AMAZON RAINFOREST EXTENSION
Amazon Rainforest Experience
A deeper way to enter the Ecuadorian Amazon.
A 4-day extension through Napo combining rainforest trails, river life, Kichwa knowledge, local gastronomy and meaningful community encounters.
USD 850,00
Overview
Add the Amazon to your Ecuador journey
Amazon Rainforest Experience extends a mainland Ecuador itinerary into Napo, where forest, rivers, community life and Kichwa knowledge create a complete introduction to the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Centered around Shandia Lodge, the experience combines rainforest trails, natural pools, river navigation, local food traditions, medicinal plants and community encounters. The journey keeps the essential elements of a classic rainforest experience while adding the territorial relationships and local connections that define Maquita’s approach.
The result is an immersive yet accessible extension, balancing nature, cultural exchange and comfortable pacing within one of Ecuador’s most distinctive regions.
Trip Highlights
Rainforest experiences rooted in place
Forest, food, river life and Kichwa knowledge come together in a compact extension designed to add a new ecological and cultural dimension to mainland Ecuador.
Rainforest Trails & Natural Pools
Walk through butterfly-rich forest, discover Amazonian plant life and cool off in natural pools surrounded by tropical vegetation.
Kichwa Knowledge & Community Life
Share guayusa, visit community forest gardens and experience traditions connected to daily life, hospitality and territory.
From Chakra to Table
Follow local ingredients from the forest garden into cacao, chicha de yuca and traditional maito food experiences.
Women-Led Community Experiences
Meet the women of Sinchi Warmi through food, conversation and a community-based initiative rooted in local knowledge and everyday life.
Rainforest After Dark
Experience the sounds and atmosphere of the Amazon through a guided night walk toward the Jatun Yacu river area.
River Life, Conservation & Ancestral Medicine
Navigate by canoe to Kamak Maki before continuing to Amupakin, connecting river life, wildlife care, medicinal plants and ancestral knowledge.
Itinerary at a Glance
Four days of forest, river, food and local connection
The extension moves naturally from the Andes into Napo, using Shandia Lodge as a base for rainforest, community and river experiences.
Travel from the Andes into the Amazon, settle into Shandia Lodge, explore the community by bike and share a traditional guayusa gathering with local Kichwa leaders.
Walk the Pimpilala Trail, discover orchids and butterfly-rich forest, enjoy the Yani natural pools and visit a chakra before a traditional chicha de yuca workshop.
Visit a women-led community initiative for cacao and maito experiences, share time with local women and close the day with a guided rainforest night walk.
Navigate by canoe to Kamak Maki for community-based ecotourism and wildlife conservation, continue to Amupakin for ancestral medicine practices and return to Quito.
Full Program Details
Download the complete Amazon Rainforest Experience PDF
Download the full program for detailed daily descriptions, accommodation references, meals, commercial conditions and B2B rates.
Program Details
What’s included in this extension
The program combines private transportation, guided experiences, three nights at Shandia Lodge and activities connecting rainforest nature, Kichwa culture, food and community life.
Program Includes
- National bilingual guide: English / Italian / German / French to Spanish
- Private transportation according to the confirmed route
- Private airport transfers
- Accommodation according to itinerary
- Meals according to itinerary
- Visits and activities described in the confirmed itinerary
- Operational coordination by Maquita Impact-Based DMC
Program Does Not Include
- Meals not specified in the itinerary
- Optional activities, upgrades, or special arrangements
- Travel insurance or medical assistance coverage.
- Personal expenses and tips
Additional Information
Useful travel references
The route gradually descends from the Andes into warmer, more humid conditions.
Lightweight, breathable clothing, quick-dry layers and light rain gear are recommended.
Can be adjusted by buyer profile, hotel style and market expectations.
Extend Your Journey into the Amazon
4 Days / 3 Nights · Napo · Shandia Lodge
Amazon Rainforest Experience is designed as a seamless 4-day extension for compatible mainland journeys, adding rainforest landscapes, river life, Kichwa knowledge and locally rooted experiences in Napo.
Rather than functioning as a separate Travel Style, this experience expands an existing Ecuador itinerary with a distinct Amazon chapter while maintaining Maquita’s operational and local-value approach.
Add another ecosystem to mainland Ecuador
Pair This Extension With
Add the Amazon to a journey that is already right for your travelers
Amazon Rainforest Experience currently complements two of Maquita’s mainland journeys, adding a different ecosystem while maintaining the narrative logic of each program.
Ecuador Signature Journey
Add a rainforest chapter to a smooth first approach to Ecuador.
Extend the Signature experience from Andean landscapes and heritage destinations into Napo through an accessible combination of forest, river life and meaningful local encounters.
EXPLORE ECUADOR SIGNATURE JOURNEY →
Wild Andes Conservation Journey
Continue the conservation story from the Andes into the rainforest.
Move from protected high-altitude ecosystems into Napo, adding tropical biodiversity, community stewardship, wildlife care and Amazonian knowledge to the conservation narrative.
EXPLORE WILD ANDES CONSERVATION JOURNEY →ADD THE AMAZON
Extend the journey into Ecuador’s rainforest
Add Amazon Rainforest Experience to a compatible mainland itinerary and create a broader Ecuador journey connecting the Andes with Napo’s forest, rivers, community life and Kichwa knowledge.