Amazon Rainforest, Ecuador
03 · Biodiversity & conservation

Enter one of the planet's richest ecosystems.

Guided jungle walks, quiet canoe rides, birdwatching and cultural experiences in the rainforest.

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03
Amazon Rainforest
The experience

The Ecuadorian Amazon is an invitation to pay attention: to birds above the canopy, water moving beside a canoe and the extraordinary density of life within the forest.

Journeys can include guided jungle walks, tranquil canoe rides, wildlife and bird watching, storytelling and selected lodging considered for its environmental credibility and commitment to preserving the rainforest ecosystem.

Include Amazon Rainforest in your trip
Ways to explore

Designed around
how you travel.

These are the ingredients documented in the Inca Holidays brochure. Your itinerary can bring them together in a way that suits your time and interests.

01

Guided walks

Read the forest with guides who reveal the relationships hidden beneath the canopy.

02

Canoe journeys

Move quietly along rainforest waterways and experience the landscape from the river.

03

Wildlife & birds

Observe the extraordinary diversity of species that inhabit Ecuador's Amazon basin.

04

Cultural connection

Include thoughtful experiences that place people and conservation within the same story.

Three ways into the rainforest

Find your own rhythm in the Amazon.

Each lodge tells a different story. Explore its photographs and find the journey that fits you.

01
Waterfalls · community · Napo River

Huasquila Amazon Lodge

A gateway to forest trails, waterfalls and Kichwa traditions, reached by private transportation.

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Amazon tour · 4 days / 3 nights
  1. Day 1

    Arrive at the lodge, walk to a waterfall and discover chocolate making.

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    Arrival at Huasquila Amazon Lodge Arrival at the lodge and lunch. After some time to relax, hike to a 12-meter-high waterfall for a refreshing swim, discovering medicinal plants, the Huasquila tree and a lagoon along the way. In the evening, enjoy dinner accompanied by the sounds of frogs from the restaurant lagoon. Later, take part in a chocolate-making experience, learning about the entire production process, from roasting and grinding cacao beans to enjoying a delicious chocolate dessert with fruit.

  2. Day 2

    Hike through the forest to a cave and waterfall, visit a Kichwa community and explore at night.

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    Jungle Hike & Kichwa Community After breakfast, enjoy a three-hour jungle hike through primary and secondary forests, visiting a medicinal plant farm, a 120-meter-long cave, and a 14-meter-high waterfall. After lunch, visit a Kichwa community to learn about their traditions, dances, and the preparation of chicha. In the evening, enjoy regional cuisine and a night hike to discover nocturnal wildlife.

  3. Day 3

    Spend a day on the Napo River by canoe, visiting a lagoon and the Amazónico Rescue Center.

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    Napo River Canoe Adventure After breakfast, depart for Punta Ahuano and enjoy a full-day canoe experience along the Napo River. Activities include canoeing, a short hike, optional tubing down the river, and a visit to the Amazónico Rescue Center. You will also visit Caiman Lagoon and enjoy a box lunch before taking the river transport back to the lodge. Return in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.

  4. Day 4

    Breakfast and departure.

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    Departure After breakfast, check out from the lodge and conclude your Amazon adventure.

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02
Lagoons · canopy · wellbeing

La Selva Eco-Lodge

Fly from Quito to El Coca and continue along the river to a lodge beside Garzacocha lagoon.

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Amazon program · 4 days / 3 nights
  1. Day 1

    Travel by canoe, walk at sunset and explore the lagoon after dark.

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    Journey into the Amazon Flight from Quito to El Coca, followed by private ground transportation and a scenic motorized canoe journey along the Napo River to La Selva Lodge. After settling in, enjoy a guided rainforest walk at sunset beneath towering trees, including ancient mahoganies and the iconic Strangler Fig. As darkness falls, enjoy a nighttime canoe excursion in Garza Cocha Lake, searching for caimans and nocturnal wildlife. In the evening you can relax and sit down to a full-service dinner.

  2. Day 2

    Visit the observation tower and lakes, then walk at night; enjoy kayaking, yoga or a massage.

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    Full day of activities Ascend to the 120-foot observation tower for breathtaking views over the rainforest canopy. Explore Mandi Cocha and Garza Cocha lakes, with opportunities to spot monkeys, colorful birds, and giant river otters. End the day with a guided night walk to discover the jungle's nocturnal wildlife. You will enjoy a delicious dinner followed by the activity of your choice: kayaking, yoga, massage.

  3. Day 3

    Visit a parrot clay lick and the Pilchi community, then explore the Coto Trail.

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    Full day of activities Visit a parrot clay lick to witness colorful parrots and parakeets gathering to feed, followed by a cultural visit to the Pilchi Indigenous community to discover traditional Amazonian customs and ways of life. In the afternoon, explore the Coto Trail and return to the lodge by canoe. End your day with a delightful dinner and one last chance to enjoy the spa, yoga, or a quiet evening under the stars.

  4. Day 4

    Return by river to El Coca for your flight to Quito.

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    Return to Quito Breakfast and canoe transfers back to El Coca, followed by assistance with your domestic flight. End of services.

Amazon program · 5 days / 4 nights
  1. Day 1

    Arrive, explore the Matapalo Charapa Trail and paddle at night.

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    Journey into the Amazon Flight from Quito to El Coca, followed by private ground transportation and a scenic motorized canoe journey along the Napo River to La Selva Lodge. After settling in, enjoy a guided rainforest walk through the Matapalo Charapa Trail to see towering mahogany trees over 400 years old. At nighttime you will have a canoe excursion across the waters of Garza Cocha Lake under the stars in search of caimans and nocturnal wildlife.

  2. Day 2

    Explore the observation tower and lakes, followed by a night walk.

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    Observation Tower & Amazon Lakes Climb the 120-foot observation tower for spectacular views over the rainforest canopy. Explore Mandi Cocha and Garza Cocha lakes, with opportunities to spot monkeys, colorful birds, giant river otters and the unmistakable hoatzin bird. End the day with a guided night walk through the jungle followed by a delicious dinner. In your free time, enjoy a kayak ride, yoga class, massage, or simply relax in your suite.

  3. Day 3

    Visit the parrot clay lick, Pilchi community and Coto Trail.

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    Wildlife & Indigenous Culture Visit a parrot clay lick to witness colorful parrots and parakeets gathering to feed, followed by a cultural visit to the Pilchi Indigenous community to discover traditional Amazonian customs and ways of life. In the afternoon, explore the Coto Trail and return to the lodge by canoe. After dinner, take time for yourself, whether it’s a massage, stargazing, or quiet solitude on your balcony.

  4. Day 4

    Discover Yasuní National Park and paddle Morete Yaku Creek.

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    Yasuní National Park & Morete Yaku Creek Explore Yasuní National Park, discovering its remarkable biodiversity through a visit to a bird clay lick and a guided rainforest walk. In the afternoon, paddle along Morete Yaku Creek to discover the unique ecosystems of the Amazon, including its flooded forests and native vegetation. Enjoy a farewell dinner and cocktail at the lodge.

  5. Day 5

    Return to El Coca and fly to Quito.

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    Return to Quito Breakfast and motorized canoe transfer back to El Coca, followed by assistance with your domestic flight. End of services.

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03
Birds · flooded forest · Kichwa culture

Sani Lodge

From El Coca, follow the Napo River and a flooded forest to Challwacocha lagoon.

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Birding & photography · 4 days / 3 nights
  1. Day 1

    Travel along the Napo and flooded forest; explore at night.

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    Journey into the Amazon & Flooded Forest Travel by motorized canoe along the Napo River, keeping an eye out for herons, egrets, vultures, and other bird species along the way. After a packed lunch, continue by paddle canoe through the primary flooded forest of Challwacocha Creek, a habitat for several sought-after Amazonian birds. Upon arrival at the lodge, enjoy a welcome drink, settle into your cabin, and explore the nearby trails or waterways. End the day with a nighttime canoe excursion in search of nocturnal birds.

  2. Day 2

    Birdwatch from the canopy tower and along the Chorongo Trail.

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    Canopy Birding & Rainforest Trails Start the day with a canoe ride across Challwacocha Lake and a short walk to the 36-meter observation tower, offering exceptional views of the rainforest canopy and its birdlife. Look for colorful tanagers, toucans, hummingbirds, honeycreepers, and, with luck, the elusive Harpy Eagle. Later, explore the forest understory in search of antbirds and manakins. In the afternoon, continue birdwatching along the Chorongo Trail, where you may encounter species such as the Screaming Piha, Blue-crowned Manakin, and Thrush-like Antpitta.

  3. Day 3

    Visit parrot clay licks in Yasuní or explore river islands.

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    Yasuní National Park & Parrot Clay Licks Travel by boat along the Napo River to visit the parrot clay licks in Yasuní National Park, where large groups of parrots and parakeets gather to feed on mineral-rich clay. Alternatively, explore the southern area of the park or nearby river islands, searching for bird species that are less commonly found in the northern Amazon. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon for dinner.

  4. Day 4

    Sunrise birdwatching and return to El Coca.

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    Final Birdwatching & Departure Enjoy an early morning canoe ride through Challwacocha Creek, taking in the rainforest at sunrise and looking for any last bird sightings. Then, travel by motorized canoe along the Napo River to El Coca, arriving in time for your flight to Quito. End of services.

Amazon adventure · 4 days / 3 nights
  1. Day 1

    Arrive via the Napo and search for caimans at night.

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    Journey into the Amazon Fly from Quito to El Coca, then travel by motorized canoe along the Napo River, enjoying your first views of the Amazon rainforest and its wildlife along the way, such as various bird species, giant fig trees, squirrel monkeys. Continue by paddle canoe through the flooded forest of Challwacocha Creek to reach the lodge. After settling into your cabin, explore the surrounding trails or waterways, with opportunities to spot monkeys, birds, black caimans, and remarkable rainforest vegetation. After dinner, enjoy a nighttime canoe excursion in search of black caimans.

  2. Day 2

    Visit the canopy tower, primary forest and take a night walk.

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    Rainforest Exploration Begin the day with a canoe ride across the lake and a walk through the forest to reach the 36-meter observation tower, built around an ancient kapok tree. From the canopy, observe colorful birds, monkeys, and sloths in their natural habitat. Return to the lodge for a piranha fishing experience before lunch. In the afternoon, explore the primary rainforest on a guided walk, discovering ancient trees, orchids, bromeliads, and medicinal plants traditionally used by local communities. After dinner, venture into the forest on a night walk to discover nocturnal wildlife, including frogs,tarantulas, insects, and other fascinating creatures.

  3. Day 3

    Discover Yasuní and meet the Sani Warmi women’s organization.

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    Yasuní National Park & Kichwa Cultural Experience Travel by motorized canoe along the Napo River to visit the Parrot Clay Lick in Yasuní National Park, where parrots and parakeets gather to feed on mineral-rich clay. Continue with a guided hike through the rainforest foothills, exploring the area's remarkable biodiversity and traditional medicinal plants. The hike in this unique ecosystem offers much to be discovered; footprints of jaguars, pumas, and encounters with deer, or white-collared peccaries. Later, visit the Sani Isla Community Center, where members of the Sani Warmi women's organization introduce visitors to Kichwa traditions and the medicinal uses of native plants. Take part in a traditional Amazonian cooking experience using local ingredients before returning to the lodge in the afternoon.

  4. Day 4

    Paddle at sunrise and return to El Coca.

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    Departure After an early breakfast, take a final canoe ride through Chawllacocha Creek, accompanied by the Amazonian wildlife and the sunrise. Then, travel by motorized canoe along the Napo River to El Coca, arriving in time for your flight to Quito. End of services.

Deep jungle · 5 days / 4 nights
  1. Day 1

    Arrive by river and explore at night.

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    Journey into the Amazon & Black Caiman Encounter Fly from Quito to El Coca, then travel by motorized canoe along the Napo River, enjoying your first views of the Amazon rainforest and its wildlife along the way. Continue by paddle canoe through the flooded forest of Challwacocha Creek to reach the lodge. After settling into your cabin, explore the surrounding trails or waterways, with opportunities to spot monkeys, birds, black caimans, and remarkable rainforest vegetation. After dinner, enjoy a nighttime canoe excursion in search of black caimans.

  2. Day 2

    Visit the canopy tower and walk in the forest.

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    Canopy Tower, Piranha Fishing & Rainforest Exploration Begin the day with a canoe ride across the lake and a walk through the forest to reach the 36-meter observation tower, built around an ancient kapok tree. From the canopy, observe colorful birds, monkeys, and sloths in their natural habitat. Return to the lodge for a piranha fishing experience before lunch. In the afternoon, explore the primary rainforest on a guided walk, discovering ancient trees, orchids, bromeliads, and medicinal plants traditionally used by local communities. After dinner, venture into the forest on a night walk to discover nocturnal wildlife, including frogs, insects, and other fascinating creatures.

  3. Day 3

    Discover the parrot clay lick and Kichwa culture.

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    Yasuní National Park & Kichwa Cultural Experience Travel by motorized canoe along the Napo River to visit the Parrot Clay Lick in Yasuní National Park, where parrots and parakeets gather to feed on mineral-rich clay. Continue with a guided hike through the rainforest foothills, exploring the area's remarkable biodiversity and traditional medicinal plants. Later, visit the Sani Isla Community Center, where members of the Sani Warmi women's organization introduce visitors to Kichwa traditions and the medicinal uses of native plants. Take part in a traditional Amazonian cooking experience using local ingredients before returning to the lodge in the afternoon.

  4. Day 4

    Spend a full day exploring the Chorongo Largo Trail.

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    Deep Jungle Exploration – Chorongo Largo Trail Set out on a full-day adventure through the more remote areas surrounding

  5. Day 5

    Paddle at sunrise and return to El Coca.

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    Paddle at sunrise and return to El Coca.

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