10 reasons why river cruising in the Ecuadorian Amazon is the perfect getaway

PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

1. ECUADOR!

The country is a reason of its own! What makes Ecuador so very unique is that it can boast of having “four worlds in one” (the world-famous Galapagos Islands, gorgeous coastal beaches, the picturesque Andes mountains, and of course, the Amazon rainforest), and more and more tourists are coming to see why Ecuador is making its way to the top of the list of recommended getaways.  Not only is the local currency (US Dollar) a convenient advantage, but Ecuador is also very well-situated with many good flight connections, making it a fast and easy destination to arrive at.  For instance, did you know that Ecuador is only a 4-hour flight from Miami? Its smaller size and population density, in comparison with the region’s larger countries, make it far less crowded, much cleaner, more pristine, and positively full of charm.

An added benefit of Ecuador’s small size is that visitors need only take a 35-minute flight to reach the Amazon area! Furthermore, unlike other larger countries in the Amazon region, guests in Ecuador with plans to visit the Amazon will not be disappointed if any airline or climate situation should prevent them from flying, as shorter distances and travel times mean that travel by road is always a possibility. It also means that guests can do more during shorter itineraries, and as many have happily discovered, it is indeed possible to travel from the Galapagos Islands to the Amazon rainforest in the same day!

2. THE STORY BEGINS IN ECUADOR

Did you know that the Amazon River was discovered from within Ecuador?  In year 1542, Captain Francisco de Orellana, Spanish explorer, set off on a journey down Ecuador’s Napo River, one of the main tributaries of the Amazon River, and was the first foreigner to discover the enchanting Amazon rainforest, the world’s largest tropical rainforest, now famous for its sheer abundance of wildlife species. While his search for the mythical city of “El Dorado” was not a success, he eventually navigated along the entire Amazon River, and inspired many with tales of the mystery and beauty of this region.

Today, visitors in Ecuador can discover the Amazon for themselves in the best way imaginable: by taking a river cruise and traveling through ancient waters, arriving at many of the spectacular hidden places that this region has to offer. This is by far superior to staying in a lodge and provides a more dynamic experience of the landscape, its wildlife, and its people.

3. FRESH AIR AND NATURE ARE GOOD FOR YOU!

Being in nature is proven to reduce feelings of isolation, promote calm, and lift your mood. Now more than ever before, people have been spending too much time indoors, staring at four walls, and feeling disconnected. And now more than ever, the Amazon rainforest calls us to slow down, enjoy life, to reconnect with nature, and to breathe fresh air.

Fresh air is so good for you! The Ecuadorian Amazon region has some of the cleanest, purest air on the planet. Many of the trees here are thousands of years old, and the feeling of being free surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature, and breathing in the Amazon, is a feeling like no other.

4. UNPARALLELED BIODIVERSITY

The Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest is one of the planet’s true biodiversity hotspots in terms of the sheer number of species that can be found here, and what is really special about Ecuador is that its government is one of the few governments to defend nature with clear environmental protection policies in its constitution. There are several National Parks and reserves considered to be part of the world’s natural heritage here, many of which we visit during our river cruises.

Birdwatchers from all around the world consider the Ecuadorian Amazon to be a birdwatching paradise. Did you know that of the 1500 species in the entire Amazon basin, 700 can be found in Ecuador alone and 596 within Ecuador’s Yasuní National Park? This incredible biosphere region is one of the few “Pleistocene refuges”, a favorable area in which forest species (also known as relicts) have survived various periods of climate change during the Pleistocene Epoch. Aside from an amazing number of bird species, there are 150 amphibian species, 121 reptile species, over 200 mammal species, and 382 fish species, not to mention the vast vegetation and the fact that each quarter kilometer (62 acres) has over 1,100 tree species. Our expert naturalist guides are happy to point out the local flora and fauna during the cruise experience, kayak excursions, and nature walks.

5. CONNECTING WITH NATIVE COMMUNITIES

With many unique indigenous communities, Ecuador is proud of its cultural heritage. The Amazon region alone is home to more than nine indigenous cultures and even two tribes who choose to live in complete isolation.

Ecuador protects its indigenous communities, their unique languages and cultures, and because the communities are smaller here, there is less deforestation and pollution. These communities follow their ancestral traditions and only consume what is necessary to keep their small populations in balance, meaning that visitors feel they can make an authentic connection in their visits, during which they are invited to try traditional foods and learn about their unique lifestyles.

6. LUXURY AND RELAXATION

What better way to relax than on board our luxury boutique river cruise vessels? The natural Amazon rainforest surrounds and envelops us here, and the facilities onboard could not be more comfortable!

The sense of freedom and relaxation go together, while onboard amenities, delicious gourmet food consisting of local tropical fare and international staples, a beautiful al fresco dining area, and comfortable suites make the entire experience more memorable. Guides and crew will go out of their way to provide a personalized cruise experience and ensure that every detail is taken care of.

Each suite has its own private balcony, floor-to-ceiling windows, and individual air conditioning. Our deluxe suites each have an interior whirlpool tub facing the river. Guests are invited to indulge themselves, add some bath salts to the water, and detox with a lovely soak at sunset while watching the beautiful moving landscape. Pure relaxation!

Guests in a celebratory mood may enjoy a beer or cocktail on the upper observation deck, where there is a large whirlpool tub.  In fact, a cruise down this Ecuadorian river may be the perfect opportunity to celebrate those birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones that were left for “some other time” during lockdown.

There is nothing like sleeping in the Amazon rainforest, guests often comment that they seem to sleep better here, and we believe this is due to the fresh, oxygen-rich air.

7. FUN AND ADVENTURE

No matter how comfortable it may be onboard, no cruise is complete without fun and adventure! There is so much to see and do, and, depending on the duration of the cruise, our itineraries include a variety of activities such as hiking and nature walks, visits to national parks and reserves, kayaking, swimming, visits to native communities, observation towers, and visits to special areas where unique species (such as the Pink River dolphin) can be observed in their natural surroundings.

8. GIVING BACK

Sustainable tourism is important, especially in an ecosystem as precious as the Amazon Rainforest, providing a home to so many species and cultures, and acting as the “lungs” for our planet.

We at Anakonda Amazon Cruises, together with our CEO Captain García, have been working hard to develop our highly-regarded sustainable tourism model, known as the Amazon Sustainability Circle. We believe that working closely with local communities is a vitally important part of forest conservation. We support native communities by providing them with an alternative source of income and work alongside them to protect endangered species through our Charapas Turtles and Pink River Dolphin conservation programs.

Guests enjoy the feeling of giving back to nature when they are invited to release a baby Charapas turtle back into the wild, and they enjoy knowing that just by being our guests, they are helping to support local communities and to protect endangered species, since 25% of our income goes toward conservation projects and activities with native communities, and more than 50% of our crew are locals.

9. SECURITY

The Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest is a safe and enjoyable place to visit, and our crew and expert naturalist guides make it their priority to ensure the wellbeing of our guests at all times.

The highest levels of biosecurity protocol have been implemented to protect our guests and local communities during the current health crisis, without compromising the excellence of our service or the variety of activities that our guests enjoy.

Our entire crew is trained in first aid and our cruise vessels are in full compliance with all safety and maintenance conditions.

10. AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME

Everyone has their own personal “bucket list”, and we believe a cruise through the Ecuadorian Amazon should be on it!

An experience of a lifetime is not something that can be described in words. It makes your heart race, it uplifts you, and it changes a part of you forever – and for the better.

Nothing can compare to the magic and the feeling of the Amazon rainforest in this part of the world, the humming of life all around you, the experiences to be had and friendships to be made along the way.

Ecuador is one of those destinations that can fit an enormous variety of experiences into one trip, with so many opportunities to reconnect with nature, and many of our guests who visit Ecuador to visit the Galapagos Islands find it is the perfect time (not to mention very convenient) to also enjoy an Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest cruise.

We invite you to Feel the Amazon, Feel Free and enjoy an Anakonda Amazon Cruise experience! Check out our exclusive offers here.

Source:

https://anakondaamazoncruises.com/10-reasons-why-cruising-in-the-ecuadorian-amazon/

You may also like…