3-day Amazon Yasuni Park Limoncocha wildlife canopy tour in Coca

Climb the canopy tower and fish for piranha in reserves where sightings run high

A 3-day guided tour from Coca into Ecuador's Amazon combines Limoncocha Biological Reserve and Yasuni National Park. You stay two nights in jungle rooms, paddle the lagoon for birds and caimans, walk trails past medicinal plants and giant Ceibo trees, climb a 40-meter observation tower overlooking the canopy, and fish for piranha at the clay licks where macaws and parrots gather. A guide in English or Spanish leads all activities. Pickup from Coca is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and jungle exploration

• Depart Coca by motorized canoe
• Travel to Limoncocha Biological Reserve
• Register entry and board private canoe
• Observe birds and monkeys on lagoon
• Check into rooms with jungle view
• Walk through jungle observing plants and insects
• Lunch at reserve
• Night walk to see amphibians and insects
• Dinner and rest

Day 2: Birdwatching and wildlife activities

• Early rowing in lagoon to observe wildlife
• Breakfast at reserve
• Walk to giant Ceibo tree and wildlife spotting
• Lunch and rest
• Afternoon caiman route and lagoon sailing
• Piranha fishing
• Observe black caiman
• Watch fireflies at night

Day 3: Yasuni Park and return to Coca

• Breakfast and depart Limoncocha Reserve
• Travel by canoe to Yasuni National Park
• Climb observation tower for jungle views
• Visit clay licks to see parrots and macaws
• Lunch in Pilche indigenous community
• Return to Coca by public canoe

The experience

The tour starts at 7:30 on day one from Coca, traveling by motorized canoe down the Napo River for 90 minutes to Limoncocha Biological Reserve. After registering at the guardianship, you board a private canoe through the lagoon: a 15-minute paddle where monkeys and birds move through the trees. Your room has a private bathroom, mosquito net and a balcony facing the jungle. Electricity runs from solar panels between 7 and 9 p.m. A guide walks you through the forest to spot medicinal plants, insects, amphibians and the ant colonies and butterflies that fill the understory, then returns you for lunch. After dark, a night walk lasts about an hour, tracking fireflies, moths, night monkeys and amphibians by flashlight.

Day two begins at 6 a.m. with a canoe paddle before breakfast to catch the sunrise over the lagoon: the hour when wildlife moves most. After eating, a 2- to 3-hour trail walk takes you past the giant Ceibo, a millennial tree and one of the Amazon's largest species, where you watch for hummingbirds, toucans, monkeys and the Amazon deer. Lunch and rest follow. In the afternoon, you travel the caiman route by canoe, then fish for piranha, the Amazon's most feared fish, before searching for the black caiman, a species that can reach 5 to 6 meters. The evening ends watching fireflies flash across the dark lagoon.

Day three departs Limoncocha at 5:30 a.m., traveling 90 minutes by motorized canoe down the Napo to Yasuni National Park. You climb the 40-meter observation tower in the Añangu community area, where the view spans the jungle canopy to the Andes mountains. The clay licks of parrots and parakeets come next: macaws and parrots in different colors gather there, and you may see wild pigs or collared peccaries, though sightings depend on weather. Lunch happens in the indigenous community of Pilche. The return to Coca takes three hours by public canoe, arriving between 4 and 5 p.m.

What’s included

• Accommodation for two nights in jungle rooms with private bathroom and mosquito net.
• rubber boots and rain ponchos.
• a guide in English or Spanish.
• pickup from Coca.
• canoe transport on the lagoon and Napo River.
• entry to Limoncocha Biological Reserve and Yasuni National Park.
• meals except breakfast on day one.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Youth (10 to 11 years) · Child (9 years) · Under 9: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Amazon Wildlife Tour Ecuador

Is this one for you?Book this if you're committed to three days of shared group travel with a guide: the timeframe needed to reach both reserves, the canopy tower, and clay licks in one trip.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

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: Youth (10 to 11 years); Child (9 years). Children under 9 can't be included in the booking.

What's the Limoncocha Biological Reserve like, and what will I see there?

Limoncocha is a lagoon reserve where you stay in basic jungle rooms and paddle a private canoe to spot monkeys, birds and caimans. Guided walks through the forest show you medicinal plants, insects, amphibians, ants and butterflies. Night walks track fireflies, moths and night monkeys by flashlight.

How does the canopy tower work, and what can I see from the top?

The observation tower in Yasuni National Park stands 40 meters tall. From the top, you see the Amazon jungle canopy stretching to the horizon and the Andes mountains in the distance.

What happens during the piranha fishing, and is it safe?

Piranha fishing takes place in the afternoon on day two from a canoe on the lagoon. You fish for the species, then continue searching for black caimans, which can reach 5 to 6 meters long. The guide leads the activity.

What are the rooms like, and do they have hot water?

Rooms are basic structures built from jungle materials, each with a private bathroom, toilet, hand basin, mosquito net, towel and soap. There is no hot water. Solar panels provide light from 7 to 9 p.m.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes two nights' accommodation, rubber boots up to size 45, rain ponchos, pickup from Coca, and a guide in English or Spanish. Breakfast on the first day is not included. Bring personal items, medications and any gear you prefer beyond the boots and ponchos provided.

How physically demanding is this tour?

The tour requires a moderate level of fitness. You walk jungle trails for 2 to 3 hours on day two, climb a 40-meter tower, paddle canoes and take night walks. Canoe travel involves sitting for 90 minutes at a time. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy.