Day 1:
Monday, Quito
/ Manatee Amazon Explorer
Morning flight from Quito over the Eastern Cordillera
and down into the airstrip at the town of Francisco
de Orellana, a hub for sustainable oil production and
named after the discoverer of the Amazon River back
in 1541. The Manatee will be pulling up to dock in time
for you to board this exciting adventure vessel, ready
to take you on a rare journey packed with nature study,
cultural interaction and even more of the magical wonders
of the largest unexplored wilderness on earth.
Navigation starts promptly during lunch until mid-afternoon
to disembark to visit a local community at Pompeya,
with its on-site archaeological museum for a lecture
on the anthropology of the region (LD).
Day 2: Tuesday,
Terra firma forest, lagoons and streams
Eke your way through a network of black water streams
to a flood forest habitat, fish for piranhas and spot
some of the hiding wildlife. With luck, you might be
able to see fresh-water pink dolphins. Enjoy a jungle
barbecue and Amazon hammock siesta, a refreshing swim
and back to our vessel in time for dinner and a lecture
at the terrace-bar of the Manatee.
Note: Optional overnight at an Indian camp
under the star-filled sky and multiple nocturnal noises
of the jungle, centered round an inviting campfire (BLD).
Day 3:
Wednesday, Parrots
& Limoncocha Biological Reserve
After breakfast, get a great terrace view of the jungle
before disembarking to admire a superb parrot salt lick
and trek into the interior rainforest, containing 70%
of all pharmaceutical compounds, and native Indians
that live symbiotically with this unique ecosystem.
Arrival for lunch at a native campsite. Refreshing afternoon
swim at a lake and some optional fishing before returning
by paddle dugout through blackwater creeks to our vessel.
Evening lecture at our inviting terrace-bar (BLD).
Day 4:
Thursday, Amazon
culture – Past & Present
Terrace breakfast for early-birds while the Manatee
journeys upriver while hundreds of parrots and macaws
start their morning flight. Take a dugout journey through
winding streams, bordered by native huts and abundant
flora, the canopy towering over our heads. Our silent
approach offers incredible sounds coming from the rainforest's
interior. Return to the Manatee in time for lunch. Afternoon
visit to a native house on stilts and surrounded by
locally cultivated plants. Learn how pineapples, bananas,
tapioca, naranjilla, cocoa, coffee and other tropical
fruits are grown that you normally see already packed
at supermarkets!
We will share an unforgettable encounter with these
gracious people and learn about their unique lifestyles,
traditions and medicinal plants. We then climb a hill
for a magnificent view of the immense rainforest below.
Upon returning to the ship and after a rewarding hot
shower and relaxation on the terrace deck, our chef
will delight us with a traditional farewell buffet,
including a "surprise" dessert (BLD).
Day 5:
Friday,
Return home
Arrival to Francisco de Orellana and return flight over
the immense rainforest and midday landing in Quito (B).
Please
take note that the sequence of visits can change to
meet climatic and/or operational reasons at time of
cruise.
