Amazon Photo Safari
6 day tour with Javier Aznar
Dates: September 19 – 24, 2022
Price 2022: $ 2490 per person
3 spaces available
DESCRIPTION
The Yasuní National Park is one of the most biodiversity places on the planet. In this Safari, we will photograph, ethically and in situ, a large number of animal species, from the largest as birds and mammals to the smallest such as reptiles, amphibians, or invertebrates. Tour focuses on photographing animals as we find them, showing their behaviors. With the assistance and advice from your guide and instructor, you will obtain the best results in every situation.
Day 1: Arrival in Coca
All this area is primary and secondary forest. After we arrive at the camp, we will have lunch. Then, we will have a short canoe ride for sighting and animal photography; the scenery itself may be our biggest photo asset.
Just before sunset is a great time to see animal activity. At candlelight, we will enjoy our dinner. A night walk will follow (optional), 1-3 hours taking pictures of night animals on one of the various trails near the camp.
We'll then begin a journey of about an hour 45 minutes in land transport and another hour and a half in a motorized canoe along the Tiputini river. When wel arrive at the camp, you will have time to get to know the facilities and settle into your tent. Enjoy a welcome drink, then a delicious lunch will be served in the main house.
In the afternoon, we’ll cross to the other side of the Yitsu Yacu River for a walk of approximately 2 hours. We’ll finish the afternoon enjoying the sunset on board our motorized canoe, and when we return to camp a delicious dinner served by candlelight will be ready for you.


Day 2 to 5:
Parrot clay-lick. Birds are usually more active early in the morning; we will leave the camp around 5 am to visit this site. A short canoe ride on the Rumiyacu river and a walk will lead us to the clay lick. There are various types of parrots, like the Orange-cheeked Parrot. We will return slowly, photographing the fauna we can find like toucans, trogons, or amazing insects. We will pack some fruits and drinks to eat along the way.
El Moretal. This site is just crossing a small river from the camp. Morete is a type of palm tree, and local refers to Moretal to a lowland flooded forest composed by this palm. This hike is near or in swamp areas. This ecosystem is a perfect area to photograph amphibians at night as well as some rare species of birds during the day, like the Long-tailed potoo.
We’ll return to camp for lunch and you'll have time to relax in your hammock or tent, walk around the campsite and even cool down with a swim in a tranquil tributary of the Tiputini river.
In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a pleasant traditional canoe trip in the Pishña lagoon (giant otter oxbow lagoon) for about 2 hours. This is a very interesting ecosystem, a blackwater lake where unique species live. We’ll enjoy the sunset and then return to the campsite for dinner.
Blackwater lagoon. There are a few of these in this area. We can find hoatzins, herons, pigeons, tanagers, swallows, and others. And with some luck, the giant otter. This is a mixed activity, hiking and canoeing.
Casa de la Abuela. We will visit the "grandmother"; this is an excellent opportunity to photograph the daily life of a kichwa family, their customs, and activities. Many birds can be observed and photographed from here as oropendolas, tanagers, trogons, and a tin of different invertebrates as insects in the area. Possibility of going out for a walk from the grandma's house to the camp doing some photography, on the way we will be able to see more wildlife.
When we return, you’ll be served a refreshing drink and a delicious lunch. Time for a short rest or a swim, then around 15:30 we’ll depart in our motorized canoe for the Casa de la Abuela (Grandmother’s House), a traditional home where the founding grandmother of the community still lives. We’ll learn about how traditional chocolate is made, which we’ll serve with our dinner this evening. Time to enjoy amazing views of the sunset from this hilltop home, then we’ll return to camp for a delicious dinner.
After dinner, we’ll take a night walk along a short trail known as the Tucán trail near the camp; this walk is about an hour.
Trails by the camp. One trail (Peccary trail) starts just back of the restaurant, and another two trails are crossing the Tiputini River and the Yutzuyacu River from the camp. Most are loop trails with three options of length. Most of the time it is not necessary to walk long distances to get good photographs. Lots of birds and insects as grasshoppers, katydids, spiders, and some frogs are close.


Day 6: Return to Coca
Details of the Tour:
Tour runs with a minimum of 2 persons and a maximum of 6 (if there are more than three persons, another photography guide will join the group).
There is no internet access in the lodge, and electricity use is available from 6 pm to 10 pm. We recommend taking enough batteries as well as a small solar panel.
Included in the amazon tour:
- Transportation Coca – Mandari Panga – Coca
- Bilingual and native guide
- Accommodation in tents complete with mattress and bedding
- Use of rubber boots for hikes, life jacket for canoe travel
- Three meals a day (starting with lunch on the first day through breakfast on the final day)
- Purified water
Not included in the amazon tour:
- Transportation Quito – Coca – Quito
- Additional beverages and snacks; extra meals in Coca before and after the tour
- Rain ponchos (can be purchased in Coca before the tour if needed; highly recommended for adequate protection from heavy Amazon rains)
- Tips
- Personal Expenses
- Travel insurance
What to bring (recommendations):
- ORIGINAL PASSPORT (in waterproof plastic bag)
- Fast drying, lightweight clothing including long sleeve shirts
- A light jacket for colder nights
- Waterproof jacket or rain poncho
- Sandals or walking shoes
- Thick, absorbent hiking type socks
- Hat or cap
- Sunglasses, sunblock and repellent (no spray)
- Water bottle
- One small (waterproof recommended) daypack
- Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries
- Plastic bags to protect photographic equipment or electronic equipment
- One small (waterproof recommended) daypack
- Film gel to keep the equipment dry
Recommended photography equipment:
- Digital SLR camera (DSLR or MIRRORLESS)
- Angular objective, macro (50mm and/or 90mm) and telephoto (100mm-400mm or a 600mm lens), extension tubes and teleconverters
- 1-2 flashes with diffusers and triggers or cable
- Trusting cable
- Tripod
- Sufficient rechargeable batteries
- Sufficient memory cards
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