Tena Jungle Tour
3 days / 4 days
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The region of Tena is the entrance to the Amazon basin, located in the Eastern part of Ecuador “El Oriente”, the area a place of unparalleled biodiversity. It holds an astounding amount of wildlife and flora: home to 50% of Ecuador’s mammals, 5% of earth’s plant species and prolific birdlife. It is the most accessible part to reach the jungle, with more than 500 bird species, big cats, butterflies, monkeys, fish, snakes and insects.
The natural sanctuary of the lodge offers an undisturbed world where guests can escape from noise, pollution and stress imposed by larger cities. In addition, the lodge feels authentic, airy and comfortable with its high walls and ceilings. The architecture helps to keep the lodge and the rooms climatized without the need of air- conditioning. In total there are 19 private rooms of varying sleeping configurations and several public gathering spots, including the spacious dining room, an open-air bar and a pool. The open-air bar offers fresh squeezed juices, soft drinks, beers and cocktails, or a chilled glass of white wine. Enjoy a drink at night overlooking the river and the pool!
Itinerary
Day 1: Your trip starts at the Arajuno Bridge, about 45 minutes away from Tena. Your naturalist guide will give you information about the place, important recommendations and other tips to start a great experience in the tropical forest. A motorized canoe that goes upstream for about 20 minutes will take you to the lodge. During the boat trip you can enjoy the beauty of the Amazon rainforest traveling along the river. Once you arrive at the dock area of the lodge, the staff will welcome you and give you brief and general information about your accommodation and the activities during your stay. After a lunch served in the lodge and getting settled in your room, you can take part in a tubing activity. Before dinner you can join the optional night walk. A flashlight and camera are the most important tools on this night excursion, which allows guests to hear the nocturnal sounds and to look for fishing bats, owls, a variety of insects, tarantulas, toads and frogs, and possibly snakes. If the sky is clear, you might have the chance to do some stargazing.
Day 2: If the climate permits it, you will have an early morning activity today. Bird lovers can take a canoe ride for 15 minutes upstream to enjoy the parrot clay lick (saladero). Here you can appreciate a unique site where parrots and parakeets gather in order to obtain the minerals that will help them to digest the fruits or seeds they have consumed. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets will approach the treetops and later will come down to the clay bank to eat this soil rich in minerals. It is essential to have binoculars to enjoy it. Afterwards you will return to the lodge for breakfast. After a scrumptious breakfast you will head out for a hike through the primary and secondary rainforest. Your expert naturalist guide will teach you about the ecology and flora and fauna of the rainforest along the trail. You will observe a great variety of insects, a diversity of birds flying around you and with some luck reptiles or monkeys. This activity takes about 2 ½ -3hours. You will then return to the lodge for lunch and a siesta. In the afternoon it is time to enjoy a cultural activity. You will pay a visit to an Amazonian Kichwa community will where you will learn about their way of life and the interaction they have with the forest. This encounter is going to show you that part of the Amazonia that you do not find on the maps: The Amazon people. Part of the visit to the community involves the demonstration of the famous chicha, a fermented yuca drink that has become part of their festivals and daily use. You will have the chance to help with the preparation of this beverage and also try some of the local cuisine. The visit ends with a traditional dance performed by the kids in this community and you also have some time to buy some handicrafts, made by the indigenous people. This little business is to support the indigenous people in their daily life. Afterwards you will return to the lodge where a delicious dinner will be served.
Day 3: After breakfast you will check out and take the motorized canoe ride for 20 minutes to return to the Arajuno Bridge.
In the 4 days 3 nights tour, a visit to Isla Anaconda and AmaZOOnico are scheduled for day 3. After a delicious breakfast buffet, you will take a 40 min canoe ride downriver to visit Isla Anaconda. Here you can observe the prehistoric bird hoatzin, woolly monkeys, squirrel monkeys, just to mention a few. You also visit a family in one of the indigenous communities to learn about their farming habits, medicinal plants, as well as the ancestral way of hunting with blowguns (cerbatana) and handmade traps in the forest. On this trip a box lunch will be provided. After lunch you will go to AmaZOOnico, which is sheltering a number of different jungle animals, some in danger of extinction. AmaZOOnico is not a zoo but a rescue center for animals of the Amazon in Ecuador. Here you can observe a wide variety of monkeys, macaws, ocelots, capybara, toucans, parrots and much more animals in their natural habitat at close range. After this visit you will return to the lodge for dinner.
Note: The lodge reserves the right to change the itinerary at any time due to weather, events out without our control and operational decisions where deemed advisable for the comfort and well-being of the passengers. In this program the exact activities and its order can change depending your guide, the weather, the season and your day of arrival.
Please note that all personal expenses in the lodge have to be paid in cash.
Price
Prices 2023
Double standard room
3D/2N USD $232 p.p.
4D/3N USD $339 p.p.
Single standard room
3D/2N USD $302 p.p.
4D/3N USD $441 p.p.
Double superior room
3D/2N USD $270 p.p.
4D/3N USD $395 p.p.
Single superior room
3D/2N USD $351 p.p.
4D/3N USD $514 p.p.
Included
- Accommodation
- Meals from lunch on the first day until breakfast on the last day
- Activities as described in the itinerary
- Spanish speaking guide during excursions
- Transportation by canoe between Arajuno Bridge – Lodge – Arajuno Bridge
- Life jacket, raincoat and rubber boots (size 36 to 44)
- Rubber tubes for tubing
Not included
- Transportation Quito – Arajuno Bridge – Quito (Public bus from/to Tena $10 p.p.)
- All drinks (except during breakfast)
- Contribution to the community ($5 p.p.)
- Entrance AmaZOOnico ($4 p.p.) – only in the 4D/3N tour
- Pottery demonstration ($1 p.p.) – only in the 4D/3N tour
- Visit to Isla Anaconda ($1 p.p.) – only in the 4D/3N tour
- Personal expenses
- Tips
Travel style
This is a Shared Tour / Group Tour. This means that there will be other people on this tour besides yourself (or your travel party).
Departures
This tour can start on any day of the week.
Meeting point
A representative of the lodge will be waiting for you at the Arajuno Bridge at 12:00 PM.
What to bring?
- Passport
- Raincoat or poncho
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Hat or lightweight scarf
- Long-sleeve shirts and long pants (quick-drying)
- Bathing suit and towel
- Sandals and sneakers
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Flashlight
- Insect repellent
- Plastic (zip-lock) bags for your camera etc.
What Our Travelers Say
I booked a 5 day Amazon trip and a tour to Mitad del Mundo with Adore Ecuador. The whole process for both trips was very easy. They were extremely responsive to all of my questions and got back to me right away. The service was very personalized and I am so glad I went with this company. They really care about your trip and are really nice people. I highly recommend them!
My husband and I recently traveled to Ecuador for an Easter week trip.
Adore Ecuador arranged a unique, one-of-a-kind experience for us. We stayed with a local family in Cotacachi and made the traditional Fanesca soup, ate guinea pig, watched the Good Friday processional and exchanged food with the community at the cemetery. We loved getting to know our host family and living life alongside them for a week. It was a unique trip that we’ll never forget.
I booked an Amazon jungle tour through Adore Ecuador Travel and the whole process was super easy and quick thanks to Margot. We ended up having the best time in the jungle. It was definitely the highlight of our 3 month trip!