Day 1:
Friday, 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:
Saturday, Terra
firma forest, lagoons and streams
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 3:
Sunday, Parrots & Limoncocha Biological
Reserve
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 4:
Monday, 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.
