Yasuní community lodge & Amazon birding tour
5-day | 4 night
From Coca, Ecuador’s Amazon
price : from $ 1400* per person
depart : 10:00 am
pick up : Coca airport, bus terminal or designated meeting point
day 1 :
Arrive at Coca Airport (OCC) and meet your guide before transferring to the river port. Travel by motorized canoe for approximately 2.5 hours along the Napo River, spotting riverside birds such as kingfishers, herons, and Swallow-winged Puffbirds.
You’ll arrive at a small, family-run lodge located inside Yasuní National Park, built by a Kichwa family from the Sani community using traditional techniques and local materials. The lodge offers comfortable private rooms, river views, and a peaceful immersion in the rainforest.
The Sani community has lived in this region for generations and plays a vital role in protecting Yasuní, one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth. Community-based ecotourism supports local livelihoods, education, and conservation, offering a sustainable alternative to extractive industries.
After lunch, enjoy an introductory guided forest walk around the lodge, ideal for spotting manakins, antbirds, and woodcreepers. After dinner, head out on a night walk to discover frogs, insects, and other nocturnal wildlife.
-
day 2 :
Begin early with a canoe excursion to a nearby parrot clay lick, where dozens to hundreds of parrots gather at dawn to feed on mineral-rich clay. Species may include Mealy Amazon, Yellow-crowned, and Blue-headed Parrots.
After breakfast, explore rainforest trails focusing on mixed-species flocks and learning bird calls and behaviors. In the afternoon, cross the Napo River to explore forest areas near the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, home to a rich variety of birds and wildlife.
day 3 :Spend the day exploring primary rainforest deep inside Yasuní National Park. Search for forest floor and mid-story species such as wood-quails, antpittas, antbirds, and foliage-gleaners.
A highlight of the day is visiting a 40-meter canopy tower, offering panoramic views of the Amazon canopy and excellent opportunities to spot trogons, jacamars, barbets, and canopy flocks.
day 4 :
Travel by canoe to multiple clay licks, increasing your chances of seeing large macaws such as Scarlet, Blue-and-Yellow, and Red-and-Green Macaws.In the afternoon, visit a river island ecosystem, home to specialized bird species adapted to dynamic river environments, including spinetails and riverine flycatchers. Return to the lodge for dinner and a relaxed evening.
day 5 :
Enjoy a final early morning birding session around the lodge grounds, when the forest is most active. After breakfast, travel back up the Napo River to Coca and transfer to the airport for departure.
-
Regular Double / Triple Room with Private Bathroom
$1,400 per adult
$700 per child (0–11 years)
Premium Cabin with Private Bathroom (2–4 persons)
$1,560 per adult
$780 per child (0–11 years)
Single Occupancy – Regular Room with Private Bathroom
$1,890 per adult
-
All transfers from/to Coca (Puerto Francisco de Orellana), river transportation Coca – Yasuní rainforest – Coca, accommodation at a community-based rainforest lodge, breakfast, lunch & dinner, coffee and non-alcoholic beverages, all guided activities as described in the itinerary, private English-speaking naturalist guide, local Indigenous guide, entrance fees to Yasuní National Park, entrance fee to parrot & parakeet clay lick, internet access, rubber boots
Not Included : Transportation between Quito (or other cities) and Coca, any accommodation in Coca, entrance to macaw clay lick (if applicable depending on conditions), bottled beverages and alcoholic drinks, tips, laundry service, any service not specifically mentioned above
-
Binoculars (essential for birding), flashlight or headlamp, insect repellent, sunscreen, hat & sunglasses, lightweight rain jacket or poncho, comfortable walking shoes, long-sleeved shirts, long pants & long socks, camera, refillable water bottle, waterproof daypack (or rain cover), pocket fan (optional, for extra comfort), cash in small bills.
Luggage note:
Suitcases and large bags can be taken to the lodge, there is sufficient space in the motorized canoes.