Arajuno River Jungle Tour Ecuador: Kayak, Wildlife, Culture

Kayak the Arajuno, meet an indigenous family, rescue center animals in one day

A full-day jungle tour from Tena that combines river travel on the Arajuno (by kayak or inner tube) with stops at Amazoonico animal rescue center, an indigenous settlement on Anaconda Island, and a caiman swamp. Private pickup and dropoff in the Tena area, lunch on the riverbank, and a live guide in English or Spanish are included. Moderate fitness required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Amazonia jungle adventure and wildlife

• Pickup from Tena at 8 am
• Tube or kayak down Arajuno river
• Visit Amazoonico animal rescue center
• Eat box lunch on riverbank
• Boat to Anaconda Island
• Meet indigenous family presentation
• Taste chicha and see blowpipe demo
• Visit caiman swamp and hoatzin bird
• Return transport to Tena area

The experience

The day starts with free pickup in the Tena area at 8 am and heads straight to the Arajuno River. You choose your river method before booking: kayaking or tubing downstream. Both routes cover the same water and stops. The difference is how you move through it. The river itself is the spine of the day: seven hours of travel, stops and immersion broken into distinct moments rather than one continuous push.

Amazoonico, an animal rescue center, is the first major stop. You walk through to observe Amazon wildlife up close and understand the rescue work happening there. After time at the center, lunch arrives as a box meal served on the riverbank. The afternoon pivots to cultural exchange: a motorized canoe takes you to Anaconda Island, where an indigenous family demonstrates the blowpipe, shows how chicha is made, and offers a tasting. From there, the canoe moves into the caiman swamp for sightseeing. The hoatzin bird is the species you're most likely to spot in this habitat. Free transport back to your hotel or starting point in the Tena area closes the loop.

The tour runs with modern safety equipment and standards throughout. A live guide fluent in English and Spanish narrates the day and manages logistics. Inner tubes are provided if you choose tubing. If you want to kayak instead, let the operator know when you book: no extra fee applies.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Tena-area hotel or meeting point and return.
• kayak or inner tube for river travel (your choice, no extra cost).
• entry to Amazoonico animal rescue center.
• box lunch served on the riverbank.
• motorized canoe ride to Anaconda Island and the caiman swamp.
• blowpipe demonstration and chicha tasting with the indigenous family.
• all fees and taxes.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (14 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (10 to 13 years) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 27 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Tours Grand Selva Jungle Expedition

Is this one for you?You control the pace on the river (kayaking means paddling at your own speed, tubing means floating with the current), so pick the one that matches how you want to move through the day. The full itinerary is fixed (rescue center, island, swamp), but the river method is yours to choose before you book.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 13 years); Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What's the difference between tubing and kayaking on the Arajuno River?

Both routes travel the same stretch of river and hit the same stops: Amazoonico, Anaconda Island, the caiman swamp. Tubing uses an inner tube and lets the current carry you. Kayaking puts you in control of the paddle. Choose based on whether you want to steer or drift.

What animals will I actually see at Amazoonico and in the swamp?

Amazoonico is a rescue center, so the animals there are in enclosures. You'll see Amazon species up close but not in the wild. In the caiman swamp, the hoatzin bird is the primary wildlife sighting. Caimans are also present in that habitat.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to Tena, or does pickup cover everything?

Free private pickup and dropoff are included in the surrounding areas of Tena. If you're staying in central Tena or nearby, the operator will collect you at 8 am and return you after the tour ends.

How physically demanding is this tour?

The operator lists moderate physical fitness as a requirement. The day involves seven hours of river travel, walking at the rescue center and on Anaconda Island, and time in a motorized canoe. You're not hiking steep terrain, but you need stamina for the full schedule.