Overview | Accommodation | Restaurants | Bars | Transport | General interest | Jungle tours from Coca | Jungle lodges | Tour operators | Write a review about Coca

Coca, which is located at the junction of the Rivers Coca and Napo, is the capital of the province of Orellana. It is also known under the name of Puerto Francisco de Orellana. You will have no problem trying to find a hotel or restaurant and the food and supplies have a reasonable price. Additionally, the night life offers a plethora of bars and discotheques.

Most hotels can be found by the riverfront. This turns out to be very convenient because it's close to the dock. The tourist industry has lately developed more in this town due to its proximity to primary rainforest, this is why many tourists go to Coca looking for a jungle experience. Medical facilities are limited in this place, the Clinica Sinaí, located at Napo and García Moreno is the best in town.

For excursions into the jungle, if you hire a guide, make sure he/she is licensed. You also need permission from the Ministerio de Defensa (Ministry of Defense) in Quito (for further details contact The South American Explorers). Every foreigner arriving or departing by river must register their passport at the Capitanía, located by the dock. A tourist information office is available at the dock on Río Napo.

Important Notice: If you wish to book in advance any of the below listed hotels, hostels, cabins, or bed and breakfasts in Coca for either a high standing or affordable place to stay during a business trip or vacation. By filling in our online Hotel reservation form, a BOE specialized agent will be able to search for the best and most affordable accommodation rates. Save time and money and take advantage of immediate discounted hotel rates!.

EI Auca.- Comfortable cabins, cable TV, garden with hammocks, restaurant and disco. Address: Napo between Rocafuerte and García Moreno. Reservations: Tel. 06-2880600.

La Misión.- Located by the riverfront. Reservations: Tel. 06-880260. In Quito: Tel. 02-2553674, Fax: 02-2564675.

Amazonas.- Address: 12 de Febrero and Espejo. Reservations: Tel. 06-2880444.

Lojanita.- Address: Cuenca and Napo. Reservations: Tel. 06-2880032.

Doña Erma.- Local set meals.

Ocaso.- Set meals. Address: Eloy Alfaro between Napo and Amazonas.

Los Cedros.- Ecuadorian dishes. Located down by the river, 2 blocks from the Capitanía.

Dragon Dorado.- Chinese. Address: Bolivar between Quito and Napo.

Papa Dan's.- Chilli, tacos, hamburgers, etc. Address: Napo and Chimborazo, by the river.

Parrilladas Argentinas.- Grill. Address: Cuenca and Amazonas.

El Buho.- Jungle specialties.

Media Noche.- Chicken specialties. Address: Calle Napo, across Hotel El Auca.

Maito's.- Address: Napo and Eloy Alfaro.

Riverside Bar.- Address: Chimborazo and Napo.

Bus

Trans Baños and Putumayo cooperatives depart from their private stations on Napo and Cuenca. To Lago Agrio, 3 hours, ticket value around US$3.50. To Tena, 6 hours, ticket value around US$5.30. To Misahuallí, 14 hours. To Baeza, 8 hours. To Quito, 10 hours, frequent buses leaving every few minutes. Ticket value around US$11.00.

Air

Aerogal.- Daily flights to and from Quito. Mondays to Saturdays. Ticket value around US$55 (one way). Also flights available to Tena and Shell-Mera. Aerogal office is at the airport (the airport is located north of town, on the same road as the bus station).

TAME.- Their office is located on Napo and Rocafuerte. Reservations: Tel. 06-2881078.

Boat

The Capitanía at the dock will give you all the information required for passenger boats out of Coca. Canoes to Nueva Rocafuerte take about 14 hours and cost around US$30, for 8 or more passengers. However, you can hire a canoe with it's owner and outboard motor to take you anywhere along the Napo river.

Communications

Andinatel.-Located on Eloy Alfaro street.

Internet (Prices around US$7 per hour)

Hotel Auca and La Misión both offer Internet access.

Money

There are no traveler's checks, or credit cards facilities in town.

The Yasuni National Park and Huaorani Reserve forms most of the Coca region. Because of this, the lowland rainforest can give you an unforgettable jungle experience. Unfortunately, wildlife in this area is becoming extinct. For this reason, it is advisable that you and your group avoid littering, as well as hunting and shooting.

Due to the extent of its main attractions, it is advisable that tourists stay more than three days. For example: the tours to the Huaorani Reserve and Yasuni Park need a minimum of four or five days. If you are going to stay less than three or four days, you must visit the Coca-Yuturi section of the Rio Napo, where there are many lodges. In the majority of the tours, you will be able to travel by canoe. For people that are interested in wildlife, the most important places where you'll be able to see them are: The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, downstream from Coca to the Rio Tiputini and south to Rio Shiripuno.

During the high season, it is very difficult to find a convenient tour or guide. All guides that are not from Coca may charge approximately US$35-60, but this price is negotiable and depends on the group of people involved. Be sure to check what is included in the price, such as: tents, mosquito nets, transportation, food, etc.

Note: All guides need to have a permission, granted by the Huaorani organization ONHAE, in order to enter the Huaorani territory.

Please take into consideration that when you travel in the forest, it is usually one day to enter and another one to leave. The packages at the Napo area lodges include the travel days. In other words, a three day tour, means that you will be only one day in the forest. Also, if you have a flight in the morning, you must leave before dawn, if it flies out later, it will be necessary to spend the night in Coca.

The majority of the lodges at Coca have fixed departure days. Please ask in advance about the departure information, since it is very expensive to leave on another day.

Sacha.- A top class lodge close to La Selva, 2 1/2 hours from Coca. Comfortable cabins, birdwatching tours with knowledgeable guides, a butterfly farm, etc. Reservations: Address: Julio Zaldumbide 375 and Toledo, Quito. Tel: 02-2566090, Fax: 02-2236521.

La Selva.- Another top class lodge 2 1/2 hours from Coca, Cabins surrounded by a huge forest with an exceptional diverse animal and bird life. 580 bird species have been seen here. They also manage the Neotropical Field Biology Institute and have a butterfly farm. Reservations: Address: 6 de Diciembre 2816, Quito, Tel. 02-2550995, Fax: 02-2567297.

Yuturi Forest Lodge.- A biological reserve surrounded by lagoons together with an impressing primary forest. Yuturi, is actually considered one of the best birdwatching places in the Amazon jungle. The lodge is situated on a hill at the banks of the Yuturi River, next to the Yasuní National Park (4 hours from Coca). Reservations: Amazonas 1324 and Colón, Quito. Tel & Fax: 02-2503225.

Cabañas Bataburo.- The lodge is located along the Río Tiguino in Parque Nacional Yasuni. Comfortable cabins, rich bird life, guided tours, etc. Reservations: Kempery Tours, Pinto 539 and Amazonas, Quito. Tel: 02-2226715.

Añangucocha.- Run by the local Añangu community, situated across the Napo river, 2 1/2 hours from Coca. With a high diversity of mammals, and bird life. The lodge facilities are basic. Reservations: Tel. 02-2447463, Quito. In Coca: Tel. 06-2881486.

Sani Isla.- located close to La Selva lodge. Run by the Sani Isla community. The area is rich in bird and wildlife. The lodge can be reached by canoe 4 hours from Coca.

The Tiputini Biodiversity Station is a scientific place where you'll be able to observe much closer the Amazon wildlife, birds and other threatened animals. Also, large raptors, spider monkeys, large macaws, curassows and jaguars. Everything here is very well taken care of. In order to enter, you must form an educational group and receive approval in advance.

Safari.- They offer trips to the Huaorani community and other areas. Address: In Quito: Calama 380 and Juan León Mera. Tel. 02-2552505, Fax: 02-2223381.

Jumandy Explorers.- Trips on the Río Arajuno. Address: In Quito: Wilson 718 and Juan León Mera. Tel. 02-2220518/2551205.

Emerald Forest Expeditions.- Tours to the Pañacocha area. Address: In Quito: Amazonas 1023 and Pinto, 2nd Floor. Tel/Fax: 02-2541543, Tel. 02-2526403 (ext. 13).

Tropic Ecological Adventures.- They run tours with local naturalist guides and work with the Cofán, Huaorani and Secoya communities. Address: In Quito: Av. República 307 and Almagro, Edif. Taurus, Dpto 1-A. Tel. 02-2225907, Fax: 02-2560756.

Overview | Accommodation | Restaurants | Bars | Transport | General interest | Jungle tours from Coca | Jungle lodges | Tour operators | Write a review about Coca

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