Days 15-16: More of the Napo River and Back Home

 Day 15: Parrot Clay Licks and a Local Community

This morning, we took a motorized canoe ride to the parrot clay licks, where thousands of parrots gather to. literally, lick the clay.  Along the way we viewed other activity on the river.

Some birds in a tree along the riverbank

Some locals on the river

A monkey hanging from a tree

Eventually, we reached the clay licks.  They were almost completely covered with green parrots, who made a tremendous racket.

The small green things are parrots

A closer view

Some of the parrots had blue heads and necks

Tourists on another boat photographing the parrots

We then headed to the El Pilchi community, on the banks of the river.  The community is home to the Mandi Wasi project, which is devoted to supporting sustainable tourism in the area.  

Map of the community

Another banana tree

A couple of older community buildings

The community school

While we were there, a member of the community grilled a few local specialties for us, and demonstrated some of the cooking techniques.

One of the local specialties was huge slugs.

One of which Kevin popped into his mouth while still alive.  I actually tried a grilled one, and it tasted pretty good, although I don't think I would eat them on a regular basis.

We spent a while wandering around the community and shopping for crafts at the community center.

A house in the community

A newer dwelling in the community

There was also a lot of interesting vegetation around. 

A bathroom for visitors

That evening, thanks to modern technology, we were able to watch the Super Bowl in the ship's bar.

Day 16: To Coca and Back Home

The next morning we boarded the motorized canoe for the ride back to Coca.

Back in Coca

At the Coca airport, we spent some time in what may be the world's smallest airport lounge, along with a fellow Michigan Wolverine. 

Part of metropolitan Quito

Days 13-14: The Napo River--Part 1

 Day 13: Coca and the Napo River

After arriving from Galapagos, we overnighted near the Quito airport, and took a flight to the town of Coca, the next morning.  Coca is the primary port on the Napo river, which is a tributary of the Amazon, and is the starting point for river cruises on the "Ecuadorean Amazon".

Our cruise was the "3 Nights Itinerary"

Canyons near Quito, just after takeoff

The Andes, between Quito and Coca

Farmland near Coca

Part of Coca from the air

We flew on Generic Airlines (actually Aeroregional, which has a fleet of 3 planes)

After landing in Coca, we went to the office of the river cruise line (Anakonda Amazon Cruises) near the river.  Below are a few pictures from around Coca, which has a population of about 50,000. 

From the Anakonda Amazon Cruises office, we got on a large motorized canoe (or "speed boat" as described in the itinerary) and traveled for about 2 hours to reach the river boat.

Getting on the motorized canoe

Napo River Bridge, in Coca

We passed lots of barges along the way

Our boat was the Manatee Amazon Explorer, one of two boats owned by Anakonda River Cruises. 

Manatee Amazon Explorer (the boat on the left)

The boat was nicer than the one that we had on our Galapagos cruise.  It had a capacity of about 40 passengers, but there were only 6 passengers (us and two Swiss couples) booked on this trip, so we got a lot of personal attention.

Our cabin

The Bridge (if that's what they call it on a river boat)

On the top deck.  That's not real grass.

The lounge, with more than enough room for 6 passengers

The dining room, again with a lot more space than we needed.

After boarding the boat, we headed down the Napo River

All of our fellow passengers at dinner.

After dinner (the food was excellent), we went on a night-time hike.

A snake of some sort

A grasshopper-like insect

A tarantula

To give you an idea of how big the tarantula was

The thing that looks like a little leaf on the bigger leaf is actually an insect

After returning from the hike, we had a "welcome reception".  On the left below is Kevin, our local guide, who was from a small village on the Napo river.  The ship's captain was a woman, whose name (unfortunately) I don' remember.

Day 14: Panacocha Biological Corridor

This morning we traveled down the river and went ashore for a "nature hike".  We saw some wildlife along the way, but in general it was much farther away and harder to spot than in the Galapagos.  As a result, some of the wildlife pictures will be a little fuzzy.

A house on the Napo river

Another view of the boat--it looks nicer in person that it does in this picture

We encountered lots of barges carrying tanker trucks

A couple of riverside residents

The big bulge is actually a colony of insects

Bats on a tree trunk

Our guide referred to this as a "stinky turkey".  I believe the formal name is a Hoatzin.

On Lake Pilchicocha, known for its piranhas.

More animals or insects on a tree trunk

Eventually, we arrived at a lodge, where we went ashore for our hike.

View of the main building of the lodge

Banana tree

Don't remember the name of the tree, but we are standing at the roots and it was very tall

This is a plant, not an animal

Local lizard

The lodge was temporarily (or permanently) closed, but we had lunch in the main building.

Cabins at the lodge

Recovering after the hike

Flora at the lodge

We got back in our motorized canoe and headed back to the boat, stopping along the way to do some fishing for piranha.  We were totally unsuccessful in that endeavor.

Next--Days 15-16: More of the Napo River and Back Home