Our alarm failed to sound this morning, making for a frantic dash back to the airport. We took a 25-minute flight east into the Amazon Basin, landing in Coca. Coca is a small port town on the banks of the Napo River. We boarded a 45 foot long motorized canoe, and began to speed up the Rio Napo. The Amazon forest encroached onto the silty banks, at this time of year the water lies over 20 feet below the vegetation. We were on our way to Sacha Lodge! We spent two hours in the motorized canoes at nearly 35 knots, and then came ashore on wooden boardwalks that led us two miles into the jungle. The path ended at a small dock in a very narrow swamp, where dugout canoes waited to carry us into the lagoon. As we waited for the guides to load the canoes, a high-pitched chirping noise began to come from the trees. A troop of Spider Monkeys came to greet us! We sat low in the canoes as the guides paddled us into the open water, revealing an expansive black lagoon surrounded by dense forest. At the opposite side, the thatched roofs of the lodge came into view, our home in the Amazon for the next four days! More to come soon...
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
1 day ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
1 day ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
2 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.
Anne Petty
3 days ago
Follow up was effective any questions were answered in a timely manner