Amazon Rainforest Adventure in Ecuador

A wonderful week deep in the Amazon with the Waorani tribe. Beautiful scenery, amazing staff, wide range of activities (hiking, bird watching canoe trips, night walks, piranha fishing etc) and a great group. It is hot and humid but camping facilities exceeded expectations. Our local guides, Wilson and Alfonso, were fantastic and really made sure we all had a fantastic experience

Absolutely incredible experience in the amazon! Guides were amazing and very knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife. Was a very interesting experience meeting the Huaorani Tribe and learning about how they live. Was great meeting like minded people to share an incredible experience with. Can't recommend this trip enough!

This is a wild experience jam packed with unforgettable moments: blow gun target practice with the Huaorani tribe, our guide jumping out of the canoe to catch a caiman, climbing vines from a 300yr old tree, swimming in the Amazon, chasing monkeys in the canopy from the forest floor. While I don't doubt every trip will be incredible, I expect the exact itinerary of each trip will change based on the group/leader/weather. Some important notes: (1) You are REMOTE. The only people we saw in the jungle belonged to the tribe or worked on the camp. (2) Getting there and back is two hard ~12 hour days. If the weather is bad this has the potential to be more. That includes a stop for lunch/bathroom breaks/2 hr canoe ride. The rest is difficult driving, constant swerving to avoid potholes/mudslides. (3) While you will be around lots of wildlife, this isn't the purpose of this trip and glimpses will mostly be brief (but rewarding). (4) There are a lot of people involved in making this happen you will want to tip, so plan to get cash accordingly (driver, guide, local guide, cook and camp staff) These guys are all miracle workers.

Don't let the travel scare you off, you can't have this experience without being this remote. That's what makes this trip so special, you're experiencing a part of the world almost unbothered by modern society in an authentic way. The Huaorani want you there, the guides get excited right along side you.

I did this tour in march ,it was fantastic. paulo and Diego were brilliant guides we saw monkeys birds galore cayman river turtles a giant river otter plenty of insects spiders an a couple of snakes Accommodation is very basic you really are in the jungle. Mama the chef was fantastic as was his food . I would highly recommend this tour

This is a really authentic taste of the Amazon. A great experience travelling along the river in a motorised canoe looking for wildlife. Lots of exotic birds, monkeys and insects and even an anaconda. Fishing for piranha and catfish was surreal. This trip is an adventure and an education all in one.

Exceptional adventure on every level to include the learning curve, guide prowess, authenticity and deft planning and spontaneity.

This was the 50th country that I have spent time in by choice. Ecuador is spectacular. Gorgeous scenery and the local people are welcoming and kind.

Ecuador is a beautiful but demanding country, this trip is for those who really want an adventure. The wildlife is stunning and this trip enabled us to see it up close and in beautiful detail. The living conditions are rustic, but the food was amazing and the support crew were fabulous. One criticism would be the long drive to Coca, maybe see about an internal flight to avoid long hours on a bus.

Additionally, the support from the Much Better Adventures team throughout this trip was superb, some of the best customer service I have ever received.

Absolutely wonderful experience! The guides and people looking after us were all lovely, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and capable. Highlights were drinking water from a vine, waking up to the sounds of the rainforest and the camp fire, wonderful three course meals produced out of nowhere, fun treks, meditative canoe rides and all the wildlife we saw, a sloth, monkeys, turtles, caeman, tapier, capybara, tarantula, Salvin's Curassow.

An AMAZING experience! Our local guides, Marcello and Hector provided excellent support and were so knowledgeable. The food was exceptional and although the accommodation is basic, it's clean and totally in keeping with the Trips overall experience. I feel very privileged to have seen a small part of a vast unspoilt wilderness whilst it still exists. On this trip you really do get the chance to disconnect from the modern world and re-connect with nature.

Great trip for all abilities

This was an experience I had not had before, going into an area that is lived the way it has always been lived. The opportunity to walk in primary forest, see new and beautiful things was exciting and a privilege - I was very aware of my privilege. I cannot fault the setting and the comforts provided. Everything is accessed by river, electricity is limited, which adds to the experience, the forest is valued and everything is clean and litter free.

The food was great and made with what is provided locally. You wake to the river and the calls of birds. Animals live within the fabric of your life there. I cannot recommend this enough as an experience that is worth the effort, when you open your eyes you see so much. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the place and the opportunities to see animals and birds that I have never seen before.

Not everything can be controlled. Firstly, the weather -it rains and it will sometimes rain at an inconvenient time. I had been looking forward to the journey to the parrot clay lick as a highlight, but unfortunately it was a no show because of the weather, but that is not to say that the boat trip and walk were not worthwhile.

Secondly, you cannot control who is in your group. If you have someone who is loud, it will impact on your chances of seeing wildlife. A good guide will help to maximise the experiences of the entire group.

I cannot understand why everyone does not go to Ecuador and see what it has to offer, it is a truly beautiful and diverse place with so much to offer!

Amazing trip. The wildlife was insane, the guidance excellent. The transfer days are long so I would mentally prepare for that but honestly it was worth every minute! I would also recommend not “expecting” to see a particular kind of animal/insect - the guides are fantastic at spotting and identifying wildlife but they aren’t magicians! We still saw everything from poison dart frogs to squirrel monkeys to tarantula. Incredible experience and one I won’t be forgetting!

It was a great experience. The trip is a must if you like to experience the Ecuadorian rain forest

Trekking, kayaking and camping in the Amazon Jungle has got to be one of THE BEST experiences in my life!

We saw: capybara, river dolphins, parrots, toucan, catfish, snakes, tarantula, toads, poison dart frogs, golden monkeys, humming birds and butterfly’s

Every part of this trip was so unexpectedly incredible, it exceeded all expectations - it’s so hard to put into words the many reasons why. The entire group made the experience wonderful and the guides were fantastic. The incredible food, beautiful accommodation - actual beds not camp beds etc (obviously excluding drop toilets hahah), the beautiful people, breathtaking views, amazing wildlife (even though you take your chances on what you will see, that doesn’t spoil it if you see little - I had no idea it was weather dependent - hot and dry you are more likely to see the anaconda but wet you are more likely to see the pigs and parakeet etc), you felt 100% safe all the time - what could have been a scary adventure (even as an experienced traveller / solo) really wasn’t because you were in such safe hands.

This place left every one of us feeling like we had experienced something magical. To be disconnected from the modern world and so very connected to the natural one. The sounds of the Amazon at night (so loud you think there is no way you will sleep) made us all sleep a deep and restful sleep every night (well almost).

Loads of bits on the kit list we didn’t need, like water purification tablets as they have unlimited filter water. Waterproofs - you are going to get soaked so just get on board with it and don’t worry as it’s so warm - none of us wore them. Hiking boots - we all used the wellies provided which were more practical (check for leaks tho BEFORE you head off!).

If like me you like to pack light my advice is try to have one outfit for the transfers in total. One outfit for evenings (one in total I mean) and two for the treks in total. However, some people took a big suitcase and rucksack which was no problem. Plenty of clean pants & socks (showers are cold water and lovely as you are always warm!). Only something cool to sleep in as there are full mosquito nets over the beds.

So much more I would love to write! Oh actually just a little fyi, transfers in/out of the Amazon at more like 11-12 hours in total. Not a problem at all but good to know that in advance. The roads are bad so it’s a bumpy ride but views are good - especially once you are on the boat.

The hot springs at the end are incredible - I would suggest staying an extra night here as the hikes there are beautiful, the hotel stunning and the hot springs rejuvenating!

Lastly the two guides - Jorge who was the translator and just took care of everything and Marco the local indigenous guide worked so tirelessly to ensure the trip was one of the best I have ever been on. The fact it’s an ethical trip made this the perfect trip for me. Thanks to Much Better Adventures for promoting it!!!

We had a great trip into the jungle.

The host and guides were brilliant - friendly, and knowledgable and the camp that we stayed in was clean, comfortable with great food!

Staying in the jungle was a great experience and absolutely recommend it to everyone!

Fantastic trip all round! Everything exceeded expectations. The local guides were professional, knowledgeable and engaging. Accommodation and meals provided throughout were excellent. If you are considering this trip, go for it! Just make sure you have a decent supply of clothes for hiking / trekking in changeable weather conditions, and plenty of bug spray!

The trip was simply incredible ! The guides fantastic, good accommodation, an excellent itinerary with lots of interesting and varied activities. I'd strongly recommend this trip to anyone with an adventurous spirit who is on a tight timetable ! For suggested improvements, the marketing perhaps suggests there will be greater hope of seeing wildlife than is possible - the guide made it clear it is a matter of luck - and that might be better explained. I'd suggest emphasising more the trekking and kayaking etc. The kit list also needs to be refined - for example, it would be helpful to know you are likely to need 2 sets of clothes a day and 3-4 trousers and shorts, as they soon get muddy and wet with little chance to dry in the humidity. Dark / khaki colours also recommended.