Quito and 5 Day Anakonda Amazon Cruise

Native Girl & Butterfly, Amazon, Ecuador

8 Days/7 Nights

From $4,159 per person

(Dbl. Occupancy, Not Incl. Airfare)

Monday Departures Throughout the Year

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Overview

Experience the Ecuadorian Amazon on this five day cruise aboard the luxurious Anakonda.  Starting in Quito, you will have a city tour and then visit the Middle of the World Monument.  You will then fly to Coca to meet up with the ship, and navigate along the Napo River through Yasuni National Park.  Highlights of the cruise include canoeing on Pañacocha Lake, observing pink river dolphins and black caiman, and interacting with indigenous peoples to learn about their culture and lifestyle.

Lodging and Meals: This tour includes accommodations for 7 nights (3 nights in Quito and 4 nights aboard the M/V Anakonda) and 14 meals (7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 4 dinners).

Best Time to Go: June-November.

Destinations: South America, Ecuador, and Amazon.

Interests: Adventure, Camping, Culture & History, Expedition Cruising, and Wildlife Viewing.

Places Visited: Quito and the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 (Mon): Quito.

Depart to Quito. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Quito.

Day 2 (Tue): City Tour of Quito-Middle of the World.

In the morning, you will have a city tour of Quito. You will explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical centre in the Americas, and visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compania and iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. You will drive through the traditional neighborhood of San Juan and finish the morning at the Panecillo hillside, with its breathtaking views of the old and modern parts of the city.

Following the city tour, you will be driven to the “Middle of the World City” complex, which is located 11 miles north of Quito. Here, you will see the monument of the equatorial line, a 98 ft high stone trapezoidal monument with a brass globe on top. The monument forms the focal point of a park and leisure area with gift shops and restaurants. Overnight in Quito. (B)

Day 3 (Wed): Quito-Coca-Napo River.

Our adventure begins in the city of Quito, Capital of Ecuador. After taking a short 30- minute flight from Quito to the Amazon city of Coca, located in the Orellana Province, we will transfer to the dock and board our motorized canoe to begin our 90-minute journey down the river, taking in the first sights and sounds of the Amazon. Soon, we will reach the Anakonda Amazon and receive our welcome aboard.

Once we have settled into the ship, we will be joined by expert local naturalist guides who will provide us with a brief and informative introduction to the Ecuadorian Amazon. After, guests will have their first opportunity to discover the exciting features of our cruise ship: spacious social areas, comfortable suites, and the observation deck that allows us to admire the changing rainforest landscape as we glide down the Napo River.

After dinner, we will plunge straight into the Amazon rainforest by going for a nighttime forest walk (optional excursion) to observe the forest’s nocturnal activity and experience the thrill of the vivid noises and aromas that come from so much biodiversity. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,D)

Day 4 (Thu): The Heart of Yasuni National Park (Home of the Legendary Pink River Dolphin)-Secoya Community.

After a delicious breakfast, we will go on a motorized canoe to spend some time exploring one of the large islands where we could see eagles, oropendolas, woodpeckers, and many other birds.

We will then board the ship for lunch and enjoy one of the onboard experiences such as a spectacular ever-changing scenery view from the Amazon hut tub, a delicious cocktail at the bar and lounge, or admire the breathtaking landscapes from the observation deck.

Later in the afternoon, we will visit Yasuní National Park, a pristine and relatively undisturbed region of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Our guests will be pleased to learn that this is the home of the legendary pink river dolphin! In this area, we can also find anacondas, river turtles and various primate species, as well as the colorful hoatzin, a unique bird that is known locally as the stinky turkey.

Near Yasuní live the Secoyas, a minority community that our guests will have the opportunity to visit and share their traditions and lifestyle. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

Day 5 (Fri): Kichwa Family-Life on Board.

We will start the day off by visiting an authentic Kichwa family located on the banks of the Napo River, where we will have the opportunity to learn directly from members of the local community.

We will then board the ship for some leisure time as we continue our navigation upstream. At this time, our guests will be delighted with our life onboard activities and participate in a cooking lesson with our expert chef who will share recipes and techniques using fresh and organic ingredients to prepare exquisite traditional Ecuadorian food that you can replicate at home. After lunch, guests are also invited to try their hand at making traditional handicrafts and attend an ancestral cultures lecture with one of our local guides. For our more active guests, a kayaking activity is the best choice to explore the surrounding nature. There is an option for everyone! Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

Note: For our adventurous guests, this day, we are pleased to offer a glamping program as an alternative manner to explore this enchanting destination.

Day 6 (Sat): Observation Canopy Tower-Forest Adventure.

Our guests can relax and enjoy the ship during the morning. After, they will disembark to visit an observation tower in the rainforest canopy, which offers astonishing 360-degree vistas. The perspective at the top of this observation tower is truly glorious, looming above the lush treetops and providing a view of the sheer vastness of the Amazon Basin. This is the perfect photo opportunity! Birdwatchers and bird-lovers alike will especially enjoy this outing.

In the afternoon, we will explore the nearby forest for a walk to discover a myriad of different animals and plant species that can only be found in the Amazon basin. A kayak activity is also available to explore this area.

Back on board the ship, we will be delighted with an exquisite farewell dinner. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

Day 7 (Sun): Return.

This is where our adventure ends! Enjoy the last part of our return journey onboard and then disembark the ship to take the motorized canoe back to Coca (approximately 90 minutes) and the flight to Quito. Overnight in Quito. (B)

Day 8 (Mon): Quito.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to your final destination. (B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Itinerary Map

Anakonda - 5 Day Itinerary Map

Prices & Dates

Price per Person

Category Single Double Triple
Standard Suite $6,429 $4,159 $3,509
Deluxe Suite $7,689 $5,009 $4,229
** The prices shown above are in U.S. Dollars. See the cost of this tour in your currency at xe.com.

Notes:

  1. The above prices are valid until December 31, 2023.

Departure Dates

Monday departures throughout the year.

What's Included

Price Includes

  • South American Vacations’ expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
  • Airport/hotel transfers including baggage handling.
  • Hotel accommodations including taxes and service charges.
  • Accommodations on board the M/V Anakonda.
  • All meals scheduled on board and others as indicated on the itinerary.
  • Unlimited water, coffee, and tea during the cruise.
  • Excursions as indicated on the itinerary.
  • Local, English-speaking tour guides.

Price Does Not Include

  • International airfare.
  • Quito-Coca-Quito airfare ($250).
  • Meals not indicated on the itinerary.
  • Community entrance fee ($70).
  • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
  • Gratuities to ship crew and guides (suggested $15/day for ship crew, $10/day for naturalist guides).
  • Internet Wi-Fi.
  • Gifts and personal items.
  • Travel insurance.

We will be happy to quote the cost of international airfare and travel insurance and to make these arrangements for you.

Accommodations

Quito & the Amazon

Additional Details

Group/Private: All services in Quito are private and all services in the Amazon are operated on a group basis.

Elevations: Quito is 9,350 feet above sea level.

Passport/Visa: U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens require a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Ecuadorian embassy in their country before traveling.

Luggage Restrictions (Local Flights): One piece weighing 23 kg. (50 lbs.) or two pieces weighing a total of 23 kg. (50 lbs.).

Travel Insurance: In order to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We offer Allianz Global Assistance’s Classic Comprehensive and other plans. The Benefits and Coverage Limits are summarized on our Travel Insurance page. Call your travel counselor if you have any questions or to purchase a plan.

To Book This Trip: Call or email us to confirm the availability of this ship and the domestic airfare for your desired dates of travel.  Once we have confirmed availability, you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of $2,000 for single passengers, $1,500 per person for doubles, and $1,300 per person for triples, plus the cost of the international airfare (if we arrange it for you).

Have Questions? Call 1-888-268-9753 to Speak to An Expert.