The malecón along the Napo is where Coca shows its better face. A long pedestrian boardwalk runs above the muddy brown river, with viewing platforms, a few simple restaurants, and small craft stalls run by local Kichwa and Shuar families. In the late afternoon the heat eases off and the embankment fills up with families taking the air.
This is where the long boats leave for the downstream lodges — Yasuní, Sani, Napo Wildlife Center — and where the river ferries arrive from upstream. If you are not booked onto a tour, an early-morning visit is the best way to get a feel for the rhythm of the town.