Aboard the Anakonda
Sail aboard the only luxurious vessel operating in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
This journey combines a voyage through the Amazon Rainforest aboard the Anakonda, with a journey through Ecuador’s volcanic highlands, offering an immersive wildlife experience with a high level of comfort throughout.
Explore the waterways of the Amazon aboard a riverboat-style vessel, venturing into remote corners of Yasuní National Park in search of wildlife. Travel by dugout canoe, visit canopy towers, walk rainforest trails and watch parrots and parakeets gathering at mineral-rich clay licks.
Contrast the rainforest with stays in Quito and along the Avenue of the Volcanoes, where colonial heritage and snow-capped Andean peaks offer a very different perspective on Ecuador.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
Avenue of Volcanoes
Marvel at the snow-capped Andes in the Avenue of the Volcanoes.
Amazon Kayaking
Silently kayak down a tributary of the Napo River and spot incredible wildlife en route.
Indigenous Peoples
Venture deep into the Amazon Rainforest and spend time with its indigenous people.
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Days 1
Arrive Quito
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Day 2
Quito
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Days 3
Quito to the Ecuadorian Amazon
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Days 4-9
Ecuadorian Amazon
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Day 10
Amazon to the Avenue of the Volcanoes
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Day 11
Avenue of the Volcanoes
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Day 12
Depart Quito
Days 1
Arrive Quito
Arrive in Ecuador’s capital and settle into your hotel. Set high in the Andes, Quito combines colonial architecture, vibrant plazas and sweeping mountain views. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a gentle introduction to the city and its rich cultural heritage.
Day 2
Quito
Spend the day exploring Quito’s atmospheric historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander along cobbled streets lined with churches and grand colonial buildings, browse colourful artisan markets, and, for panoramic views across the city, take the cable car towards the slopes of Pichincha Volcano.
Days 3
Quito to the Ecuadorian Amazon
Fly from Quito to Coca, the gateway to Ecuador’s Amazon Basin. From here, board your river vessel and begin your journey into one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, where dense rainforest and winding waterways stretch far beyond the horizon.
Days 4-9
Ecuadorian Amazon
Cruise through remote waterways deep within the Amazon, exploring the Panacocha Biological Corridor and the rich ecosystems of Yasuní National Park. Guided excursions may reveal monkeys, macaws, pink river dolphins and countless other species. Along the way, visit local communities, learn about Indigenous traditions, enjoy a cooking experience with a Kichwa family, and gain a unique perspective from forest trails and canopy towers.
Day 10
Amazon to the Avenue of the Volcanoes
Disembark and return to Coca for your flight back to Quito. Continue into Ecuador’s highlands, where a striking landscape of fertile valleys, traditional villages and snow-capped volcanoes marks the beginning of the celebrated Avenue of the Volcanoes.
Day 11
Avenue of the Volcanoes
Spend the day exploring one of South America’s most dramatic mountain regions. Surrounded by towering volcanic peaks, discover the natural beauty and rural charm of Ecuador’s Andean heartland while enjoying spectacular views across the high-altitude landscape.
Day 12
Depart Quito
Travel back to Quito for your onward travel.
Amazon Communities and Wildlife
From swimming in winding Amazon waterways and enjoying a riverside barbecue to meeting Kichwa communities and kayaking along remote tributaries, this journey offers a memorable insight into life in the rainforest. The rivers and forests of the Ecuadorian Amazon support an extraordinary array of wildlife, including pink river dolphins, piranhas, squirrel monkeys, anacondas, hoatzins and caiman.
Avenue of The Volcanoes
Travel down a section of the Pan-American highway that is flanked by snow-capped active peaks and aptly named the Avenue of the Volcanoes. From the base of a charming traditional hacienda, travel to Cotopaxi National Park to follow one of many trails through the park on foot or on horseback, looking out for white-tailed deer, llamas and the giant Andean Condor.
Colonial Quito
Begin the adventure in the historic UNESCO World Heritage city of Quito, renowned for its colonial buildings, cobbled streets and for being the highest capital in the world. Wander the cobbled streets of the city, visiting its artisan markets and perhaps venturing up Pichincha Volcano by cable car to take in stunning views of Quito from 4,100-metres.
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How does this holiday make a positive impact?
- Relevant SDGs
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Anakonda Cruises creates employment opportunities for local people and works closely with indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Through community partnerships, cultural exchanges and locally guided excursions, tourism revenue remains within the region, supporting sustainable livelihoods while helping preserve traditional knowledge and ways of life.
Anakonda Cruises support initiatives that help protect the Amazon’s unique biodiversity, including conservation projects focused on pink river dolphins and giant river turtles. By partnering with local and indigenous communities and promoting low-impact tourism in the Yasuní region, it helps safeguard rainforest habitats and provides a sustainable economic alternative to activities that threaten the ecosystem.
Anakonda Cruises promotes tourism that values conservation over resource extraction. Through partnerships with indigenous communities, visitors contribute to local economies through cultural experiences and guided excursions, creating sustainable alternatives to activities that can degrade the rainforest. This approach helps ensure that the Amazon’s natural and cultural resources are protected while continuing to provide long-term benefits for local people.
Learn more about the UN's 17 sustainability goals
Suggested Extension
Galapagos Islands
Consider flying to the Galapagos Islands, Darwin’s playground and home to a delicate collection of fearless wildlife and idyllic landscapes. Stay in one of the many beautiful lodges, or take to the sea for a cruise with expert guides in tow.
5 days. Price on request
A note on price
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
Why Choose Steppes?
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