5 Days Yasuní Private Birding Expedition
A private birding guide, the parrot clay lick and the macaw and parakeet clay lick, primary-forest specialists, the 40 m canopy tower and a river island: five days for birders in Yasuní.
4.9· 159 reviews- Difficulty
- Moderate – every walk is optional
- Group size
- 2–6 people · solo travellers welcome
- Price per adult
- From $1,225 (2 sharing)Solo from $1,645
- All-inclusive: lodge, meals, guide, park fees and transfers from Coca.
Travelling alone? You're welcome – we'll match you with another small group, or book a private guide to have the trip to yourself.
About this Yasuní tour
Sinchi Wayra Lodge is a family lodge on the Napo River, inside Yasuní National Park. The Gualinga family runs it; they belong to the Sani, a Kichwa community of the Amazon, and most of our staff are Sani.
Yasuní has about 600 bird species, roughly a third of all Amazon birds. This tour is built for birders: your own birding guide, early starts, and every habitat around the lodge, from the wet understorey trails and the north-bank forest to the 40 m canopy tower, the macaw and parakeet clay lick, and a river island in the Napo. The private guide and the macaw and parakeet clay lick entrance are included in the price.
Highlights
- Parrot clay lick at dawn, and the macaw and parakeet clay lick: red-and-green, blue-and-yellow and scarlet macaws
- Primary-forest specialists: antbirds, antpittas, wood-quails and manakins
- The Yasuní canopy tower: trogons, jacamars and barbets at eye level
- A Napo river island for species the mainland forest does not have, such as Parker's Spinetail
- The Sani forest on the north bank, towards Cuyabeno
- A private birding guide for your group only
Who it is for
- You keep a list and want a guide who knows the calls.
- You are happy with pre-dawn starts and long days in the field.
- You want the guide's full attention for your group.
Not for you if you want air conditioning, hot showers or a resort. We have cold showers and power from 6:00 to 22:00, and a small battery fan is a good idea. If you mainly want mammals and culture, the 5-day Wildlife and Kichwa tour suits you better.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 - Down the Napo River and the lodge trails
Full dayCanoe to the lodge and birding on the lodge trails
Pickup in Coca · 2.5 h by canoe · afternoon birding, night walk
We meet you in Coca and take the canoe down the Napo River: keep your binoculars out for Cocoi and Striated Herons, kingfishers and Swallow-winged Puffbirds. After lunch at the lodge, your private birding guide takes you onto the wet palm-trunk trails behind it, good for Golden-headed and Wire-tailed Manakins, White-shouldered and Silvered Antbirds, and woodcreepers. At dusk we listen for potoos, and after dinner there is a night walk on the boardwalk for frogs and insects.
Day 2 - Parrot clay lick and the north bank
MorningParrot clay lick and birding on the north bank
Pre-dawn start · canoe to the clay lick · north bank in the afternoon
After coffee before dawn we take the canoe to the parrot clay lick, where Mealy Amazons and Yellow-crowned, Orange-winged and Blue-headed Parrots come down to eat the clay. After breakfast we walk the forest for mixed flocks of tanagers, flycatchers and ovenbirds, and your guide helps you sort out the calls. In the afternoon we cross to the Sani forest on the north bank, towards Cuyabeno, for Black-necked Red-Cotinga, Great Tinamou and, with luck, a Harpy Eagle.
Day 3 - Primary forest and the canopy tower
MorningPrimary forest birding and the Yasuní canopy tower
Full day · long walk in primary forest · 40 m (130 ft) tower
A full day in the primary forest of Yasuní National Park, working through the layers of the forest. On the ground we look for Marbled Wood-Quail and antpittas; in the mid-storey for foliage-gleaners and antbirds, with luck a Lunulated or Hairy-crested Antbird. Then the canopy tower, 40 m (130 ft) up: from the platform you look for trogons, Purplish Jacamar, and Gilded and Lemon-throated Barbets at eye level. At dusk the canoe takes us back to the lodge, and your guide's torch picks out the red eyes of caimans along the riverbank.
Day 4 - Macaw and parakeet clay lick, and a river island
MorningMacaw and parakeet clay lick, and a Napo river island
Canoe to the macaw and parakeet clay lick · river island in the afternoon
In the morning the canoe takes you to the macaw and parakeet clay lick: red-and-green, blue-and-yellow and scarlet macaws, Cobalt-winged Parakeets and Orange-cheeked Parrots, often with spider monkeys in the trees around. It is the best morning of the trip for photos. In the afternoon we visit a river island in the Napo for species that do not live in the mainland forest: Parker's Spinetail, river tyrannulets and, with luck, Olive-spotted Hummingbird or Oriole Blackbird.
Day 5 - Back to Coca
MorningCanoe back up the Napo River to Coca
Early start · in Coca about 10:00 · easy
A last breakfast at sunrise, then you pack and say goodbye to the family. The canoe takes you back up the Napo River to Coca, and we reach the pier around 10:00. If you have a morning flight to Quito, we take you to the airport in time. Thank you for staying with us: your visit helps the Sani protect this forest.
Your route
Where each day takes you
Tap a day to light up its places, or tap a place for details. Faded places belong to other tours.
Not to scale: the lodge area is enlarged so nearby places stay readable. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
What our guests say
What's included
- Canoe transport Coca – lodge – Coca
- 4 nights at Sinchi Wayra Lodge, private bathroom
- All meals, with coffee and tea
- Parrot clay lick visit
- Macaw and parakeet clay lick visit (entrance in the price)
- Private birding guide
- Starlink internet at the lodge
- All activities in the itinerary
- Yasuní National Park entrance fee
- Rubber boots
Not included
- Flight or bus from Quito to Coca (the flight takes 35 min)
- Hotel in Coca
- Bottled and alcoholic drinks, tips, laundry
What to bring
- Binoculars
- Headlamp or torch
- Insect repellent
- Sun block
- Hat and sunglasses
- Small battery fan
- Rain jacket
- Comfortable shoes, long sleeves and long socks for the trails
- Camera
- Refillable water bottle
- Waterproof day pack (or one with a rain cover)
- Cash in USD 10 and 20 bills
Other ways to see Yasuní
Per adult, all-inclusive, compared with this tour.
Good to know before you book
Do your showers have hot water?+
Unfortunately, our power supply does not currently allow us to prepare hot water and the clear shower water is at ambient temperature. With the warm temperatures in the rainforest, a refreshing shower is very welcome for most of our guests and therefore you won't freeze when showering.
Are the rooms equipped with air conditioning or a fan?+
No, our power supply does not allow this, unfortunately. There is no electricity after 10 PM, but the temperatures are not so stifling and absolutely okay for a restful sleep for most of our guests. Unless you are particularly sensitive, we recommend you take a battery-powered fan with you.
How do we return to Coca after tour end?+
We will depart at the lodge at sunrise with our motorized canoes and will arrive in Coca around 10:00 in the morning and bring you to the airport if needed. If your flight schedule requires you to be at the airport earlier, we can align our departure from the lodge accordingly.
How do we get from Coca to the lodge on tour start?+
We will pick you up around 10:00 in the morning at the airport or directly at the pier in Coca. We will get in touch with you a few days before your arrival to coordinate the pickup with your flight/bus schedule.
How can we get to Coca (Puerto Francisco de Orellana)?+
You can get to Coca (OCC) either by bus or by a 35 minute flight from Quito, where we will start our 2.5 hour transfer to the Sinchi Wayra lodge by motorized canoes.
LATAM and the Ecuadorian airline Aeroregional are both flying from Quito (UIO) to Coca (OCC) once per day in the morning.
If you prefer bus, we recommend Cooperativa de Transportes Baños (WhatsApp or cooperativabanos.com.ec). Transportation to Coca is not included in the tour.
What is the cancellation policy for bookings?+
Refunds for booking cancellations will be made as follows:
- 95% refund for cancellations 90 days before the start of the tour
- 50% refund for cancellations 60 days before the start of the tour
- 25% refund for cancellations 30 days before the start of the tour
- 0% refund for cancellations less than 30 days before the start of the tour
The cancellation policy is effective regardless of the reason for cancellation.
Do you provide WiFi at the lodge?+
Yes we do have Wi-Fi available at the lodge, powered by Starlink (100+ Mbit/s Download / 30+ Mbit/s Upload). It is available at the main building and at the most rooms.
Do the rooms have electricity?+
Yes they do and it is available from at least 6 AM to 22 PM. Each room has multiple standard US outlets.
What payment methods do you offer?+
During the booking process we will ask you for your credit card payment (Visa or Mastercard), processed through Stripe as payment provider.
If you prefer wire transfer, reach out to us to find a solution.
Which tour would you recommend if I can't decide?+
In this case, our standard 5-day/4-night tour is the best option for you, as it includes a variety of activities that give you a comprehensive experience of the Amazon. The tour features wildlife and bird watching from a boat, rainforest hikes, and an introduction to our local Kichwa culture.
Do I have to tip my guide and the staff?+
Tipping is a completely voluntary gesture toward your guide and the hospitality team. If you enjoyed your tour with us, you are welcome to tip your guide directly — preferably in cash or, alternatively, via credit card using a secure payment link. A tip jar is available in the dining area for tips for the hospitality team. All of our staff greatly appreciate it.
Have a question about this trip?
We're happy to tailor it to your group, dates and interests.