The Top 2 Amazon Cruises in Ecuador

Ecuador is the origin of the great Amazon River. And on the incredible Ecuador Amazon cruises (see below), you will experience this famous and wildlife-rich region.

On the following cruises, you will explore the rainforest and waterways with your expert guide on forest walks and boating expeditions. Your guide will be pointing out colorful birds, towering Amazon trees, and fascinating wildlife.

Between guided tours, you will return to your comfortable vessel. You will enjoy delicious meals and relax in your comfortable suite or social areas. And you can share experiences of the animals and plants you've seen in the Amazon.

Use the tour bubbles below to check availability for your travel dates and book with the cruises while protecting habitat.

Let's have an introduction to the main area you will explore. And we will then introduce you to your choice of cruises with summaries and video introductions.

Yasuni National Park

The Amazon area you will explore is called the Yasuni National Park, which is often regarded as the most wildlife-rich place on Earth.

Within the Yasuni, there are a number of tributaries that flow into the Amazon River and we will explore some of these for an abundance of forest life. You will be scouting for some of the 11 different monkeys, 600 bird species, 6 different Amazon cats, and fascinating frogs and reptiles.

To orient yourself, here's a map of the main area of Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest. Zoom in to see attractions, protected areas and places of interest.

Now let's see the cruises.

The Manatee Amazon Explorer

A great choice for tours of the rainforest is the Manatee Amazon Explorer.

Click the video below for a short introduction.

Aboard the Manatee Amazon Cruise, you will explore the Yasuni National Park to enjoy colorful parrots at the clay licks and many different animals. Head out to find fascinating and curious monkeys, river dolphins and enjoy a tall canopy tower to spot toucans and other colorful birds.

Choose from 3 to 7 night cruise itineraries aboard the Manatee where you can enjoy various activities.

Here's a map of the Manatee Amazon Cruise itinerary. See the ineractive map above of Ecuador's Amazon to see the route down the Napo River. Note that you will first be transported to the cruise embarkation point from El Coca. Note the 4-night itinerary is simply the blue route.

As well as rainforest walks, motorized canoe tours, kayaking, and night expeditions, we will explore a fantastic canopy tower. The tower reaches 50-meters into the trees and provides great views over the canopy. We will be trying to spot colorful toucans and parrots, nesting birds and different monkeys.

The parrot clay lick is one of the favorites.

You will enjoy many colorful parrots and parakeets visiting these specific areas of clay, which the birds visit to top up their salts and detoxify unripe fruits and seeds. This provides opportunities to watch the birds and to take fantastic photographs. 

Aboard the cruise vessel itself, you can find 14 comfortable and modern double-twin and single-twin cabins. These offer air conditioning, a comfortable bed and a private bathroom complete with a massage shower. Your suites feature hot and cold water, 24-hour electricity and 110-voltage outlets and switches. The vessel provides a comfortable base to relax after your daily activities exploring the Amazon.

To check availability for your travel dates, you can send the cruise a request using the button below.

The Anakonda Amazon Cruise

Offering a slightly larger cruise on the Amazon River, the Anakonda Amazon Cruise is the only other luxury cruise in Ecuador.

This is the sister vessel to the Manatee.

The cruise has been meticulously designed to provide a high quality Amazon River experience. Enjoy large panoramic windows fitted throughout the vessel, attractive and spacious cabins with private balconies, a Jacuzzi and very comfortable beds.

You can also relax in the social areas like the al fresco lounge, solarium and outdoor Jacuzzi, which are great places to retire after your explorations into the Amazon Rainforest.

The Anakonda Amazon Cruise dining experience involves the cruise's exquisite dining room with fantastic views of the rainforest. You will enjoy delicious Ecuadorian cuisine as well as international favorites.

Rainforest activities aboard the Anakonda Amazon Cruise mirror the Manatee. We will scout this incredible forest looking for abundant wildlife, such as monkeys, colorful toucans, relaxed-looking reptiles and playful river dolphins.

We will visit the parrot and parakeet clay lick to see colorful displays, the 50-metre canopy tower to see far over the canopy, and explore the waterways on motorized canoes and kayaks. When you return, you can relax in your suite, the social areas aboard the Anakonda Amazon Cruise or choose from the different treatments in the onboard spa.

Here's a map of the Anakonda Amazon Cruise itinerary. You can reference the ineractive map above to see the route down the Napo River and into the Yasuni Rainforest. Note the 4-night itinerary is simply the blue route.

An extra activity offered on both the Manatee Explorer and Anakonda Amazon Cruise is Glamping.

Never heard of it? Think of it like camping for people who don’t like camping. That is to say camping with more glamour. 

For a night of your choosing, the cruises will set up a very comfortable campsite for you in a romantic and interesting section of forest. The cruise will also bring you all your meals so you don’t miss out on service. As this is an additional activity, there is an additional charge but if you want a little more adventure, glamping is a great experience.

To add the glamour element, the cruises use state-of-the-art deluxe tents on a wooden raised base, provide gourmet meals, champagne and hot showers.

Both of these cruises are operated with a responsible approach to tourism and an understanding that the vessels exist in one of Earth’s most precious and fragile environments. The cruises involve locals in their operations and return the benefits of tourism to local communities.

Both vessels were designed to cause the least impact possible on the surrounding environment. Particular attention was paid to areas such as waste management. The cruises are environmentally responsible and certified by both Rainforest Alliance and Smart Voyager.