The Manatee Amazon Cruise Tour
Aboard the Manatee Amazon Explorer, you will travel deep into the Ecuadorian Amazon on one of the Amazon Rainforest's most celebrated deluxe river cruises. The deluxe vessel offers just four deluxe suites and ten standard suites, all fitted with large panoramic windows, private balconies, and air conditioning, keeping the rainforest constantly in view without leaving your comfort behind. Choose from 4-day, 5-day and 8-day cruises departing every Monday and Friday.
Between excursions, the Manatee offers a bar and lounge, al fresco and indoor dining, a reading room, and an observation deck with an outdoor hot tub where you can watch the jungle drift past in silence. The four deluxe suites add a whirlpool bathtub, while all suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows and river-facing views.
Every cruise is guided by expert local naturalists into the Napo River corridor and the ecosystems bordering Yasuni National Park. On the water and in the forest, you will encounter caimans, the enormous pirarucu fish, piranhas, pink river dolphins, primates, hoatzins, and hundreds of bird species. Early mornings bring one of the Amazon's most spectacular wildlife events: the parrot clay licks, where hundreds of parrots and parakeets descend on mineral-rich riverbanks.
Cultural encounters run through every itinerary, and no other Amazon cruise we know of offers access to the range of communities you will visit here. From the riverside Kichwa settlers and their women's community project, to the Secoya, one of the Amazon's most traditional ancestral tribes, each visit gives you a genuine window into the human story of this river. You can also join the Charapas Turtle Conservation program and the pink dolphin protection work in the Cocaya area.
Everything was perfect. We received top class service. The crew was excellent. The boat was clean and the excursions were very well planned. We were definitely able to appreciate the beauty of Ecuador's rainforest!
- Lucia
For: The Manatee Amazon CruiseThe Manatee Amazon Cruise Accommodation
The Manatee accommodates just 30 guests across two suite categories, all with private balconies, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, air conditioning, and private bathrooms with hot water.
The 14 Standard suites sit on the second deck and offer 20 m² of river-facing space. The four deluxe suites on the third deck add a whirlpool bathtub and an extra 4 m² of living space. The bar and lounge share the third deck, while the observation deck above offers an outdoor hot tub and open views across the rainforest canopy.
The Manatee is certified by Smart Voyager and Rainforest Alliance, guaranteeing the sustainability of your experience and compliance with national and international navigation, safety, and environmental protection standards.
The Manatee Amazon Cruise Tour Summary
Every cruise is guided by expert local naturalists across 4-day, 5-day and 8-day itineraries, all travelling deep into the Amazon's Napo River corridor and the ecosystems bordering Yasuni National Park, one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet.
On the water and in the forest, you can encounter caimans, pink river dolphins, primates, piranhas, hoatzins, the enormous pirarucu fish, and hundreds of bird species including eagles, oropendolas, and kingfishers.
Early mornings bring one of the Amazon's most spectacular wildlife events: the parrot clay licks, where hundreds of parrots and parakeets descend on mineral-rich riverbanks in a burst of colour and noise. Longer itineraries add a day of kayaking on the Indillama River into Yasuni National Park, and a visit to a canopy observation tower built into a giant kapok tree, with 360-degree views across the forest canopy.
Cultural encounters run through every itinerary, and no other Amazon cruise we know of offers access to the range of communities you will visit here. From the riverside Kichwa settlers and their women's community project, to the Secoya, one of the Amazon's most traditional ancestral tribes, each visit gives you a genuine window into the human story of this river. You can also join the Charapas Turtle Conservation program and learn about the pink dolphin protection work carried out with the Martinica community in the Cocaya area.
Back on board, a cooking class with the ship's chef introduces you to traditional Ecuadorian flavours, while evening naturalist talks put the day's encounters into context. Nights on the Napo bring their own rewards, with guided walks into the forest after dark and clear skies above the observation deck for stargazing far from any city lights.
Video Introduction
Tour Info
- Country: Ecuador
- Focus Area: Yasuni National Park
- Duration: 4, 5, 8 days
- Start Point: El Coca Airport (OCC)
- End Point: El Coca Airport (OCC)
The Manatee Amazon Cruise Itinerary
Choose your itinerary
Click a duration to see the day-by-day programme for this cruise.
Other itinerary lengths may be available — send a request to check options and pricing.
Day 1 · Friday
Quito to the Napo River
Your trip starts in Quito with a 30-minute flight to the Amazonian city of Coca. From the airport you transfer to the dock and board a motorized canoe for a 90-minute journey down the Napo River to the Manatee Amazon Explorer. On board you are welcomed by the crew and introduced to your naturalist guides, who give a briefing on the Ecuadorian Amazon before you have time to settle in and watch the rainforest pass from the deck. After dinner, the first excursion is a night walk into the forest to listen for the sounds of the jungle and look for nocturnal wildlife.
Day 2 · Saturday
Pañacocha, the Piranha Lagoon
The cruise travels downstream to the Pañayacu River delta, where you board canoes for a trip into Pañacocha Lake, known in the native Kichwa language as Piranha Lagoon. This blackwater ecosystem sits within protected rainforest and is home to piranhas, the giant pirarucu fish, white caimans and hundreds of aquatic species. A guided walk through the surrounding forest looks for primates and birds before you recharge at an Amazon-style barbecue at a community camp. The afternoon is spent on the water with kayaking and swimming, and the day closes back on board with a talk from the guides on the ecology and culture of the region.
Day 3 · Sunday
Parrot Clay Licks & Kichwa Community
An early morning canoe departure to reach one of the standout sights of the western Amazon, the parrot clay licks. Hundreds of parrots, parakeets and other birds gather here each morning to feed on mineral-rich clay, creating a spectacle of colour and noise that is hard to match anywhere in the rainforest. In the afternoon you visit a Kichwa women's community project on the banks of the Napo River to learn about indigenous life and ancestral traditions. There is an opportunity to buy handicrafts and local products directly from the community, and to take part in a turtle conservation project that the Manatee supports alongside them.
Day 4 · Monday
Return to Coca
The cruise returns to Puerto Providencia where you disembark the Manatee Amazon Explorer and board the motorized canoe back to the city of Coca, bringing the trip to a close.
Day 1 · Monday
Quito to the Napo River
Your trip starts in Quito with a 30-minute flight to the Amazonian city of Coca. From the airport you transfer to the dock and board a motorized canoe for a 90-minute journey down the Napo River to the Manatee Amazon Explorer. On board you are welcomed by the crew and introduced to your naturalist guides, who give a briefing on the Ecuadorian Amazon before you have time to settle in and watch the rainforest pass from the deck. After dinner, the first excursion is a night walk into the forest to listen for the sounds of the jungle and look for nocturnal wildlife.
Day 2 · Tuesday
Pink River Dolphins & the Secoya Community
The morning is spent exploring the lower Napo River, an area rich in birdlife where eagles, oropendolas and woodpeckers are regularly spotted along the banks. In the afternoon the cruise enters Yasuni National Park, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and the habitat of the legendary pink river dolphin. This visit includes an insight into the Manatee's pink dolphin conservation program, developed with the Martinica community in the Cocaya area, which has created a protected zone where dolphins can feed and move freely without the threat of hunting. The day ends with a visit to a Secoya community, one of the region's ancestral cultures, who share their traditions and demonstrate the preparation of traditional cassava bread.
Day 3 · Wednesday
Kichwa Family & Life on Board
The morning begins with a visit to a Kichwa family on the banks of the Napo River for a direct look at daily life and local traditions. Back on board, a cooking class with the Manatee's chef introduces the ingredients and techniques behind traditional Ecuadorian cuisine. The rest of the day is yours to fill as you like. Try your hand at traditional handicrafting, take in the forest from the open-air hot tub, have a cocktail at the bar and lounge, or join an active kayaking excursion into the surrounding jungle. After dark, the observation deck is a good spot for stargazing away from any city light.
Day 4 · Thursday
Canopy Tower & Primary Forest
The day starts at an observation tower built into a giant kapok tree, where a 360-degree view from the top looks out over an unbroken canopy of primary Amazon forest. In the afternoon you head into that forest on foot with your guides to look for plant and animal species endemic to this ecosystem, including the hoatzin, an ancient and peculiar bird known locally as the stinkbird for reasons that become clear up close.
Day 5 · Friday
Return to Coca
The cruise returns to Puerto Providencia where you disembark the Manatee Amazon Explorer and board the motorized canoe back to the city of Coca, bringing the trip to a close.
Day 1 · Friday
Quito to the Napo River
Your trip starts in Quito with a 30-minute flight to the Amazonian city of Coca. From the airport you transfer to the dock and board a motorized canoe for a 90-minute journey down the Napo River to the Manatee Amazon Explorer. On board you are welcomed by the crew and introduced to your naturalist guides, who give a briefing on the Ecuadorian Amazon before you have time to settle in and watch the rainforest pass from the deck. After dinner, the first excursion is a night walk into the forest to listen for the sounds of the jungle and look for nocturnal wildlife.
Day 2 · Saturday
Pañacocha, the Piranha Lagoon
The cruise travels downstream to the Pañayacu River delta, where you board canoes for a trip into Pañacocha Lake, known in the native Kichwa language as Piranha Lagoon. This blackwater ecosystem sits within protected rainforest and is home to piranhas, the giant pirarucu fish, white caimans and hundreds of aquatic species. A guided walk through the surrounding forest looks for primates and birds before you recharge at an Amazon-style barbecue at a community camp. The afternoon is spent on the water with kayaking and swimming, and the day closes back on board with a talk from the guides on the ecology and culture of the region.
Day 3 · Sunday
Parrot Clay Licks & Kichwa Community
An early morning canoe departure to reach one of the standout sights of the western Amazon, the parrot clay licks. Hundreds of parrots, parakeets and other birds gather here each morning to feed on mineral-rich clay, creating a spectacle of colour and noise that is hard to match anywhere in the rainforest. In the afternoon you visit a Kichwa women's community project on the banks of the Napo River to learn about indigenous life and ancestral traditions. There is an opportunity to buy handicrafts and local products directly from the community, and to take part in a turtle conservation project that the Manatee supports alongside them.
Day 4 · Monday
Indillama River & the North Side of Yasuni
The day begins on the water with a kayaking excursion on the Indillama River, one of the Napo's tributaries leading into Yasuni National Park. Kayaks move quietly through the forest edge, making them well suited for wildlife spotting along the banks. Canoes are also available for those who want to cover more ground. After a full day on the river, the evening is spent on the observation deck under a clear Amazon sky, and more active guests can join a night walk into the jungle to look for nocturnal creatures.
Day 5 · Tuesday
Pink River Dolphins & the Secoya Community
The morning is spent exploring the lower Napo River, an area rich in birdlife where eagles, oropendolas and woodpeckers are regularly spotted along the banks. In the afternoon the cruise enters Yasuni National Park and the habitat of the legendary pink river dolphin. This visit includes an insight into the Manatee's pink dolphin conservation program, developed with the Martinica community in the Cocaya area, which has created a protected zone where dolphins can feed and move freely without the threat of hunting. The day ends with a visit to a Secoya community, one of the region's ancestral cultures, who share their traditions and demonstrate the preparation of traditional cassava bread.
Day 6 · Wednesday
Kichwa Family & Life on Board
The morning begins with a visit to a Kichwa family on the banks of the Napo River for a direct look at daily life and local traditions. Back on board, a cooking class with the Manatee's chef introduces the ingredients and techniques behind traditional Ecuadorian cuisine. The rest of the day is yours to fill as you like. Try your hand at traditional handicrafting, take in the forest from the open-air hot tub, have a cocktail at the bar and lounge, or join an active kayaking excursion into the surrounding jungle. After dark, the observation deck is a good spot for stargazing away from any city light.
Day 7 · Thursday
Canopy Tower & Primary Forest
The day starts at an observation tower built into a giant kapok tree, where a 360-degree view from the top looks out over an unbroken canopy of primary Amazon forest. In the afternoon you head into that forest on foot with your guides to look for plant and animal species endemic to this ecosystem, including the hoatzin, an ancient and peculiar bird known locally as the stinkbird for reasons that become clear up close.
Day 8 · Friday
Return to Coca
The cruise returns to Puerto Providencia where you disembark the Manatee Amazon Explorer and board the motorized canoe back to the city of Coca, bringing the trip to a close.
The Manatee Amazon Cruise Activities
Nighttime forest walk
Canoe trip to Pañacocha Lake
Rainforest walk at Pañacocha
Amazon-style barbeque
Kayaking and swimming
Evening talk with guides
Parrot clay licks
Kichwa women's community visit
Napo River birding
Yasuní National Park — pink river dolphin
Secoya community visit
Kichwa family visit
Cooking class
Handicrafting, hot tub, and stargazing
Kayaking on the Napo
Canopy observation tower
Primary forest walk
Indillama River kayaking
Frequently Asked Questions
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4 Deluxe Suites (23 m² / 247 ft²) with floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies, air conditioning, private bathrooms with hot water, and whirlpool bathtubs.
- 10 Standard Suites (19 m² / 204 ft²) with floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies, air conditioning, and private bathrooms with hot water.
Rates & Inclusions
4 days / 3 nights
Standard Suite (Double Occupancy): $2,415
Deluxe Suite (Double Occupancy): $3,022
5 days / 4 nights
Standard Suite (Double Occupancy): $3,016
Deluxe Suite (Double Occupancy): $3,770
8 days / 7 nights
Standard Suite (Double Occupancy): $4,827
Deluxe Suite (Double Occupancy): $6,030
Notes
- Programs per person based on double & single occupancy.
Included
- Onboard accommodations
- All meals on board
- Scheduled excursions according to the itinerary
- Certified naturalist local guides
- Coffee station (unlimited supply of water, coffee, and tea)
- Exclusive access to our VIP Lounge in Coca city (before and after the cruise)
- Transfers to/from the vessel when arriving on our recommended flights
- Private & personalized assistance for Quito–Coca -Quito flights at both airports when arriving on our recommended flights
Not Included
- Air ticket Quito –Coca – Quito, USD 300.00 net per person
- Communities fees
- Transfers to and from Quito’s airport
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- Gratuities
- Wi-Fi Internet
- Other services not specified in the program
Operated By Anakonda Amazon Cruises
About Anakonda Amazon Cruises
Anakonda Amazon Cruises was founded in 2002 by Raúl García and his wife Martha. Raul has decades of experience in the naval and travel industries. And they now operate the only two luxury vessels for Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest. These are the Manatee Amazon Explorer & the Anakonda Amazon Cruise.
The mission of Anakonda Amazon Cruises is to meld conservation with unique travel experiences. This benefits the environment and communities while offering you a fantastic experience of the Amazon. Half of the staff of Anakonda Cruises are from nearby communities to ensure locals benefit from ecotourism.
Consistently receiving high praise from guests and featuring in many travel and nature publications, Anakonda Amazon Cruises have become one of the leading tour operators for the Amazon Rainforest.
Anakonda Amazon Cruises Details
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