2, 3, or 4-Night Stay at Cuyabeno Reserve

What to Expect

We'll pick you up by bus from the meeting point in Quito for an all-night journey, taking us from the Ecuadorian capital to Cuyabeno Bridge. As we reach our destination, we also get to the starting point for our adventure into the Ecuadorian Amazon!

Day 1

Upon reaching the Cuyabeno Bridge, we'll hop into canoes so we can sail down the tranquil waters of the Cuyabeno River. The river flow will help us paddle to our accommodation site, the Dolphin Lodge, where we'll spend our first night. 

Following a serene 2 hours of canoeing downriver and observing various species of birds and reptiles, we'll arrive just in time for lunch. We'll serve fresh plates of traditional cuisine from the region, before spending the afternoon at our lodging site.

About 3 hours after lunch, we'll enjoy a hike around Laguna Grande to witness a magical sunset. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled here, though; we may even see an alligator nearby!

Then, we'll head back to the lodge for dinner, ending our day.

Day 2

Let's kick off our third day with a strong breakfast at the lodge before we set out on foot along one of the hiking routes within the reserve. Along the way, we'll discuss amphibians, mammals, and bird species that we'll most likely find on our route.

Following our 3-hour hike, we'll head back to the lodge for lunch, and then you'll have 4 hours of free time to enjoy the natural space of the protected Amazon in Ecuador. Fun fact: this area is one of the world's areas with the largest biodiversity.

Then, we'll come back together to canoe along the riverbanks and glimpse other fauna like monkeys, parrots, and sloths in their natural habitat. Also, as the sun sets, we'll take another walkabout to try and see nocturnal animals.

Finally, we'll return to camp for dinner, and then we'll go off to bed. Until tomorrow!

Day 3

Before heading out for our 4th day of adventure, we'll partake in a birdwatching activity near the lodge. It's the best moment to spot beautiful bird species local to the area!

Then, following breakfast, we'll bring you back via canoe to Cuyabeno Bridge, where you'll board your bus to the meeting point in Quito. Arrival is expected between 8 and 9 pm.

Excursion with 3 Nights of Accommodation

If you have more time to spend in Ecuador, we recommend taking on this adventure tour with 3 nights of accommodation. When opting for this tour, we'll follow the same itinerary for the first 2 days mentioned above. Then, on the 3rd day, after breakfast, we'll enjoy a 1-hour walk to an area of the jungle where we'll find an indigenous community.

Once there, the locals will share with us their day-to-day routines, like how they harvest crops and prepare local dishes like casabe. We'll enjoy lunch here, indulging in rich traditional cuisine.

Following this, we'll meet the community's shaman who will share what his daily life is like, what medicinal plants they use, and how the famous drink ayahuasca is made. 

Then, on the 4th day, we'll enjoy breakfast before parting ways at Cuyabeno Bridge, where you'll board the bus back to Quito

Excursion with 4 Nights of Accommodation

If you're looking for more adventure in the Cuyabeno Reserve, opt for this excursion that includes 4 nights of accommodation. With this tour, we'll complete the same itinerary as mentioned above. However, on the 5th day, after lunch, we'll hop into a canoe to paddle for an hour until we reach Canangueno, a place where we'll try our hand at rowing.

As we wrap up this activity, we'll head back to the lodge for lunch and then 4 hours later we'll enjoy a magical sunset from our canoes and the best seat in the house; Laguna Grande. 

On the 6th and final day, we'll take you to Cuyabeno Bridge where you'll board the bus and head back to Quito.

Accommodation

This tour includes 2, 3, or 4 nights of accommodation with full room and board in double or triple rooms at the Dolphin Lodge. Please note that for all options, the first night of accommodation isn't the same, as you'll sleep on the bus.

Meeting Point

When booking your reservation, you can select from the following meeting points in Quito for us to pick you up from on the day of the activity:

• Blue House Hostal
• El Viajero Hostal

Also, you can choose whether you prefer roundtrip transport by bus or just one-way transport. If you opt for one-way transport, on the last day of the tour, we'll drop you off at Cuyabeno Bridge.