Amazon River
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Galapagos-Amazonian Ecuador & Peru-Lima-Cuzco-Machu Picchu Expedition
Amazon River Dolphin Tour Jaguar Expedition WILD AVENTURE FROM ORELLANA COCA TO IQUITOS PERU
A Wild Adventure from Francisco de Orellana (Coca), Ecuador to Iquitos, Peru
Departs from Francisco de Orellana ,COCA navigating the Napo River downstream until we encounter the Amazon River, and on this trip, the Amazon it is not only a myth but also becomes a reality.
This expedition takes us 1,140 km along the Napo River and Amazon River to Iquitos, Peru. The Napo River is one of the most important tributaries of the mighty Amazon River. The source of the Napo comes from small streams flowing from the Cotopaxi and Antisana volcanoes
DESCRIPTION OF THE TOUR.-
After leaving Coca, we travel 300 kms east down the Napo to Yasuni National Park. Here we spend four beautiful days searching for Amazon River Dolphins, Paiche (largest freshwater fish on the planet) and of course fishing for the infamous piranha. It is estimated that over 2,500 species of fish thrive in Amazonia and over 500 species are registered along the Napo and its’ tributaries.
Our guests will sleep in the border town of Nueva Rocafuerte but visit the park during the day. Jatuncocha is a huge lagoon located inside the park’s border. Here we will begin our tour searching for two species of dolphins, various shorebirds including the Horned Screamer and spend some time fishing. We will also walk along some interesting trails and of course search for caimans in the evening.
After completing Ecuadorian border procedures in Nueva Rocafuerte, we continue our trip to the Peruvian border town of Pantoja,. From here our Peruvian adventure begins as we continue down the Napo, camping on its shores or spending the night with a local family. Our final destination is the Amazon Riv er and Iquitos, Peru.
History of the Napo River
In February 1541, Gonzalo Pizarro set out from Quito in search of El Dorado and cinnamon with over 10,000 animals and humans including over 200 Spaniards, 4,000 indigenous people, 2,000 pigs, and much the same in numbers for llamas, horses and dogs. Francisco de Orellana joined the expedition at Sumaco without knowing the severe problems that the Pizarro expedition faced. A 100 of the expedition members died from cold exposure, twenty-five miles outside of Quito in the Andean highlands. The expedition also faced many difficulties including Indian attacks, crossing mountain ranges, hacking through forests, crossing rivers, traveling through heavy rains and facing hunger, sickness and death.
When Pizarro and Orellan joined forces, more of the same problems still occurred. To avoid starvation, expedition members ate all their llamas, dogs, horses and desperately searched for the help of indigenous tribes to avoid starvation. Since this expedition was desperately going wrong, Orellana suggested that he be allowed to continue downriver from the junction of the Coca and Cosanga Rivers in search for food. Both he and Pizarro agreed that Orellana would look for and return with food for the other members of the expedition.
Orellana left with about 56 men and a newly constructed rustic boat leaving Pizarro and 140 men behind. Eventually, Pizarro and his depleted crew arrived at the junction of the Coca and the Napo but many of the expedition members had died and Orellana had already left downriver on the Napo to discover the Amazon River. Pizarro felt betrayed since Orellana did not return with food but it would have been impossible to paddle upriver against the current and Orellana moved on facing Indian attacks from the many tribes he encountered. Orellana was very violent and cruel towards any tribe that did not cooperate with his group.
Pizarro dropped the expedition and Orellana and his surviving crew eventually reached it’s destination in August 1542. Upon his return to Spain, Orellana managed to avoid the legalities of his supposed betrayal despite Pizarro and his false accusations.
