The first confirmed dinosaur record from Ecuador’s Amazonian Oriente Basin

The Ecuadorian Amazon has revealed a remarkable chapter of its ancient past.

Researchers have documented the first dinosaur record from Ecuador’s Oriente Basin, based on fossil remains found in the Tena Formation, near the Napo River. The specimen, informally known as “Wakrayampi,” has been identified as a titanosaur, a long-necked herbivore that lived during the Late Cretaceous.

This discovery reminds us that the Amazon is far more than one of the most biodiverse places on Earth today. It is also a landscape shaped by deep time, geological transformation, ancestral knowledge, and stories still waiting to be uncovered.

At Anakonda Amazon Cruises, we do not visit the fossil discovery site. However, our journeys along the Napo River invite travelers to experience the living Amazon, the same extraordinary region where nature, culture, and ancient history continue to meet.

Discover the Ecuadorian Amazon from the comfort of our river expedition cruises.

About the author

Nicola is the Managing Director of Micro-Cruising. Small ships great trips. Micro-Cruising sells trips on ships of 100 passengers or fewer. We are the specialists in small ships with over 700 vessels worldwide.