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Nature & Culture

Pañacocha Lagoons




are small lakes, located some 100 km east of Coca, entering the small river of Pañayacu, to the north of the River Napo and moving westwards again. It is a beautiful river region with flooded areas forming some small lagoons and waterlogged spots. Its name means Lake of the Pirañas and you may expect of catching some of those razor-sharp teethed fish there. This region is also great for bird watching and it is also home to river dolphins. Monkeys are represented by howler, capuchins and squirrel monkeys.




Day 1:   We start our adventure by driving from Quito to San Rafael Waterfalls, the highest and mightiest fall in Ecuador which lies in the higher Amazon region and is also famous for its bird population. We will spend the first night there putting up our tents on a small plateau overlooking the cascades. On a clear day we have also a splendid view of the active volcano El Reventador.


Day 2:    In the morning we explore the area on small trails in this region of 1500m which represents a transitional forest from montane to the lower tropical rainforest. On the hike we may see cock of the rocks, oropendulas, tanagers and many other birds. Apart from that many flowering plants like orchids, bromeliads and heliconias make their home there. After lunch we drive on to Coca, where we arrive after another 4 hour and spend the night there in a hotel.


Day 3:   In the morning we stow our equipment in a motorized canoe to start our trip down the Napo towards Pañacocha. After 4 hours we reach the entrance to Pañayacu river and move up on this small with vegetation overhanging river to reach the lagoons. On this 1-hour upriver trip we have our first chances of seeing monkeys and birds along the shore. On a cleared bluff on a small lagoon we will put up our tent camp for the rest of our trip.


Day 4:   In the morning we explore the surrounding rainforest on a hike to get to know some of the trees and plants of the area. We observe also many insects and with luck some monkeys, in particular howler monkeys which inhabit that region. After lunch we move by boat farther upriver to observe more of the flora and fauna from the river. At night we undertake a short night walk through the forest to get to know some of the nocturnal animals.


Day 5:   We get up at first light in the morning and paddle in the canoe around the lagoons to observe birds. The weaving birds like cacique and oropendulas are numerous in that area but there also colonies of hoatzins and anis. Macaws, herons, kingfisher, vultures, raptors and many more also to be seen. In the afternoon we try our luck at fishing for pirañas and other ones to complement our food supplies. In the evening we go out by canoe to look for caimans.


Day 6:   After breakfast we start out on another walk through the rainforest for our last chance to admire the trees, vines, palms and epiphytes of this ecosystem. Afterwards we load everything up and head back to Coca, where we arrive late afternoon and spend the last night of our excursion again in a hotel room.


Day 7:    We start our long drive back to Quito by way of Loreto. We stop at Baeza for lunch and in Papallacta you have the option of enjoying its hot springs before we reach the capital.



 

 JUNGLE LODGES


Casa Suizo


Yarina


Sacha


La Selva


Yuturi


Kapawi


PICTURES









ISLAZUL TRIPS


Pañacocha


Tiputini


Yasuni


Cocha Lakes


Iquitos


PICTURES