Recently returned from our summer vacation. We did a 1 week Amazon (technically Napo) river cruise on the Amazon Manatee Explorer ship with https://anakondaamazoncruises.com/. We definitely enjoyed it. The ship was fantastic. The crew went above and beyond. The food was great. We saw a lot of wildlife including pink river dolphins, piranha, 8 different types of moneys and a variety of birds and other creatures.

We flew into Quito (almost didn’t make it thanks to American Airlines). We overnighted at the airport hotel and flew out to Coca, Ecuador the next morning. From there we took about 1.5 hour motorized canoe ride to meet the ship.

The first evening we did a motorized canoe ride to a place we named monkey island.

We stopped and were watching the Woolly Monkeys (monkey species#1) when the Squirrel Monkeys (monkey species#2) showed up. It was amazing to see them hang out right next to each other

We even had a 4th of July cake (not pictured) and drink.

Day 2 we did a motorized canoe ride to a blackwater lake including wildlife watching, kayaking, piranha fishing(unsuccessful), swimming, and a nature hike.

Chestnut-eared Aracari (left) and White-throated Toucan (right).

White-tailed Titi Monkey (monkey species#3) and White-fronted Capuchin Monkeys (monkey species#4).

Hoatzin AKA Stinky Turkey and Yellow-headed Caracara.

One of the coolest experiences was watching a troop of Capuchin and Squirrel monkeys try to cross the river. They made huge jumps from tree to tree but some didn’t make it all the way and had to swim the rest of the way.

Judging by the face they make as they approach the water, they are not happy about it.

Leaf cutter ants and a millipede from our hike.

Day 3 Parrot Clay Licks, Sani Warmi Community visit and afternoon hike

In the morning we visited the clay licks along the Napo River. The parrots/parakeets come there in the morning to eat clay which helps with their digestion. While there we also saw Red Howler Monkeys (monkey species#5) and had flyovers by a pair of Scarlet Macaws and a Laughing Falcon carrying a snake.

At the Sani Warmi community we had a cultural visit where they talked to use about the food and some of the customs. We got to make Tilapia with heart of palm wrapped in a sweet leaf and got to participate in chocolate making and tasting. We also got to try out blow dart guns.

In the afternoon we did another hike but didn’t see too much.

Day 4 Wildlife search and the quest for Pygmy Marmosets – In the morning we went on a motorized canoe ride with the main goal of finding Pygmy Marmosets. These primates are notable for being the smallest monkeys in the world, at just over 100 g (3.5 oz). We struck out at the first location but after some persistence were able to get some looks at the second spot.

Ringed Kingfisher and White-winged Swallow

Sleepy Pygmy Marmoset(monkey species#6).

Tropical Screech Owl and a whole bunch of Yelllow-headed Sideneck turtles

In the evening we did a sunset cruise and went looking for nocturnal animals. It took awhile but we eventually saw a few Capybabra.

Day 5 Motorized canoe trip to Yasuni National Park including crossing border to Peru.

Last town in Ecuador and the spot marking the border between Ecuador and Peru.

Chestnut-eared Aracari and Black Caracara.

Pink River Dolphin and Horned Screamer. Click here if you want to here why they are called Horned Screamers which are nicknamed Unicorns of the Amazon. There is a long spiny structure projecting forward from the crown. This structure is unique among birds and is not derived from a feather but is a cornified structure that is loosely attached to the skull and grows continuously while often breaking at its tip.

Wattled Jacana, AKA Jesus Christ Bird for ability to “walk on water” and Squirrel Monkey.

Yellow-headed Caracara being chased by Tropical Kingbird and tree full of Blue-and-Yellow Macaws.

Procilla Beauty Butterfly and Spotted Piranha.

Miller’s Saki Monkeys (monkey species#7)

Day 6 Homestead visit – We visited a homestead and harvested hear of palm, cassava roots, plantains, and cocoa. As a bonus, the lady had 2 Black-mantled Tamarins (monkey species#8) living in her house.

We then made heart of palm ceviche in a cooking class on the boat.

In the afternoon we went kayaking and then we went for a night hike which we really enjoyed.

Gaudy Grasshopper and Pink-toed Tarantula

Stick Grasshopper and Tailless Whipscorpion

Brown-eared Wooly Opossum and Pair of Crested Forest Toads (and a mosquito).

Red-snouted Tree Frog and Variable Clown Tree frog.

Leaf Katydid and Smoky Jungle Frog.

Mayan Lichen Mantis and young Spectacled Caiman.

Day 7 Parrot Sipping Lake and Observation Tower Hike – In the morning we visited the parrot sipping lake.

Yellow-tongued Anole and Common Big-headed Frog.

Forest Toad and Scarlet Macaw

Cobalt-winged Parakeets at the parrot sipping lake.

Afternoon hike to the observation tower.

Ecuador Poison Frog

Rusted Clearwing-satyr

Channel-billed Toucan and Red-and-Green Macaw.

Toast at the top. (Lindsay got a toast at the bottom as she decided to only go about halfway up).

We made a surprise stop on the way back to the ship for a turtle release. These turtles are threatened and the community we visited earlier collects the eggs and raises them to give them a better chance to survive. We got to release several of them into the wild which was a memorable way to end our trip.