3-Day Amazon Kayaking from Quito: Napo River & Rainforest

Float down the Amazon on a tube, then paddle a lagoon at dawn.

A 3-day Amazon tour from Quito based at an eco-lodge on the Napo River near Misahuallí, where you hike rainforest trails, kayak a lagoon, tube downriver, and visit an indigenous family's ceramic workshop. The lodge provides all meals, a native guide, boats and life jackets. Transfers run from Quito to the lodge and onward to Tena City on Day 3. You choose between a shared group or private tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Amazon | Jungle Trek | River Tubing

• Transfer from Quito to Amazon
• Arrive at eco-lodge and welcome lunch
• Guided jungle hike on Giant Ceibo Trail
• River tubing adventure at river beach
• Dinner at lodge
• Night walk to observe nocturnal animals

Day 2: Napo River Excursion | Animal Refuge | Indigenous Visit

• Forest walk and river crossing to Napo River
• Canoe trip on Napo River
• Visit Amazoonico animal rescue center
• Explore Anaconda Island wildlife
• Box lunch and visit indigenous family
• Ceramics and craft workshop
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 3: Chocolate Tour | Transfer to Tena City

• Breakfast at lodge
• Walk to cacao farm
• Chocolate tour and cacao harvesting
• Transfer to Tena City

The experience

The journey starts in Quito and heads east toward the Amazon, with stops at Antisana Volcano and Papallacta Lake if the weather clears. Your driver will pause wherever you ask. You arrive at the eco-lodge after a 10-minute walk from the Pusuno River, where the native guides meet you for a welcome lunch and your first jungle walk along the Giant Ceibo Trail. The trails vary from half an hour to 4 hours, winding through dense rainforest with mud underfoot and wildlife to spot. After changing into swimming gear, you float downriver on a tube, using hand-rowing to steer through the canopy. Dinner comes at 7:30 PM, followed by a night walk with flashlights to encounter owls, fishing bats, tarantulas and frogs.

Day 2 centers on the Napo River itself. You cross the lodge's forest by rubber boat, then travel by canoe along the river: described in the itinerary as the main system of Pacha Mama, or Mother Earth. The first stop is Amazoonico, a rescue center for endangered Amazon animals in environments that mimic their natural habitats. Continuing by canoe, you reach Anaconda Island to watch Hoatzin birds, woolly monkeys and squirrel monkeys. After a box lunch, an indigenous Kichwa family welcomes you into their home on the island, where the matriarch demonstrates cooking and daily life while the men show hunting with a blow-dart. You can test your aim at a monkey target. A local then teaches you how the community molds clay from the riverbed into bowls and crockery, using natural forest materials and traditional sealing techniques. You can buy pieces as souvenirs. Back at the lodge, the pool and restaurant offer fresh juices and local cocktails (drinks and spa treatments cost extra). Dinner and overnight follow.

Day 3 begins with a farewell breakfast before a walk to a nearby cacao farm for the Chocolate Tour. You'll learn to identify cacao pods, watch harvesting and bean extraction, and follow how local experts transform them into chocolate. The tour ends in Tena City, where you can arrange a transfer back to Quito or continue south through Ecuador without backtracking to the capital.

What’s included

• All meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 3 breakfast.
• transfers from Quito to the eco-lodge and from the lodge to Tena City.
• entry fees to Amazoonico and all activities.
• a native guide fluent in Spanish or English.
• rubber boots and life jackets.
• canoes, kayaks and tubes.
• and overnight lodging at the 4-star eco-lodge with a swimming pool, private river beach and jungle bar.

Options for this experience

2 options

Shared TourGuide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeTake part in a small group with departures guaranteed every day at 100%, and enjoy a budget-friendly shared experience. Pickup is included.

Private TourGuide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeA private experience with departures every day, a flexible itinerary and personalized service made only for you. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Live Ecuador Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the shared tour if you want to meet other travelers and split costs. Pick the private tour if your group prefers to set its own pace through the jungle hikes, river activities and indigenous visits without coordinating with others. Both follow the same 3-day itinerary and include all meals and transport.

Traveler reviews

4.63★★★★★★★★★★

64 verified traveler reviews

5 ★50

4 ★7

3 ★5

2 ★1

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What's included in the 3-day Amazon tour from Quito?

All meals from Day 1 lunch through Day 3 breakfast; transfers from Quito to the eco-lodge and from the lodge to Tena City; entry to Amazoonico and all activities; rubber boots and life jackets; and a native guide who speaks Spanish or English, depending on your option.

Can I kayak on this tour, or is it mostly guided activities?

Kayaks are available at the lodge's private river beach, and you can paddle the lagoon during your stay. The tour also includes river tubing, canoe trips on the Napo River, jungle hikes and a night walk. You plan each day's mix with your guide at the lodge.

What happens on the Napo River excursion?

You travel by canoe along the main river, stopping at Amazoonico to see rescued Amazon animals, then Anaconda Island to spot Hoatzin birds and monkeys. An indigenous family invites you into their home to learn cooking, hunting techniques and traditional ceramic craftsmanship before you return to the lodge by canoe.

Do I need to book a private tour or can I join a shared group?

Both options are available. Shared tours run on a set schedule with other travelers. Private tours are booked for your group alone. The itinerary and inclusions are the same. The difference is who else is on the boat and trail with you.

Where does the tour end, and how do I get back to Quito?

The tour finishes in Tena City on Day 3 after the chocolate farm visit. From there, you can continue south through Ecuador or arrange a shared or private transfer back to Quito through the lodge. Ask at reception or the eco-lodge desk.

What should I pack for 3 days in the Amazon rainforest?

Bring long-sleeved shirts and light cotton pants, shorts and a bathing suit, comfortable shoes and sandals, extra socks, a camera with high-speed film (200–400 ASA), sun protection, insect repellent, a flashlight, binoculars, plastic bags for rain, and a small daily bag. A passport copy and cash for tips, bar drinks and souvenirs are also useful.