Ecuador travel Amazon river cruise vacation - Manatee
Manatee Amazon Explorer - river cruise
The riverboat Manatee Amazon Explorer, is designed for jungle adventures, yet featuring the comforts and advantages of modern technology, is the result of over 20 years of experience in running expeditions others have never conceived possible. This riverboat accommodates 30 lucky guests in comfortable cabins with private bathrooms and running hot water, individual air conditioning, on board laundry service, large dining room, inviting bar and lounge area, panoramic terrace, delicious cuisine and the finest multilingual naturalist guides, plus the highest safety standards, personable service and efficiency.
In addition, it is equipped with two powerful 250 HP engines for a 12 knot output, two 60 kw generators for 110 and 220 V/60 cylces, Furuno GPS, deep sounder, radar, VHF, HF, satellite phone, video/cable and the highest safety standards, personable service and efficiency.
The Manatee leaves port on Monday and Friday, offering both 3 and 4 night cruises as well special 6 night expeditions.
SAMPLE 4 NIGHT ITINERARY
- Monday:
Morning flight from Quito over the Eastern Cordillera and down into the airstrip at the town of Francisco de Orellana, a hub for sustainable oil production and named after the discoverer of the Amazon River back in 1541. The Manatee will be pulling up to dock in time for you to board this exciting adventure vessel, ready to take you on a rare journey packed with nature study, cultural interaction and even more of the magical wonders of the largest unexplored wilderness on earth.
Navigation starts promptly during lunch until mid-afternoon to disembark to visit a local community at Pompeya, with its on-site archaeological museum for a lecture on the anthropology of the region (LD).
- Tuesday:
Eke your way through a network of black water streams to a flood forest habitat, fish for piranhas and spot some of the hiding wildlife. With luck, you might be able to see fresh-water pink dolphins. Enjoy a jungle barbecue and Amazon hammock siesta, a refreshing swim and back to our vessel in time for dinner and a lecture at the terrace-bar of the Manatee.
Note: Optional overnight at an Indian camp under the star-filled sky and multiple nocturnal noises of the jungle, centered round an inviting campfire (BLD).
- Wednesday:
After breakfast, get a great terrace view of the jungle before disembarking to admire a superb parrot salt lick and trek into the interior rainforest, containing 70% of all pharmaceutical compounds, and native Indians that live symbiotically with this unique ecosystem. Arrival for lunch at a native campsite. Refreshing afternoon swim at a lake and some optional fishing before returning by paddle dugout through blackwater creeks to our vessel. Evening lecture at our inviting terrace-bar (BLD).
- Thursday:
Terrace breakfast for early-birds while the Manatee journeys upriver while hundreds of parrots and macaws start their morning flight. Take a dugout journey through winding streams, bordered by native huts and abundant flora, the canopy towering over our heads. Our silent approach offers incredible sounds coming from the rainforest's interior. Return to the Manatee in time for lunch. Afternoon visit to a native house on stilts and surrounded by locally cultivated plants. Learn how pineapples, bananas, tapioca, naranjilla, cocoa, coffee and other tropical fruits are grown that you normally see already packed at supermarkets!
We will share an unforgettable encounter with these gracious people and learn about their unique lifestyles, traditions and medicinal plants. We then climb a hill for a magnificent view of the immense rainforest below. Upon returning to the ship and after a rewarding hot shower and relaxation on the terrace deck, our chef will delight us with a traditional farewell buffet, including a "surprise" dessert (BLD).
- Friday:
Arrival to Francisco de Orellana and return flight over the immense rainforest and midday landing in Quito (B).