Ecuador | Optional Post-trip Extension: Birding the Amazon

After breakfast, depart early this morning for Coca. Head to Francisco de Orellana port. Board a canoe for the two hour ride down the Napo Cultural Center Lodge, which sits within the famous Yasuní National Park. The guide will provide a reusable bottle to drink water and a hearty box lunch with local produce and fruit, while you learn about the area. During the navigation you will see birds such as herons, king fishers, terns and other shore birds species. Arriving at Napo Cultural Center, step onto the aboriginal territory of the Kichwa Añangu community, whose members will welcome you with a traditional and refreshing ice cold "wayusa", the local hotel manager will give quick instructions and immediately will take you to your comfortable room with views of the rainforest in order to get ready for the first activity in the afternoon. Hike along "Playas" trail to experience amazon wildlife for the first time in the river islands and shores amidst of one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. The river-edge forest is home to numerous other species such as Turquoise and Magpie Tanagers, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, and Swallow- winged Puffbird. Kayaking is also available as an optional activity for around 45 minutes to enjoy the sunset in the vastness of Napo River.

Early breakfast and then board motorboat to one of the highlights of Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, the parrot clay lick, to see flocks of blue-headed, yellow-crowned parrots and even dusky-headed parakeets, from the boat. Then walk around 30 minutes, along the Pericos trail to reach the blind in the forest with a direct view of the parakeet claylick. Here you can see up to 11 species of parrots and parakeets (including Parrotlet and macaws), sometimes even mammals like howler monkeys, tapir and peccaries come here to drink water and get vital minerals. End this morning with a visit to the intercultural interpretation center "Kuri Muyu" which means golden seed in native language, handled by the women of the community also knows as "mamakun." Learn about the Kichwa culture, crafts, customs and traditional use of natural resources directly from the people of the aboriginal community. Return to the center of the community to have lunch at the dining hall and take a break in the lodge before hiking one hour in order to climb up the observation tower reaching 35 meters above the surface with high chances to spot a variety of birds, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, toucans, parrots and sloths. After dinner back at the center, board the ancestral catamaran for a cruise along the Napo River to learn more about local legends and traditional chants.

Today you will go deeper to the Yasuni National Park, paddle up Añangu Creek to the NWC lodge, set on the bank of a tranquil lake amid a huge tract of primary rainforest (where hunting is prohibited). Along the way see our first Hoatzins and get a taste for the diversity of the region, with birds perhaps including Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Sungrebe, Redbellied Macaw, and Green-and-rufous Kingfisher. Visit the very sturdy canopy tower, which offers privileged access to a world apart from the rest of the rainforest. Flocks of oropendolas, aracaris, tanagers, and euphonias roam the canopy in search of fruit, Spangled and Plum-throated Cotingas glow from the treetops, raptors perch on vantage points to dry off in the morning sun, White-browed Purpletufts and Crowned Slaty Flycatchers sally for insects, numerous parrots and macaws fly by or drop in if there is a fruiting tree nearby, and many other species wander past (and through!) the tower tree.
Good forest trails offer access to another component of the avifauna, with woodcreepers, antbirds, and tinamous particularly well represented, and we should encounter the vocally striking Screaming Piha and the visually striking Black necked Red Cotinga. Return to the Napo Cultural Center lodge for farewell dinner.

Depart from the lodge early in the morning after breakfast. Take the canoe (2 hours approx.) to Puerto Francisco de Orellana where you will board a plane back to Quito (30 min flight). Once in Quito, transfer to your hotel, which was already included in the main trip.

Transfer to the airport for your flight back home. Hotel check-out by noon.