Welcome to Ecuador! A World Expeditions School representative will welcome you at the airport in Quito. We get transferred to our hotel for the night. When all have found their rooms, we meet up for dinner. Before bedtime, we have a welcome and safety orientation to get ready for the upcoming trip to the Amazon jungle! Overnight Quito.

Meals:  D

After breakfast, we pack and get ready to move to the Amazon gateway, the city of Tena. Tena is the capital of the Napo Province and an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest. Originally founded by missionary explorers, Tena has emerged as one of the top tourist attractions. Tena is a popular launching point for traveling to the jungle, for kayaking and rafting tours in Ecuador's Amazon rainforest region. Today will be a full day of bus trip (approx 6 hours). We will stop on route for lunch. Be prepared for possible car sickness by taking Dramamine pills. Once we reach our final destination we get settled into our rooms and get ready for dinner. After dinner, we get an introduction to the days we have in front of us. Bedtime is early. Overnight local village outside Tena.

Meals:  B,L,D

We will be woken up early by bird song and have breakfast. Our first activity for today is a visit to a chocolate farm. We will arrive by canoes and the lush surroundings will make the bus ride yesterday totally worth it! At the farm, we will learn about the process of growing and processing chocolate for consumption. Discover the process of choosing and caring for the cacao trees to make the best most robust flavors. Also, learn how climate change is affecting the growing process of cacao. We will witness how the cacao is dried, roasted, and peeled. After the cacao is peeled it is then grounded up and mixed with flavors to create delicious chocolate that the group can try. After the visit, we have lunch prepared by our host. It's then time to jump into the canoes again and our next stop is an animal rescue center. We will learn about the project and what they are doing to help rehabilitate the wildlife from the Amazon region. This is the perfect opportunity to see the animals up close as you are not guaranteed to see animals up close in the wild. In the afternoon we paddle back to our hostel and freshen up before dinner. Before it's time for bed, we have a debrief and get ready for the next day. Overnight local village outside Tena.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast, we get ready to learn about the Kichwa culture and local native lifestyle. We will arrive at the community-based tourism project and learn about the daily life of the Kichwa women. They will do demonstrations about how they pan for gold in the river and the difference between artisan gold panning and gold extraction by heavy machinery and how that is threatening the river and rainforest ecosystem. We will learn about how to make chicha de yuca, a traditional drink. Next, the women from the community will demonstrate how they make their pottery. All the materials that they use are locally found, such as the clay, paint, and the waxy finish on the pottery. Our lunch will be prepared by the women in the community, you can’t get more local food than this! In the afternoon we head back to the Eco-tourism project for an interactive demonstration on how to weave the jewelry. The jewelry is made from Bromelia fibers which is dried and then dyed. Once dyed it is combined with seeds and other local material and weaved into beautiful bracelets and necklaces. We will also have the opportunity to make our own wearable art. In the afternoon we get back to our hostel and freshen up before dinner. Before it's time for bed, we have a debrief and get ready for the next day. Overnight local village outside Tena.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast, we will be guided through a local biology station. The site is a well-preserved primary forest parcel. In this forest, there is a botanical garden to demonstrate the different types of plants found in the area. There is also a trail in the forest, the home to a variety of Amazon animal species. We will observe several species of monkeys, birds, rodents, amphibians, and insects. After lunch, the group will be taken to a lagoon. At the lagoon, the wildlife is easily accessible. There are almost always guaranteed wildlife sightings from monkey species, bird species, several native fish species (arapaima) as well as reptile and amphibian species. In the afternoon we get back to our hostel and freshen up before dinner. Before it's time for bed, we have a debrief and get ready for the next day. Overnight local village outside Tena.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast, we will explore the river ecosystem via raft or at a local popular swimming spot. A group decision has to be made before we leave the hostel. For the adventurous ones, the option is a full day of white water rafting down class 3 waters on the Amazon River basin. The river is safe and with few obstacles. Our guides will provide us with all the safety equipment such as life jackets, helmets, and splash jackets. The guides are certified by the International Rafters Association and are required to know CPR as well as how to recuperate the boat and people that may have fallen out (in the rare case that this happens). The rafters stop halfway at a Kichwa village to eat lunch prepared by our host. In the village, you also have the opportunity to purchase handmade gifts to support the small community. The second option is for those who want a more tranquil day we offer a river beach day. The swimming spot is popular among Ecuadorians as well as foreigners alike. This magical spot has crystal clear water and is surrounded by primary forest. There are also options for local food vendors. A sack lunch can also be made upon request. In the afternoon we get back to our hostel and freshen up before dinner. Before it's time for bed, we have a debrief and get ready for the next day. Overnight local village outside Tena.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast, we will return to Quito via bus. On the way we will stop by the Papallacta hot springs, here we will relax in beautiful pools surrounded by Andean landscapes. This evening we have a farewell dinner and re-cap all we have learned and explored in the amazing Amazon jungle. Overnight Quito.

Meals:  B,L,D

Following breakfast at the hotel, the group will visit the Artisanal Market and perhaps collect souvenirs from this amazing visit to Ecuador. You will then be transferred to the airport for your international flights.

Meals:  B