Travelling into the Amazon Rainforest was the most amazing part of our trip to Ecuador. We spent four nights in a luxurious eco-lodge overlooking Anangucocha Lake and experienced one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. The Napo Wildlife Centre, located deep within Yasuni National Park is perched on a hillside in the heart of the forest. The large private reserve provides visitors with excellent chances of spotting so many mammals living in the forest. The region has over 500 species of birds, numerous monkey species, tamarins, tapirs, sloths, jaguars, caimans and lizards.
A flight from Quito to Coca, a fast boat ride down to a village transfer site then into canoes for a 2 hour paddle upstream brought us to the centre. Spotting exotic wildlife was almost immediate upon getting into the canoe. Have the camera on the ready.
Photography in the rainforest was challenging. These are low light conditions and critters move so you need to know you settings and have them ready in advance. I was fortunate to run into Doug Brown @dougbrownphotography.com and his wife, both professional photographers who were instructing with @deepgreenphotography.com. They were tremendously helpful with offering photo guidance.
The four days and nights we spent at the centre provided us with a wonderland opportunity to view nature at its best. Each day was new, interesting and different. Tamarin’s interrupted our first lunch to entertain us beside the open air dining room. We were so fascinated that lunch became an afterthought.
Canoe excursions brought us along creekside where we had up close sighting of some of the most beautiful and unusual birds I had ever seen. The high observatory allowed us into treetop viewing of a separate ecosystem of wildlife not visible from the ground.
Hiking to an treehouse observatory deep in the jungle brought sightings of howler monkeys, sloths, parrots and parakeets, amphibious forest dwellers and exotic trees and vegetation.
The most exciting day was when we rose before dawn to canoe into the Yansuni to view hundreds of parrots at a clay lick and separately, to watch Macaw’s and parakeets drink from a salt pond. Colours of these birds were so brilliant and strikingly beautiful that it was hard to believe they were real.
There are so many photos of the strange and beautiful wonders of this area that I urge you to check them out on the wildlife section of the website @fredwebsterphotography.com.
Where to stay:
Napo Wildlife Centre. The centre is a wonderful 5 star experience but more importantly, it provides access to wildlife viewing that other places cannot match. The guides are multilingual, very knowledgeable and extremely accommodating. Accommodations are very spacious, comfortable and exceeded our expectations.
Getting there:
The Napo Centre looked after us from the flight leaving Quito to Coca, transfer to the boats up the river and into the centre.
What to bring: It is a rainforest so rain gear is essential. Trails are easy but can be wet and muddy. The sun is hot and strong. Long sleeve UV resistant shirts and tear away hiking pants are a good idea. Mosquitos and other bugs didn’t seem to be a big problem but still bring insect repellent with deet. Good camera equipment to capture this unforgettable experience but pack light. Canoes in and out can only hold so much. Backpacks are ideal.