Choosing Orellana tours
Orellana tours can start with a flight from Quito or with a meeting in Coca. That distinction affects the whole journey: an itinerary may include an air ticket, a river transfer, camp accommodation or rain gear, but the combination depends on the individual program. Begin by deciding where you want the organized part of your trip to start and how many days you can spend away from the city.
The forest is not a single roadside attraction. El Coca is a useful starting point for travel towards Yasuní and other rainforest areas, and a river journey may be part of the experience. Look at the actual route as well as the destination name. A canoe on the Shiripuno and a transfer from Coca towards Yasuní describe different journeys. Leave room around your connections and make sure your arrival fits the stated meeting place.
Our picks: Orellana tours
Our take: The Quito package includes return flights and park entry, while the private group camp starts in Coca. The other Coca package provides rain gear and meals.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Shiripuno camp experience
- Canoe ride down Shiripuno River
- Camp accommodation
- All meals
A private group package with guided excursions and airport assistance. Flights are not included.
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Yasuní package from Quito
- River transport Coca – Napo Cultural Center
- 3 nights accommodation
- Yasuní and parrot clay lick entrance
The package includes Quito–Coca return flights and airport assistance. A community guide and a bilingual naturalist guide accompany the excursions.
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Yasuní nature package from Coca
- Rubber boots and rain ponchos
- Purified water
- Lunch, dinner and breakfast
The meeting point is Hotel Auca; pickup is also mentioned in the start details.
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Compare Coca and Quito departures, private travel and included transport.
A private tour in Orellana
A four day, three night private group program begins at Coca airport. It includes airport to port transport, a canoe journey on the Shiripuno, camp accommodation, guided excursions and meals. Its price is per person. Flights are separate, even though airport assistance is listed. This is a practical choice when the private group format and a camp journey on the Shiripuno are central to your plans.
Another four day, three night program begins at Quito airport and includes return flights between Quito and Coca, river transport from Coca, accommodation, meals and community and naturalist guides. Its included access to Yasuní and a parrot clay lick belongs to that program. These differences matter more than a shared description of both trips as rainforest packages.
Guided rainforest walks
Walking with a guide can make the forest easier to understand, from the relationship between the river and its banks to the care needed around wildlife. A five day kayak and camping program described on our Yasuní wildlife page explicitly includes hiking, wildlife spotting and a visit to Kichwa communities. Consider it if you want walking to form part of a longer trip rather than treating the forest as a short independent trail.
The three day program meeting in Coca includes meals, rain ponchos and rubber boots. Its meeting information identifies Hotel Auca in the city, with pickup described in the start details. Compare those details with your arrival plans and with the longer packages before choosing. Explore the Yasuní National Park guide for the distinction between a park visit and the broader biosphere reserve.
What to prepare for the river and forest
Rain falls throughout the year, so a useful packing plan accounts for wet conditions on both water and land. Rain can help canoe navigation while drier conditions can make paths easier to walk. Bring personal essentials in a way that protects them from moisture and consider what your chosen program supplies. Our season guide explains the tradeoffs without promising a particular month of wildlife sightings.
For travel on the Napo, official travel advice recommends daytime travel with an officially operating guide, a communication plan and emergency arrangements. Consider equipment, weather, currents and insurance for water activities. Seek individual travel health advice for the Amazon route, including mosquito protection. These practical decisions help you compare the experiences with a realistic idea of the journey as well as the activities.
Practical planning
A useful way to prepare is to write down the meeting place, the transport included and the number of nights in the program you choose. Keep the journey to the meeting point separate from the onward trip. If you are connecting through Coca, allow time for changes and make sure that the dates fit together. The same destination can be reached through different arrangements, so the precise program matters more than a general description of the region.
Pack for rain and humidity, with protection for important documents and personal belongings. Think about the equipment supplied in your chosen package and the items you need personally. Good preparation also includes travel insurance, a way to communicate and an emergency plan. For individual health questions, speak with a travel health professional about your route and mosquito protection before departure.
Frequently asked questions
Do all trips include flights?
No. The Quito airport program includes return Quito to Coca flights; the private Shiripuno program does not include flights.
Can I start in Coca?
Yes. The private Shiripuno program starts at Coca airport, while the three day program gives meeting information in the city.
Are sightings guaranteed?
Wildlife is unpredictable. A guide can help you observe respectfully, but particular sightings depend on the animals.