| Day 1 | FIRST DAY: INTO THE ECUADORIAN AMAZON Upon arrival in Coca, guests are met by the lodge staff and begin their journey into the Ecuadorian Amazon. From Coca, the journey continues by motorized canoe along the Napo River, followed by navigation towards Yarina Eco Lodge. During the boat journey, the urban surroundings gradually give way to the lush vegetation and waterways of the Amazon rainforest. Upon arrival at Yarina Eco Lodge, guests are welcomed and shown to their accommodation. Depending on the arrival time, there is time to settle in and become acquainted with the lodge and its natural surroundings before the first scheduled activity. Dinner and overnight at Yarina Eco Lodge. Included meals: lunch, dinner
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| Day 2 | MONDAY – SAPOCOCHA LAGOON & SOCALI TRAIL After breakfast, guests board a small canoe and navigate along the Manduro River towards Sapococha Lagoon. A walk around the lagoon provides an opportunity to experience the sounds of the rainforest, including birds, frogs and monkeys, while the guide introduces some of the aquatic plants found in this ecosystem. After returning to the lodge for lunch, the afternoon continues along the Socali Trail. The trail crosses different types of rainforest terrain and provides an introduction to the diverse flora and fauna associated with these different forest environments. Guests return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| Day 3 | TUESDAY / SATURDAY – CAPIBARA TRAIL, BLOWPIPE & PIRANHA FISHING After breakfast, guests set out along the Capibara Trail, an adventurous route through swampy terrain characterized by a large variety of palms that are not commonly found in other forest environments. After returning to the lodge for lunch, guests are introduced to the traditional Amazonian blowpipe, or bodoquera. The guides demonstrate how this traditional hunting tool has been used in the Amazon. Later, guests board a small canoe for piranha fishing. In the evening, the programme continues by rowing canoe around the lagoon, providing an opportunity to look for caimans after dark. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| Day 4 | WEDNESDAY – DOS RAMAS TRAIL & NAPO RIVER After breakfast, guests travel by canoe upstream into the rainforest. Along the way, there are opportunities to observe butterflies, orchids and amphibians before reaching the Dos Ramas Trail. A short guided walk introduces guests to medicinal plants and provides opportunities to learn more about the birds and animals of the rainforest. After returning to the lodge for lunch, guests navigate towards the Napo River. The afternoon is spent discovering the riverbanks and beaches, with time for swimming when conditions allow. Guests return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| Day 5 | THURSDAY / SUNDAY – KICHWA COMMUNITY & GUATUSOS TRAIL After breakfast, guests travel by motorized canoe beyond the limits of the reserve to visit a local Kichwa family. During the visit, the guides provide an introduction to the community’s customs, traditions and way of life, offering an insight into the relationship between local communities and the Amazon environment. Guests return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, the programme continues along the Guatusos Trail. During the walk, the guides explain some of the traditional uses of rainforest plants within indigenous culture, while guests listen and look for birds, insects and other wildlife. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| Day 6 | FRIDAY – TUCÁN TRAIL, OBSERVATION TOWER & ALLIGATOR TRAIL Guests explore the Tucán Trail, which leads through the rainforest to one of the observation towers in the Amazon. From the elevated viewpoint, there are opportunities to observe birds living and feeding in the upper levels of the forest. The programme also includes the Alligator Trail, where the guides explain the traditional uses of different plants while guests look and listen for birds, monkeys, insects and other rainforest wildlife. The experience combines walking through the forest with rowing along the river and lagoon, offering different perspectives of the surrounding Amazon ecosystem. Guests return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| Day 7 | LAST DAY: DEPARTURE After breakfast, guests prepare to leave Yarina Eco Lodge and begin the return journey by boat through the Amazon waterways and along the Napo River towards Coca. The navigation provides a final opportunity to enjoy the rainforest scenery and observe life along the river before arriving back in Coca. Flight back to Quito, and guests continue with their onward travel arrangements. Included meals: Breakfast
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About Siona Lodge
The Siona Lodge is situated by some lagoons in the middle of nowhere, and has a capacity of around 20 guests. After arrival and a presentation we are shown our rooms (two rooms in each hut – bring earplugs as you will hear everything from your neighbor, as well as all the jungle noises in the night – if you really want to miss them!)
It’s a very relaxed atmosphere in the lodge – in the bar you can pick your big beers yourself and write it on your bill (you pay the last night – a large beer is about $2.50, don’t expect wine). Drinking water, coffee and tea are available at no extra cost. Bring an empty waterbottle and fill it up in the restaurant. There are solar panels, meaning that you have light in the huts until 10 pm, after which everything is turned off. You can easily charge batteries in the restaurant.
There are mosquito nets in the rooms, and it is recommended you use them, although there are not many mosquitoes. It is said that there is no malaria or dengue, but it is recommended to ask your doctor before you leave, and also to bring insect repellent. A flashlight or headlamp is very important – if you forget, you can easily buy a cheap but adequate flashlight before getting into the canoe on the first day – price is around $6-7.
