• Climate:
  Tropical, with an average year-round temperature of 26° C (79° F). Rainy season is from April to August. Nights sometimes get cool.
• Luggage:
  One bag up to 30 pounds (waterproof duffel bags are great, instead of suitcases), plus a carry on daypack. Guests may leave additional luggage at their hotels in Quito.
• Documents:
  Valid passports, Identification Cards for citizens and/or residents of Ecuador.
• What to wear:
  Informal clothing at all times. Comfortable light cottons. Short and long sleeve blouses and shirts. Shorts and Bathing suit. A light jacket or sweater for cool nights. Good walking shoes for excursions. Rubber boots and rain ponchos will be provided on board as a courtesy to our guests.
• Accessories:
  Sunglasses, suntan lotion, hat or cap, insect repellent, camera and plenty of film. Waterproof bags to protect your equipment, plastic bags for wet clothes. Binoculars, available for rent. Alarm clock. Flashlight. Maybe a small tape recorder.
• Currency:
  U.S. Dollars are needed for bar or handicraft shopping. Prices do not include tips, soft drinks nor alcoholic beverages or the entrance fee to the Yasuni National Park.
• Vaccinations:
  No vaccinations are required to either Ecuador. There has not been any case of tropical diseases (malaria, yellow fever, cholera) reported in or near the area. However, we always suggest our passengers to consult their physician to get the most updated information and advice.
• Tipping:
  As in many places, gratuities are customary, but entirely at guest’s discretion.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. You must wear a life vest during all boat and canoe trips.
2. Trained naturalist Guides offer advice, give informative talks and conduct all excursions.
3. There is an entrance fee to Yasuni National Park of USD 20 per person (subject to change) and must be paid by passengers directly.
4. The programs described are subject to change without notice, and can be operated in different sequences depending on climatic and operational conditions. All decisions are oriented in terms of passenger’s interest and safety.
5. All meals are included in the cost of the program. Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are available at extra cost.
6. Electricity is 110 volts AC.

• Don’t smoke in canopied forest or near wildlife.
• Don’t talk loudly. Whisper or communicated with hands near wildlife.
• Don’t throw or drop anything along the trails, even biodegradable food.
• Do not play radios or electronic devices that make foreign sounds in protected
• areas.
• Don’t laugh or make fun of another culture’s mannerisms; keep cultural encounter
• simple.
• Do not wear perfume or perfumed sprays as the sweet scent attract unpleasant
• flying insects.
• Keep hands off anything that may resemble a field project: net box, screen,
• enclosure, etc.
• Do not drink water from rivers, lakes or ponds, or eat any wild fruit found along the
• trails.

SOME USEFUL TIPS

• Photography Tips
  It’s surprisingly dark beneath the rain forest’s dense canopy, so bring a fast film e.g. 400 ASA or more and a flash. You’ll find a wide-angle lens to be very useful and also a large telephoto for the birds and monkeys. For best result with the myriad of colorful and spectacular insects you’ll need a lens with a macro facility. It rains a lot in the rain forest, so have some plastic bags handy to protect your equipment.
• For Birders
  With over 500 birds identified to date, the Amazon is great place for bird watching. If you’d like to keep track of what you see, ask your naturalist guide for a copy of our “birds checklist”. Special early morning birding outings are scheduled.
• Special Interest
  Our years of experience in Amazonia make it easy for us to devise itineraries that meet the requirements of special interest groups. We can help prepare promotional and pre-departure materials customized for your group.
  The Amazon Rain Forest is one destination not to be overlooked during your vacation. The impressive biodiversity of the flora and fauna of this region is one of the largest remaining in the world. Beautiful and vibrant colors adorn the many species of birds, which include macaws, parrots, hawks and the great harpy eagles. The great rivers of this region are the lifeblood of these birds and are also home to caimans, fresh water river dolphins, piranhas, catfish and giant paiches. Butterflies of exquisite color, beauty and unusual size are common here, as well as the croaks of giant frogs. The howler monkeys also thrive here on a rich diet of insects only found in the Amazon.