Ecuador | Optional Extension: Birding the Amazon Rainforest

Travel to the airport this morning for the flight to Coca. Upon arrival, have a quick lunch in Sacha's private house, followed by a canoe trip down the Napo River, a short rainforest hike, and a crossing of Lake Pilchicocha to Sacha Lodge (a 2.5 hour journey). Of the incredible 1,600 bird species recorded in Ecuador, 600 (37 percent) have been seen at Sacha Lodge. That's almost 7 percent of the species found in the entire world! Enjoy observing birds at the mini tower and the butterfly house before dinner at the lodge. After dinner, accompany your naturalist guide on a walk through the rainforest to view some of the hundreds of different species of animals that can only be found at night.

Begin the day on the Liana Chica Trail to arrive at the canopy walk for spectacular views of the rainforest and the many different species of birds, such as Scarlet and Red-bellied Macaws, Many-banded Aracari, Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl, Common Potoo, Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Magpie Tanager, Gilded Barbet, and Yellow-rumped Cacique. The canopy walk is designed to be a self-standing rigid suspension and is one of only a few in the world. Located within Sacha's private reserve, two miles from the shores of the Rio Napo and one mile from the lodge, the bird walk gives you the opportunity for an up-close view of the rainforest canopy. After the canopy walk, take the Liana Grande Trail through terra firma and igapo forest habitats where native guides will explain many different species of medicinal plants that have been used in their culture for hundreds of years. Liana Grande will turn into the Higueron Trail, which will take you through pristine primary forest with huge kapok and fig trees towering hundreds of feet above your head. After lunch, choose to take a leisurely hike along the Rio Napo where you may spot the Rufescent Tiger-Heron, or the more challenging hike on the Leoncillo Trail where you may see the elusive dusky titi monkey. The trails will lead you back to the main boardwalk for your final hike and canoe ride to the lodge.

Leaving the lodge after breakfast, begin your hike on Lagartococha Trail. This trail offers the chance to learn more about the native people and their relationship with the forest. Learn about the trees where native people believe the spirits of their ancestors live, and the mysterious "dwende" or devil-man of the forest. After arriving at Lake Lagartococha, take a tranquil canoe ride through a natural swamp, which is the home of anacondas, caimans, and capybaras. After the canoe ride, a walk on the other side of Largatococha may give you the opportunity to spot capuchin or squirrel monkeys playfully jumping through the trees. Return from the walk and head back to the lodge for a refreshing dip in the lake, or a nice relaxing nap in your personal hammock on your private balcony. After lunch, your native guide will teach you how to fish for the infamous razor-toothed piranha. In the afternoon, begin a silent canoe ride through the flooded Amazonian forest; you'll have a good chance of being surrounded by troops of squirrel, capuchin, and howler monkeys. Try to spot the shy and elusive river otter as well as the incredibly well camouflaged three-toed sloth! After your ride through the flooded forest, you will arrive at Sacha´s 135-foot wooden tower built around an ancient kapok tree. View vibrantly colored birds through powerful scopes, and watch the sunset with an amazing view of Mount Sumaco, a volcano. Possibly you'll get a view of the snow-covered caps of the Andes! A canoe ride back through the flooded forest at night provides for a different sensory experience as you listen to the symphony of frogs, insects, and nocturnal birds making their eerie nighttime calls, see the glowing eyes of the caimans, and watch for the several species of bats flying over your heads. Arrive back at Lake Pilchicocha to the welcoming lights of Sacha Lodge.

Early morning departure to the parrot clay lick. Here you'll have a chance to view four different species of parrots at the same time. Eating clay helps neutralize the acids in their diet that come from eating many different types of fruits and leaves. Return back to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, take the Pantano Trail, along which there are several different types of rainforest habitats, from secondary to primary forests as well as flooded forest and swampy areas. Naturalist and native guides will share their knowledge of the jungle and its inhabitants.

Say goodbye to the rainforest and return to Quito and Rincón de Puembo. Settle into the hotel with dinner included tonight. Transfer to the airport this evening in time for your overnight flight(s).