Current as of: April 22, 2026 - 14:31
Amazon Add-on Tour – Yarina Lodge Trip Notes
- Destination: Ecuador
- Programmes: Trip Extensions
-
Activity Level:
1 out of 7 - Easy
- Ages: 16+
- Trip Code: XTNYARINA
Trip Overview
Journey deep into the Amazon, combining wildlife encounters, river travel and time with Kichwa communities
Immerse yourself in the Amazon Rainforest, heading by motorised canoe along the Napo River to stay at a riverside lodge. Led by knowledgeable local guides, explore forest trails by day and night, revealing the rhythms of this complex ecosystem. Time on the water – from motorised journeys to quiet paddles – offers a different perspective on wildlife, from monkeys to caimans. Along the way, visits to a local school and a Kichwa family provide a deeper understanding of life in the rainforest, connecting conservation with community.
Is This Trip for You?
This trip is graded Activity Level 1 (Easy). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
This add-on tour runs on a shared basis with non-Exodus guests.
Water safety: This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Group
Local guides are used at the lodge, providing expert insight into Amazon life.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 1
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Quito
- End City: Quito
Land Only Itinerary
Fly to Coca • Cruise the Napo River • Hike the Socali Trail
From Quito Airport, catch a 30-minute flight over the Andes to Coca, a city at the meeting point of the Coca and Napo rivers.
Around 11.30am, hop into a motorised canoe – the only way to reach our accommodation! – and begin a one-hour cruise along the Napo to Yarina Eco Lodge.
After time to settle in and eat lunch, enjoy an introduction to the jungle, hiking the Socali Trail through primary forest. After dinner, you may wish to join an optional 45-minute night hike, experiencing the sounds and sights of the forest as it comes to life after the sun sets.
Accommodation: Yarina Eco Lodge
Meet local school pupils • Visit a Kichwa family • Spot wildlife on the Guamayacu River
Travel by motorised canoe to Josefina Villamar Obando School, where you’ll meet some of the pupils to hear about life and education in this area of the Amazon.
Continuing by boat, visit a Kichwa family, learning how daily life is shaped by the rhythms of the rainforest. Over lunch, try maito de pescado (fish wrapped in leaves) and gain insight into traditional food-preservation techniques.
Later, head towards the Guamayacu River, where time on the water reveals abundant wildlife.
Accommodation: Yarina Eco Lodge
Hike the Capibara Trail • Paddle Laguna Sapococha
Set out along the Capibara Trail, a thrilling hike where swampy terrain and dense palm forest reveal the complexity of this ecosystem. The walk brings context to the wildlife we may encounter, as our guide explains how different species depend on these habitats.
After dinner, paddle quietly across Laguna Sapococha to observe caiman, an experience that highlights how different the forest feels after dark.
Accommodation: Yarina Eco Lodge
Track monkeys in the forest • Canoe the Manduro River
Head into the forest along a trail known for monkey sightings, scanning the canopy while also learning about the plants and fruits that sustain the ecosystem. The experience goes beyond wildlife spotting, building a clearer understanding of how the forest functions.
Before returning to the lodge, canoe along the Manduro River, offering a quieter perspective on this part of the Amazon.
After lunch, travel along the Napo River to visit one of the largest and most impressive trees in the Amazon – the Giant Ceibo of the Amazon – and then begin a hike through the forest to observe medicinal plants. After dinner, return to the river to paddle the waters by night.
Accommodation: Yarina Eco Lodge
Adventure ends in Quito
There’s an optional early start for birdwatching, when the forest is at its most active and the calls carry clearly through the canopy.
After breakfast, depart Yarina by motorised canoe, retracing our route along the Napo River to Coca (about one hour).
On arrival, transfer to the airport for our flight to Quito. Landing, you can either catch your return flight home or take a transfer to your hotel to begin your main adventure.
Accommodation
Yarina Eco Lodge
Set within a private reserve on the banks of the Napo River, this lodge places you deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Cabins are constructed using local materials and raised above the forest floor, with private bathrooms, hot water, mosquito nets and hammocks.
Days are shaped by the surrounding rainforest, with guided walks, canoe trips and wildlife spotting led by experienced guides, alongside insight into local communities and conservation efforts.
Worth knowing
- A compulsory single supplement may apply due to the accommodation set up at the lodge.
Food & Drink
Food at Yarina Eco Lodge reflects the Amazon setting, with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and simple, hearty preparation.
Breakfast typically includes tropical fruits, eggs, bread, and coffee. Lunches are light but filling, often featuring rice, vegetables, fish or chicken.
Dinner is more substantial, with soups, grilled meats, and regional dishes. Meals are served buffet-style in a communal dining area, creating a relaxed, social atmosphere for guests returning from excursions.
Vegetarians and other dietary requirements can easily be catered for – please notify us in advance.
Transport
In Quito, transport is in a private air-conditioned minibus. We also take internal flights to get to Coca, and travel by motorised canoe.
Weather & Seasonality
It is hot and humid in the Amazon Rainforest. There is a possibility of rain at any time, but not to the extent of spoiling your enjoyment. The driest time in the jungle (in terms of rainfall levels, not number of rainy days) is October to January.
What To Take
Essential Equipment
- Lightweight long bottoms
- Long-sleeved lightweight shirts
- Lightweight sweater or jacket
- Raingear (ponchos are provided)
- Sports shoes or hiking boots
- Hat
- Sun protection
- Sunglasses
- Small backpack for daily essentials
- Insect repellent
- Torch (flashlight) or headlamp for night walks
Optional Equipment
- Binoculars
- Camera
Practical Information
Visa
Ecuador
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Ecuador. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
- Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/ecuador
- Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/ecuador
- United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ecuador/entry-requirements
- USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Ecuador.html
Vaccinations and Health
Ecuador
All visitors to Ecuador must show valid medical insurance on arrival and cannot enter the country without it.
You also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate (vaccinated at least 15 days before you travel) if you are arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda, including if you have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport of those countries.
As updates may happen at any time, please check the latest requirements with your doctor or travel clinic.
Malaria is also a risk in some areas of the country (including the Amazon Rainforest) so we suggest you consult a doctor for more advice. Additionally, dengue, chikungunya and zika, all viral diseases spread by mosquitoes, are known risks in places visited. There are currently no vaccines or prophylaxes available, so take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis, typhoid and yellow fever.
Please check all vaccination recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.
Methanol: The FCDO warns travellers to be cautious of methanol poisoning when travelling in destinations visited on the trip.
Local Time
Ecuador's time zone: America/Lima (UTC -05:00)
Electricity
Ecuador's electricity: Plug types A (two flat pins) and B (three pins: two flat, one round) – 120V, 60Hz
Money
Ecuador's currency: US dollar (USD)
ATM Availability
ATMs accepting major credit and debit cards are readily available in Quito. Please contact your bank before travel to ensure compatibility.
You should carry your money in US dollars cash. Try to carry a number of small notes (US$1 or US$5) as many small businesses and taxis do not carry large amounts of change.
Tipping
Tipping is an optional but very much customary practice in Ecuador and forms part of the service culture. Due to the dominance of US visitors in the destination, tips are reasonably high and this is likely to add up during your stay.
Sustainability and Impact
As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.
We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
Important Information
Your Safe Participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call us and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
Seatbelts
All vehicles used by us should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by us based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.
Travel Safety
For additional information please have a look at the travel safety advice page on our website.
How to Book
Speak to our friendly team of experts to plan your adventure:
- Check availability: our website shows real-time availability of our guided group tours, or contact our team by phone, email or live chat.
- Hold a space: You can provisionally hold a space on any guided group tour to give you time to finalise your travel plans.
- Confirm your booking: Payment of a deposit will complete your booking and secure your place on the trip.
After booking
You will receive a confirmation document and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements. Our dedicated Customer Operations team will help you with any pre-travel questions or arrangements and can easily add extensions or extra accommodation to your booking. Final Joining Instructions will usually be sent out two to three weeks prior to departure.
Adding transfers to your booking
If you have arranged your own flights and would like to add transfers to your booking, please provide your arrival and departure details to our Customer Operations team around four to six weeks before departure.
- Where free transfers are included, they are available for any flight but can only be added to your booking once we have received your flight schedule.
- Where group arrival and departure transfers are available, these operate at fixed times. You will need to arrive in time to meet the scheduled transfer. If the timings don’t align with your travel plans, our team can arrange private transfers once they receive your flight schedule.
Trip Note validity
Trip notes may be updated after booking; if any updates significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary you will be advised in writing. A link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes will be sent out with your Final Joining Instructions before departure.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes, and occasionally it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
