Overview
This deep Amazon expedition is most easily accessed from Quito, Ecuador’s high-Andean capital: a short 30-minute domestic flight carries travelers from the city’s 2,850-meter elevation down to the lowland rainforest of Yasuní in a single hop. Because of this convenient gateway, the trip also works beautifully as a pre- or post-trip extension to a Galápagos Islands itinerary — letting travelers experience three of Ecuador’s most contrasting ecosystems (high-Andean capital, untouched Amazon rainforest, and the enchanted islands) in one seamless visit.
With this Amazon camping expedition, the Amazon Basin is at your fingertips. It’s the perfect adventure for nature lovers, jungle explorers, and wildlife watchers who want to experience the untouched Amazon. You’ll discover Ecuador’s Amazon in Yasuní National Park, world famous for its tremendous biodiversity and its authentic indigenous cultures which are still very much alive. As you pass through rivers and lagoons, you’ll feel as if the animals are following you — parrots, toucans, macaws, kingfishers, and herons fly across the river, curious giant otters approach the canoe for a look, monkeys jump through the trees, and there are real chances to spot jaguars, the master predators of the jungle. The Waorani people will share their history and their rich connection with Mother Nature.
Fly to the Ecuadorian mainland and depart for the ultimate deep Amazon expedition in a remote, untouched area of the UNESCO Yasuní Biosphere Reserve & National Park. Camp in the heart of the dense rainforest, connect with a native Waorani community still living in the traditional way, and experience two of the most precious, diverse ecosystems on Earth — while directly supporting long-term conservation and sustainability.
Unique Experiences
- Camp along the river shore in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, including an unforgettable night hike through the jungle
- Spend real time with native Waorani people — hearing their stories, legends, and traditions, which are still very much alive
- Track wildlife by canoe and on foot: parrots, toucans, macaws, giant otters, monkeys, capybaras, caimans, and real chances to spot jaguars
- Learn wilderness survival skills and ethnobotany on a guided trek with Gaba, a respected Waorani warrior and chief
- Paddle oxbow lakes in search of the Eunectus akayina, the largest anaconda species
- Activities include canoeing, fishing, hiking, cultural exchange, and wildlife watching
