight back to Quito. The canoe ride
upstream will take around two hours.
Sample 4 day
Itinerary
Day 1 Quito – Coca –
Yasuní National Park
Depart
from Quito in the morning, flight to Francisco de Orellana (Coca),
arriving to Coca after a short 30 minutes trip. Transfer to the Napo
River port then the motorized canoe ride downstream will be
approximately one and a half hours; during the trip we will provide
important information about the region. Once on board the Manatee
Amazon Explorer will start navigating down the Napo River for the
whole afternoon. At dusk our first live experience with the
Ecuadorian Amazon basin will begin (night walk, visit to a Native
House or canoe ride will depend on the river level, climatic
conditions, wildlife behavior and accessibility to a location).
Day 2 Visiting the Pañacocha
Biological Corridor
We will
continue our navigation downstream to arrive close to the mouth of
the Pañayacu (Piranha River). After arrival, there will be a canoe
trip through the Piranha River to see the sights of this interesting
protected forest. There is a possibility to observe Pink River
Dolphins, the agile Common Squirrel Monkeys and much more. The
Piranha Lake area is an ecosystem flooded by white waters. The
rivers and lakes of that place are perfect habitat for the infamous
Piranha, the Water Monkey Fish (Arawana) and White Caimans. At
night, there will be an optional excursion to explore the forest and
riverbanks.
Day 3
Visiting a Native House and CICAME Museum – Limoncocha Biological
Reserve
In the
morning we will visit a Native House from the Kichwa people that
lives inside of the Yasuni National Park with an interesting walk in
a mature forest if the time permits after this a short visit to the
CICAME Archeological Museum, which preserves pottery from the Omagua
Culture, one of the first forest pre-Columbian residents of the Napo
River basin. This is also a good place to shop local handicrafts
made from rainforest materials. In the afternoon, there will be a
visit to the Limoncocha Biological Reserve, an incredible area to
find lots of birds, some monkeys and at night looking for the Black
Caiman return to the Manatee at night.
Day 4. Returning home
Return
to the city of Coca to take the morning flight back to Quito. The
canoe ride upstream will take around two hours.
Please note:
While
it is our intention to adhere to the route described above, there is
a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on
occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. On
daily basis of your tour you will be advised of any amendments.
The Exploration
Leaders will always be offering information about the region, tours,
weather conditions, navigation, native cultures and probabilities to
encounter wildlife through lectures, briefings, recaps and videos.
DECK PLAN:

SPECIFICATIONS:
Our 90 foot long (27 mt) 24 foot wide (7 mt) Manatee Amazon
Explorer riverboat has been specially built for cruises in the
Ecuadorean rainforest, accommodating 30 lucky guests in comfortable
cabins with private bathrooms and running hot water, individual air
conditioning, on board laundry service, large dining room, inviting
bar and lounge area, panoramic terrace, delicious cuisine and the
finest multilingual naturalist guides. In addition, it is equipped
with two powerful 250 HP engines for a 12 knot output, two 60 kw
generators for 110 and 220 V/60 cylces, Furuno GPS, deep sounder,
radar, VHF, HF, satellite phone, video/cable and the highest safety
standards, personable service and efficiency.