Tiputini Adventure
The Jungles of Yasuni National Park
 This
expedition takes the traveler with limited time, deep into the rainforests
of the Amazon basin, into the Yasuni National Park. Like all our
adventures this one is lead by an English-speaking interpretive
guide, working together with an Indian guide from the area.
Traveling by dugout canoe down the Tiputini River to our campsite,
you will have excellent chances to see the birds and animals in
an area of virgin jungle. The bird list includes toucans, parrots
and macaws as well as many other species, possibly as many as 300
species. The mammals include ocelot, giant otter, tapir, capybara,
guatuso, sloth, deer and several species of monkeys, making this
tour a real alternative to a visit to a more accessible area, where
there is no chance of seeing mammals in the wild.
Day 1 Yasuni National Park
Our group meets at the Quito airport to board our flight for Coca.
The flight path takes offers excellent views of Cayambe and the
other volcanic peaks north of Quito. We arrive in Coca located at
the confluence of the Coca and Napo rivers. The town is official
named after the first European to descend the Amazon (Francisco
de Orellana) but is more often called by its older name, Coca by
the locals. A busy river port and center for jungle exploration
the feel of the frontier is ever present. After being fitted for
rubber boots we depart Coca and travel by Ranchera (local bus) to
the bridge over the Rio Tiputini a journey about 2 hours. At the
river we embark on a motorized dugout canoe for the 2-1⁄2
hour trip down river into the Yasuni National Park and our campsite
on the banks of the river.
As we make our way down the river we begin to become familiar with
the sights and sounds of the rainforest. We need to keep a watchful
eye to spot the many birds and animals that are ever present.
As we near camp we go ashore. Our guide leads us by foot for the
last hour so that we may get a feel for theatmosphere and sounds
of the jungle. We arrive in camp to find it has been set-up for
us, a snack is waiting and we have time to settle into our tents
and swim in the river before dinner. After dinner we take a night
hike to look for birds and animals which prowl at night.
Day 2 Yasuni National Park
We have a full day exploration of the rainforest. We begin with
a 4 to 6 hour hike deep into the virgin forest. We look for monkeys,
tapirs, deer, snakes, and anything else that might be around. As
we pass through the forest our guide will explain some the medicinal
and other useful plants we encounter. After a picnic lunch in the
forest we reach a nearby ox-bow lake where we can paddle and drift
along in a small dugout canoe looking for birds and animals.
We return to camp in the mid-afternoon where we have a snack and
are free for a couple of hours to swim and play in the river. Approximately
an hour before dusk we drift down river to observe birds, which
are usually in abundance at this peak birding hour. Sightings of
kingfishers, herons, eagles, toucans, bats and other species are
common. We will make a night hike into the forest to spot caimans
as the campsite is conveniently situated near a lagoon.
Day 3 Yasuni National Park to Coca
After an early breakfast we set out to visit our nearest neighbors,
Quichua Indigenous. We hike through swamps and virgin forest to
arrive at the family home in time for a late lunch and a chance
to try chicha and other local delicacies, as well of course as more
conventional boxed lunch and we learn something of their life in
the rainforest. We journey 2 hours by canoe to the Ranchera waiting
to bring us back to Coca where we can spend the night or journey
by bus to other destinations within Ecuador.
Included: Quito-Coca one-way airfare, all meals,
services of guides, communal camping gear, rubber boots, sleeping
sheets and blanket, Yasuni National Park fee $20..
Not Included: Optional return flight to Quito
$53, Optional overnights in Coca $10
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