Manatee

On the Manatee Amazon cruise, we will be joined by expert local naturalist guides, who will provide us with a brief, informative introduction to the Ecuadorian Amazon.

The park contains over 200 species of butterflies, 596 species of birds, 150 species of amphibians, 121 species of reptiles, and 200 species of mammals, numbers of which are always on the rise. In fact, some naturalists claim that the level of biodiversity in the park is so high that every journey into the rainforest can result in the discovery of a new species.

The Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest is located at the base of the Andes mountains.

Millions of years ago, the Amazon River flowed from east to west, emptying into the Pacific Ocean. When the Andes Mountains rose along the eastern side of the South American continent, around 20 million years ago, the emerging mass blocked the flow of the Amazon. Freshwater lakes formed as a result, and the flow of the river gradually reversed to its current eastern course. About 10 million years later, the river reached the Atlantic Ocean. Plants and animals have always thrived in the rainforests that grow in the area surrounding its banks.

Enjoy our Amazon cruise!