4 Days Amazon Camping

Mandari Panga offers an Amazon Ecuador experience in the most wonderful accomodation

SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR MANDARI PANGA

Day 1: Quito - Coca - Mandari Panga
Upon arrival at Coca Airport, or if you take a bus to Coca, you’ll be met by a representative of Mandari Panga and we’ll begin our journey to the Mandari Panga camp inside of the Yasuni National Park, designated a World Biosphere Reserve for its remarkable biodiversity. We travel for about 2 hours in ground transport, then we board a motorized canoe for about 1.5 hours to the campsite. At the beginning of our trip into the park, we travel along the Tiputini River with the Yasuni National Park on our right; when we pass the community we’ll enter completely into the National Park. Along our way, we’ll have a box lunch, and when we arrive we’ll settle into our tents (on elevated, covered platforms) and have a welcome beverage and an introductory briefing. Later we’ll travel in a canoe along the river to enjoy the sunset.

Day 2: Exploration in the Amazon
After breakfast, we’ll depart the Camp by canoe along the Tiputìni River and start a trek along the Maquisapa trail through virgin jungle to get to know and see wildlife at its best, possibly accompanied by the roar and the screams of the howler monkey. We’ll hike for 4-5 hours, returning to the river at the end of our hike and returning to the lodge in our canoe. After lunch and a rest, we will go fishing for piranhas and then return to the Camp to watch the sunset. Dinner, then a night walk to enjoy the creatures of the night; with luck, we’ll see night monkeys, spiders, frogs, snakes and other nocturnal animals.

Day 3: Exploration in the Amazon (Community visit and an observation point)
We’ll depart in the morning to visit the community of Mandari Panga, and have a chance to share with the children of the school and the commune of Mandari Panga. If you’d like, bring photos of your country to show to the children and be part of an unforgettable cultural experience. Return to the camp for lunch.In the afternoon we’ll hike along the Puka Puma Trail, along a small stream and a lagoon with abundant bird life. During the afternoon, we will climb to the top of a hill, only 20 minutes away from the camp, to look for toucans, macaws, parrots and probably some groups of monkeys.

Day 4: Departure
Departure from Mandari Panga at 7 a.m. back to Coca ́s airport for the flight to Quito.

Our tour begins in Coca. To get to Coca from Quito, there are daily flights from Quito which currently cost about $180 round trip and take about 40 minutes each way. There are also frequent buses departing from the Quitumbe terminal in the south of Quito which cost about $12.50 each way, and there is an office in the Mariscal district where bus tickets can be purchased up to 3 days in advance. Most clients traveling to Coca by bus take a night bus, these depart Quito around 23:00 daily and arrive in Coca around 6 AM.
There are also direct buses to Coca departing from Tena.
Once in Coca, we’ll be met and begin our journey in private transportation traveling south along a major paved road for about 40 minutes. We then turn onto a dirt road used primarily by oil companies, and we’ll travel along this road for about 45 minutes to the entrance of the Yasuni National Park and the Tiputini river. There, we board a motorized canoe and begin our journey to the camp. At the beginning of our journey, the National Park will be on the right bank of the river, while we’ll see a few homes and small farms on the left bank. After about 30 minutes, we’ll pass the Mandari Panga community and enter into the into the untouched rainforest of the Yasuni National Park, and after another 20 to 30 minutes we’ll arrive at the Mandari Panga camp. The total travel time is about 2.5 hours.
Beer is offered for sale at the camp. Apart from alcohol and tips, there will be no additional expenses during your tour unless you choose to purchase an item made by the artisans of the community. Tipping is at the discretion of our guests, but is much appreciated by your guide and the staff at the camp.
The camp has a solar panel which is sufficient to charge batteries, but otherwise there is no electricity at the camp.
Mosquitos are present in the area, but during most of the year they are not a problem. We do recommend bringing and using an effective insect repellent during your stay.
While there are always risks in the Amazon, care is taken to assure the safety of our clients. In case of any emergency, there is a medical clinic one hour away by canoe with ambulance service to larger hospitals if necessary.

PACKING LIST
ORIGINAL PASSPORT (in waterproof plastic bag)
Fast drying, lightweight clothing, a long sleeve shirt and/or light long sleeve jacket is recommended as well.
Thick, cotton socks
Camera and Binoculars
Sandals or walking shoes
Swimming suit
Hat or cap
Sunglasses
One small (waterproof) daypack
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries
Notebook, Swiss Army knife, books to read

THE CAMP
Our Accommodations
Distinct from any other lodge in the Amazon, at Mandari Panga we offer accommodations in comfortable tents instead of enclosed cabins. We feel this offers our clients a better opportunity to truly experience the special tranquility of our location deep in untouched jungle, enjoying the jungle sounds and aromas and the fresh air without the isolation of a cabin. Our tents are complete with mattresses and bedding, and are set up on large sheltered platforms complete with a chair and a hammock for relaxing during your stay. A common house is used for meals and social gathering, and the site has shared bathroom facilities complete with shower. Our accommodations are basic but comfortable, but the experience of your stay will be something unique and special that you'll never forget.

TOUR INCLUDES:
The Amazon Camping Tour includes transportation from Coca to and from the lodge, all meals, accommodations in tents with mattresses and bedding, use of rubber boots for the hikes, purified water, bilingual Amazon guide, and activities during your tour.

TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Transportation to and from Coca are not included in this Amazon Camping Tour, neither are any additional meals before or after your tour in Coca, additional snacks, rain ponchos, alcoholic beverages, travel insurance.