Where the Wild Things Are |
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Welcoming Anakonda Amazon Cruises to the Cabra Collection portfolio |
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Deep in the Amazon Jungle, in Ecuador's Yasuní National Park, moving quietly along the black waters of the Napo River, you can find the Anakonda and the Manatee, the only vessels cruising the river tributaries in Ecuador.
When Raúl Garcia started navigating the Napo River in the 70s, Amazonian luxury river cruising didn't exist. Raúl arrived just as oil exploration was expanding into the Ecuadorian Amazon, and saw firsthand how extractive industries disrupted the lands and ways of life of local indigenous communities.
Recognizing that conservation required a viable alternative to oil money, Raúl set out to build a sustainable economy around the river. He built his first vessel in 2003, the Manatee, and later designed the Anakonda. Both ships were purpose-built with shallow drafts specifically to navigate shifting sandbars and reach remote corners of Yasuní National Park.
Today, Anakonda Cruises operate in deep partnership and formal agreement with 15 river communities, including Kichwa, Cofan, and Secoya. This ensures river operations respect ancestral lands, preserve local traditions, and return financial benefits to each community. Cruise community visits are designed around true and honest cultural exchanges led by local tribes and families. |
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Let's talk about what this cruise is not: |
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A floating, glass-encased, 5-star hotel that operates under the guise of sustainability and forest conservation. As we find ourselves in an era of buzzy, luxury travel marketing jargon, words like sustainable/ethical/luxury/regenerative/conservation/etc. are thrown around in such volume that they've lost all meaning entirely.
Anakonda has sustainability in its foundations, its DNA. It doesn't use green-washing as a marketing tactic, like so many luxury-turned-regenerative properties hopping on the sustainability bandwagon. Instead, luxury on the Napo river is stripped back to its original meaning: "an indulgence in something that provides satisfaction or ease."
Onboard the Anakonda and Manatee, guests enjoy air-conditioned, window-view cabins, fresh regional meals, and observation decks. Communal spaces on board are built for gathering, and designed to always remind you where you are.
Rather than a floating resort, the ship acts as a launchpad for daily adventures: skiff excursions, kayaking narrow tributaries, climbing canopy towers, community visits, river swims, and guided forest walks. |
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Why visit the Ecuadorian Amazon?
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The Amazon rainforest spans nine countries, but tourism infrastructure is concentrated in Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. Each offers luxury accommodations and creature comforts (like air conditioning and internet access).
Of these three, Ecuador's small size offers the fastest entry into the rainforest, with just a 30-minute flight from Quito. Once here, a quick skiff ride brings you to your vessel or lodge to explore the Yasuní National Park, which holds world-record levels of biodiversity per hectare (unmatched tree, amphibian, and bird species richness). This accessibility means easy connections with two of South America's most popular destinations: the Galapagos and Machu Picchu.
Ecuador's Amazon lodges do offer travelers an immersive jungle experience, but Anakonda cruises take travelers so much further into the rainforest; the 7-night cruises bring travelers to Peru's border. This portion of the Amazon has been least impacted by deforestation, human expansion and migration, and oil drilling. Every visit here contributes to the jungle's protection and longevity.
Our DMC partner Amazing Ecuador can help you craft a life-affirming travel experience to Ecuador's Amazon and beyond. One of our favorite itineraries Amazing Ecuador designed began with birding in the Cloud Forest, followed by an overland drive to the Amazon (yes, you can drive there!) where travelers searched for the Harpy Eagle for six days alongside a private guide. |
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| Road Shows: New York & Boston |
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Anakonda Amazon Cruises Vice President Diego Garcia will be in NYC on October 5-6 and Boston on October 7-8. Fill in this form to schedule a meeting with Diego.
Meet Cabra founders Olivia and Emma in Boston on September 28 and 29. We'd love to meet and chat Latin America. Fill in this form to plan a meeting with us. |
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| We know that those (very) late festive requests keep coming in. Here's the latest from our partners across Latin America:
- Errante Ecolodge Patagonia: Availability for most festive dates.
- Ecuador & Colombia: Availability across key regions throughout the countries.
- Anakonda Amazon Cruises: Special departures available over the holidays.
- Argentina: Availability in the country's off-the-beaten-path hidden gems.
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| Webinars: Panama & Colombia |
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Register for our Colombia webinar on October 22 at 12pm EST. It will give you a practical understanding of the country, and tips for pitching and selling it effectively. Click here to register.
Thanks to all who came to our Panama webinar! Those who missed it can access the recording here. |
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Our curated portfolio of DMCs and lodges represents what we love about Latin America. They are owner-run, locally-owned, sustainability-minded, and fun to work with. |
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The representation company dedicated to Latin America |
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