Travel guide

The Top 5 Amazon Tours in Ecuador

Ash Card
Updated: April 14, 2025, 3:11 p.m.
13 min read

Ecuador's record-breaking Amazon Rainforest offers you incredible memories and wildlife-rich experiences.

Accompanied by expert guides, you’ll head out each day to explore this remarkable region. See curious monkeys, brightly colored parrots flying over the canopy and a trip-full of other extraordinary sights and sound.

And choosing where you visit in Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest is the most important decision for your Ecuador Amazon tour.

Jump to introductions to Ecuador Amazon tours

You will likely want to experience the rainforest and see incredible wildlife. You may have heard of the Yasuni National Park, which is the crown jewel in Ecuador's Amazon. You may have also heard about logging and oil prospectors in Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest.

So has the wildlife.

Animals you'd want to see on Ecuador Amazon tours keep to the rainforest interior and as far as they can get from any disturbance.

The closer you can get to these areas, the better your experience of Ecuador's Amazon.

We recommend choosing tours close to Yasuni National Park. This is because animals move freely into surrounding rainforest. This is the region responsible for Ecuador's record-breaking wildlife. And to reach this, you travel east from El Coca down the Napo River for some of Ecuador's most spectacular Amazon Rainforest tours.

We will provide a map below to help you visualize this and familiarize yourself with Ecuador's Amazon.

Note that many of the lower-budget options are in heavily disturbed rainforest, which is due to roads, agricultural expansion, mining, oil extraction and human settlement.

Needless to say, the wildlife have long-since left these areas. A few edge species and those more resistant to change remain, such as squirrel monkeys and capuchins.

To make up for missing wildlife in heavily disturbed rainforest, many of these tours take you to zoological exhibits with captive animals.

If you have traveled all this way for an authentic experience of Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest, we recommend the Yasuni region or even the more flooded Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve.

To maximize wildlife-viewing, there are some fantastic rainforest lodges and Amazon cruises. Both cruises and lodges have their advantages, which we will highlight below.

You can see the map below and zoom in to see disturbed forest and more pristine forest, along with recommended Ecuador Amazon tours. These are the more premium lodges and cruises due to the higher quality experience on offer.

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Top Amazon Rainforest Tours in Ecuador

To make the most of Ecuador's Amazon, choose a recommended expedition lodge or cruise.

We have selected Ecuador Amazon tours that provide a fantastic rainforest experience. These offer wildlife-rich rainforest, comfortable accommodation, delicious meals and professionally guided tours. You will explore the Amazon Rainforest led by knowledgeable, well trained and friendly guides.

The tours can also help with your transfers from Quito to El Coca.

The Manatee Amazon Cruise – 4, 5 or 8-day Amazon Tours

Aboard the Manatee Cruise, you will travel to different Amazon areas. And you will focus on exploring the magnificent Yasuni National Park.

The Manatee Amazon Explorer offers you a luxury cruise of Ecuador's Amazon.

Enjoy the Yasuni clay lick, canopy tower, glamping and fantastic guided rainforest walks. You will see many different animals and plants, including curious monkeys, colorful parrots and much more.

Along with the Anakonda, these are the only cruises into Yasuni National Park and both vessels offer an extraordinary experience.

For an introduction, click the video below.

After your excursions, return to the comfort of the vessel. You have a choice of different spacious suite options. Each suite offers large windows, so you can stay connected to the rainforest. You can even see different birds while relaxing in your room. All suites then provide modern en-suite bathrooms.

You will be treated delicious cuisine in the dining room and can relax in the comfortable social areas. There is also a bar and observation deck to enjoy.

To check if your travel dates are available, you can send the Manatee Cruise a request using the button below.

4, 5, 8 days

The Manatee Amazon Cruise

The Manatee Amazon River Cruise is a fantastic cruise for adventures into the wonderful Yasuni National Park, one of the world’s richest areas for ani...

Deluxe Amazon Cruise

From $ 3,016

/ person

Book now

Includes: all meals, accommodation, guided tours, transfers from and to coca airport, private assistance at quito airport.

More Info

The Sacha Lodge – 4 or 5-day+ Amazon Tour

The Sacha Lodge is surrounded by a 5,000 acre private reserve in connected rainforest with Yasuni National Park. This is just over the Napo River, which means animals can cross over to the Sacha Lodge reserve offering you incredible wildlife watching.

After you arrive in Coca, you will be escorted up the Napo River. You will then board an engineless boat to be paddled across the Pilchicocha Lake to the Sacha Lodge. The lodge is found across the lake, nestled on the bank.

Even on the journey to the lodge, you will enjoy fantastic rainforest sights. See many different birds and have your first introduction to Ecuador's Amazon. You may also see the lake's resident family of endangered giant otters.

Over the coming days, you will explore the surrounding rainforest on professionally guided tours. Enjoy forest walks and canoe experiences to find many different monkeys, colorful birds and reptiles.

A main feature of the Sacha Lodge is the incredible canopy walkway.

The walkway is supported by three large canopy towers. These towers are then connected by a 940-foot (275-meter) long canopy bridge. And it's suspended 94 feet (30 meters) above ground level. With your guide's help, the walkway provides a fantastic place for you to spot birdlife and different animals.

The Sacha Lodge programs are focused on the rainforest and activities. The activities at the Sacha Lodge include:

The kapok tower to see over the canopy
Visiting the fantastic Yasuni clay lick
Exploring the wildlife on forest walks
Visiting the butterfly house
Enjoying the canopy crane to explore 150 feet above the forest floor
Paddling the creeks in canoe
Heading out for night-time caiman spotting
Visiting the Providencia community & Shipati Warmi project
Enjoying the canopy walk 94 feet above the forest floor

The Sacha Lodge itself then offers comfortable cabins and en-suite bathrooms. Your bathroom include a hot shower and flushing toilet. All of the cabins are then spaced between the trees in the rainforest. For your meals, you will enjoy delicious cuisine in the dining room or lakeside eating area.

See the video below for a short introduction to the Sacha Lodge.

There is then a lodge bar to enjoy a drink in the evenings. And on at least one of your evenings, you will enjoy a BBQ by the lake. With its canopy walkway, expert guides and wildlife-rich rainforest, the Sacha Lodge is one of our favorites.

To check availability, you can message the lodge using the tour bubble below.

La Selva Eco Lodge & Retreat – 4 or 5-day+ Amazon Tour

For a little luxury in Ecuador's Amazon, we recommend La Selva Eco Lodge & Retreat.

Not only a luxury experience, La Selva Eco Lodge & Retreat is also Rainforest Alliance certified. This gives you peace of mind that you're with a responsible operator.

Enjoy guided tours in the surrounding rainforest. Head out scouting for different monkeys. See howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, capuchins and tamarins. You will also find many parrots, toucans, orchids and more with your professional Amazon Rainforest guide.

La Selva Lodge also offers a fantastic canopy tower to look over the canopy. This is a great place to see many different birds. You will also enjoy seeing the different shades of green over the tops of the trees.

There are many different rainforest trails to explore La Selva Eco Lodge & Retreat's private reserve. This is another reserve just over the river from the world-renowned Yasuni National Park. The incredible diversity of animals is free to cross between these rainforest areas.

Enjoy a visit to Yasuni parrot claylick, night-time canoe exploration, the Charapa Turtle adoption program (a definite favorite with families), engaging with local communities for cultural activities, and explore the Yasuni region on professionally-guided rainforest trail walks.

The excellent La Selva Lodge then goes a little further in terms of a luxury experience. The lodge offers an on-site spa for a massage, hot water pools in the family suites and a dedicated honeymoon program.

4, 5 days+

La Selva Eco-Lodge & Retreat

La Selva Eco-Lodge & Retreat is an award-winning Amazon Rainforest lodge in the Ecuadorian jungle and is regarded as the premier eco-lodge in the Ecua...

Luxury Lodge, Canopy Tower

From $ 1,570

/ person

Book now

Includes: all meals, accommodation, guided tours, transfers from and to coca airport.

More Info

The Anakonda Amazon Cruise – 4, 5 or 8-day Amazon Tours

The Anakonda is the larger sister vessel of the Manatee Cruise above. These are the only cruises for the Yasuni National Park and provide you with a memorable way of exploring the world's most wildlife-rich region.

The Anakonda Amazon Cruise offers a fantastic experience of Ecuador's Amazon with the same high standard of service and guided tours as the Manatee above.

Your air-conditioned suite offers the perfect place to relax after your jungle expeditions. Explore the Amazon with your professional and friendly guide aboard skiff expeditions and on forest walks.

See an amazing diversity of Amazon Rainforest wildlife. Spot the curious squirrel monkeys, loud and confident howler monkeys and many different birds.

Visit the Yasuni clay lick to see colorful parrots feed from the clay. Observe the Amazon from a tall canopy tower. And enjoy cultural activities to learn about life in the jungle.

Your suite offers floor-to-ceiling windows so you can stay connected to Amazon. You can even spot parrots flying over the canopy and other wildlife from the comfort of your bed.

You will then be treated to delicious cuisine in the dining room, a drink at the bar, or relaxing with a book in the lounge. The sundeck is also a great place to enjoy rainforest scenery and admiring the constellations on crystal clear evenings.

To check availability for your dates, you can send a message to the Anakonda Cruise using the button below.

4, 5, 8 days

The Anakonda Amazon Cruise

The Anakonda Amazon Cruise provides an immersive and unique experience of the Amazon Rainforest. Enjoy large and comfortable beds, a spa room, outdoo...

Deluxe Amazon Cruise

From $ 2,995

/ person

Book now

Includes: all meals, accommodation, guided tours, transfers from and to coca airport, private assistance at quito airport.

More Info

Combine the Amazon with the Galapagos

Many guests like to experience both the Galapagos Islands and Amazon Rainforest to make the most of Ecuador’s most iconic natural regions.

To make sure you get a fantastic experience of both regions, we have collected some of the top combination tours.

These include the combination of a premium Amazon Rainforest lodge, deluxe Galapagos glamping lodge and luxury Galapagos hotel — all with guided tours — on the Darwin & Orellana Discovery tour.

You will first explore the incredible Galapagos Islands based on Isabela Island. Isabela is the largest of the Galapagos islands and offers fantastic wildlife.

You will also visit Santa Cruz for a luxurious stay at the renowned Finch Bay Hotel, which includes an island-hopping adventure to explore a nearby island. See the famous Galapagos icons while accommodated in comfort. After your Galapagos experience, you will journey to explore the incredible Amazon rainforest.

Learn more about this experience below by clicking The Darwin & Orellana Discovery Tour bubble.

11 days

The Darwin & Orellana Discovery

Enjoy a seamless journey to combine two of Ecuador’s most iconic and wildlife-rich regions. And over 11 days, you will explore Ecuador’s incredibl...

Amazon Rainforest & Galapagos Islands

From $ 6,915

/ person

Book now

Includes: all accommodations, all meals in scalesia lodge & sacha lodge, half-board at finch bay hotel (breakfast and lunch), breakfast at quito airport hotel, all ground, water transportation and transfers, air ticket quito - baltra - quito

More Info

If you would prefer a luxury cruise to make the most of visiting several different Galapagos Islands, we recommend combining Endemic or Elite cruises for the Galapagos and the luxury-class La Selva Lodge for Ecuador’s astounding Amazon Rainforest. You can combine any of these select luxury Galapagos cruises with an Amazon experience at La Selva Eco Lodge & Retreat.

This creates the best Galapagos and Amazon combination tour we have seen. You can then make the most of your time in the Galapagos aboard the best quality cruises and experience the Amazon at the most luxurious rainforest lodge in Ecuador.

You can also send your request to La Selva Eco Lodge & Retreat below to learn more.

4, 5 days+

La Selva Eco-Lodge & Retreat

La Selva Eco-Lodge & Retreat is an award-winning Amazon Rainforest lodge in the Ecuadorian jungle and is regarded as the premier eco-lodge in the Ecua...

Luxury Lodge, Canopy Tower

From $ 1,570

/ person

Book now

Includes: all meals, accommodation, guided tours, transfers from and to coca airport.

More Info

Your Introduction to Ecuador’s Rainforest

Ecuador’s rainforest is in the far western part of Amazonia. It’s where the first trickles of the Amazon River begin and where the forest presses up against the Andes. This location is linked to its incredible diversity, as the forest teems with tropical life.

When you exit the plane, you will be greeted by sun, tropical temperature and high humidity. The amount of sun provides energy for this vast expanse of Amazonia. To give a clue to this, even the country’s name of Ecuador means equator in Spanish.

The jewel in the crown of Ecuador's Amazon is called the Yasuni National Park. Yasuni is the most well known protected area of Ecuadorian Amazon and contains a record-breaking number of species.

Your gateway to Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest is called Puerto Francisco de Orellana. It's also known as El Coca. From here, you can enjoy some of the top-rated jungle lodges and river cruises.

On these Amazon tours, you will enjoy guided expeditions in wildlife-rich rainforest to see many animals and plants.

The two main protected areas of Ecuador’s Amazon are:

The Yasuni National Park
The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

These lay on either side of the Napo River. These areas are connected. And this means surrounding rainforest is home to a similar level of species. This river later merges with others to form the mighty Amazon and provides your way of entering the forest.

The more flooded areas are where you can find the more budget conscious experiences. The premium experiences in Ecuador’s Amazon often focus on the rainforest surrounding Yasuni National Park.

We will mention some of these below.

One of the favorite sights from these experiences are claylicks. Claylicks are areas to see an abundance of colorful Amazonian parrots gathered in one area and are very rare in the northern Amazon. However, you will visit the Yasuni clay lick on the guided tours below.

You will also enjoy guided rainforest walks and canoe experiences to spot different animals. See colorful birds, many different monkeys and fascinating reptiles.

Amazon Cruise or Rainforest Lodge?

One of the first considerations is to think if you would prefer an Amazon cruise or a rainforest lodge. This depends on your personality and interests.

Cruises visit different rainforest sections. This means you explore a larger area of Amazon.

They can also provide more comfort as they offer air-conditioning giving you a more hotel-like base to return to after guided jungle tours.

As an example, click the recommended Manatee Amazon Cruise video below.

Aboard the cruise, you will explore the iconic Yasuni National Park. The cruise offers canoe exploration and professionally guided forest walks through the national park.

4, 5, 8 days

The Manatee Amazon Cruise

The Manatee Amazon River Cruise is a fantastic cruise for adventures into the wonderful Yasuni National Park, one of the world’s richest areas for ani...

Deluxe Amazon Cruise