Coca and Napo River Areas

eBird Hotspot Link: Coca (Puerto Francisco de Orellana)

Species - 397

Checklists - 700

Projected Time at Site: Long (>3 hrs.)

About the Area: 

Coca, officially known as Puerto Francisco de Orellana, sits at the confluence of the Coca, Payamino, and Napo Rivers, serving as a gateway to Ecuador’s Amazon Basin. Historically, this region was part of the vast territory explored by Spanish conquistador Francisco de Orellana in the 16th century, whose descent down the Napo marked one of the earliest European incursions into the Amazon. The town itself has grown from a remote outpost into a bustling hub for ecotourism, oil exploration, and scientific research. Its location at the edge of the rainforest makes it a launch point for expeditions into Yasuní National Park and the Limoncocha Biological Reserve—two of the most biodiverse areas on Earth.

The surrounding lands along the Napo River are a mosaic of tropical rainforest, riverine wetlands, and floodplain ecosystems that support staggering biodiversity. The Napo River, which originates in the eastern Andes and eventually joins the Amazon in Peru, is a lifeline for countless species and indigenous communities. Its banks are home to giant otters, caimans, and pink river dolphins, while the canopy above teems with monkeys, toucans, and macaws. Seasonal flooding plays a vital ecological role, replenishing nutrients and shaping the dynamic landscape. The region’s natural history is deeply intertwined with its cultural heritage, as Kichwa communities continue to live sustainably along the river, preserving traditional knowledge and stewarding the forest’s future.

Top Target Species: (in port and along river to Sani)

Greater Ani, Smooth-billed Ani, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Cocoi Heron, Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Black Caracara, White-winged Swallow, White-banded Swallow, Russet-backed Oropendola

Recap and Reflections (How it played out)

(Stay tuned...)