5-Day Amazon Lodge Tour in Cuyabeno Reserve with Siona Community Visit

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Scenic motor canoe journey along the Cuyabeno River into the reserve
• 02 Guided rainforest walks focused on wildlife and medicinal plants
• 03 Visit to the Siona community of Seoqueya with traditional cassava preparation
• 04 Explore Laguna Grande and the flooded Igapo forest ecosystem
• 05 Look for monkeys, tropical birds, sloths, caimans, and river dolphins
• 06 Sunset swim in the calm waters of the Amazon lagoon
• 07 Night excursion to spot colorful frogs, insects, spiders, and snakes

Embark on a journey deep into the heart of the Cuyabeno Reserve, beginning with a scenic motor canoe ride along the Cuyabeno River to your lodge in the Amazon rainforest. Over five days, explore the tropical forest on guided walks and canoe excursions, look for monkeys, birds, sloths, caimans, and river dolphins, and learn about medicinal plants and the fragile balance of jungle life. Visit the Siona community of Seoqueya to prepare traditional cassava bread and discover local culture, then head to Laguna Grande to explore the flooded forest and enjoy a sunset swim. The experience ends with a peaceful sunrise canoe trip before returning to El Puente de Cuyabeno and Lago Agrio.

Embark on a journey deep into the heart of the Cuyabeno Reserve, beginning with a scenic motor canoe ride along the Cuyabeno River to your lodge in the Amazon rainforest.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Quito, Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Nueva Loja

Languages English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival at El Puente and Canoe Journey to the Lodge

• Your tour begins at the river docks, also known as "El Puente," the Cuyabeno Reserve's main entrance and the last point of real civilisation.
• Here, you will have a box lunch before travelling by motorised canoe along the Cuyabeno River for about 3 hours until you reach the lodge.
• With some luck, you may already observe some of the reserve's ten species of monkeys, as well as tropical birds, since this part of the river is narrow enough for close wildlife observation.
• After arriving at the lodge, you will have time to rest and then take an introductory tour around the area.
• After dinner, your bilingual tour guide will provide information about the activities planned for the coming days.

2

Day 02

Rainforest Walks, River Wildlife, and Night Exploration

• After an early breakfast, you will begin exploring during the early hours of the day, the best time to observe the flourishing activity of the tropical forest.
• During a walk in the rainforest, your tour guide will share his knowledge and help you understand how life in the jungle coexists in a fragile balance.
• Your guide will also explain the use of medicinal plants, with knowledge passed down from generation to generation and still applied by the local population.
• Keep watch along the trail for amphibians, butterflies, centipedes and millipedes, snakes, birds, monkeys, and other mammals.
• Later, you will return to the lodge for lunch.
• In the afternoon, you will take an excursion along the Cuyabeno River to discover the animals that live in the dense forest on its banks, especially monkeys, as well as aras, toucans, and sloths.
• There will also be a good opportunity to see river dolphins (Iniageoffrensis and Sotaliafluviatilis) in this magnificent fluvial landscape.
• Before dinner, you will head into the dark forest to discover its nightlife, including insects, spiders, snakes, and colorful frogs, accompanied by the nocturnal sounds of the jungle.

3

Day 03

Seoqueya Community Visit and Laguna Grande

• An early morning activity through the forest will allow you to enjoy nature as wildlife awakens and the jungle comes to life.
• You will have a good chance to observe several species of monkeys and birds.
• After breakfast, you will continue by motor canoe along the "turtle path" to visit the community of Seoqueya, where some of the local families of the Siona indigenous group live.
• A family member will show you how to prepare the area's typical yuca bread, called "Cassava," and you will prepare it together with them.
• Your guide will explain local traditions and culture from the past to the present.
• In the afternoon, you will travel by motor canoe to Laguna Grande along the Cuyabeno River.
• While exploring the lagoon, you will learn about the flooded forest (Igapo), a special ecosystem of the tropical jungle dominated by powerful trees. In this forest, many epiphytes grow, providing a natural habitat for local birds.
• After exploring the lagoon, you can cool off with a swim in the calm waters while enjoying a spectacular sunset in the Amazon.
• Later, you will continue your adventure down the river to observe nocturnal animals, especially caimans, before returning to the lodge.

4

Day 04

Sunrise, Virgin Forest Hike, and Canoe Exploration

• Today, early in the morning, you will enjoy the fantastic sunrise the jungle offers.
• You may take an excursion either by canoe or on foot through the jungle landscape, depending on the climate and the group's interests.
• After breakfast, you will explore the virgin forest on a rainforest walk.
• Your guide will share the wealth of his knowledge, including the medicinal uses of the region's flora and fauna, passed down through generations by members of the area's different cultures and still used today.
• Later, you will return to the lodge for lunch and a rest.
• In the afternoon, you will explore the Cuyabeno River by canoe, enjoying not only the extraordinary landscapes but also the magical sounds of the jungle as you search for its exotic inhabitants.

5

Day 05

Sunrise Canoe Trip and Return to Lago Agrio

• This morning's activity will be a short canoe trip into the jungle to watch the sunrise.
• You will observe different types of wild animals and enjoy another peaceful moment in this wonderful natural paradise.
• After breakfast, you will have time to prepare your luggage for the return journey.
• You will navigate upriver to return to El Puente de Cuyabeno.
• After your box lunch, your bus will take you back to Lago Agrio, where you can continue your return to Quito.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• 4 nights' accommodation in a cozy tourist-class lodge with open wooden cabins and beds with mosquito nets
• Private bathroom in the cabin
• All trips and canoe journeys accompanied by a bilingual naturalist guide (English and Spanish)
• All mentioned meals, water, coffee, and tea
• Canoe transfer from El Puente de Cuyabeno to the lodge, from the lodge to El Puente de Cuyabeno, and during all excursions
• Life jackets and rubber boots (up to size 45; larger sizes available on request at no additional cost)

What's Not Included

• International flights are not included.
• Travel insurance
• Transportation (overnight shuttle) from Quito to El Puente and from El Puente to Quito
• Drinks and meals not mentioned above
• Any increase in surcharges or taxes
• Everything not included in the described program
• Visa and passport fees
• Alcoholic or additional beverages
• Medical fees such as doctor or emergency room visits, vaccinations, ambulances, or emergency evacuation
• Excess baggage charges
• Snacks
• Activities not included in the tour itinerary
• Tips and gratuities

What to bring

• Lightweight pants and long-sleeved cotton shirts are ideal for walks in the forest. However, if you are more comfortable wearing short sleeves, remember that exposed skin may need a light application of insect repellent.
• During the rain, fully waterproof clothing can be uncomfortable, as it often gets you wet with sweat instead of water, but rain ponchos are recommended for tropical cloudbursts. Plenty of ponchos are available at no charge if you do not have your own, and rubber boots are also supplied up to men's size 14 for walks in the forest interior.
• Comfortable shoes (or sandals), shorts, and T-shirts are fine for walking on boardwalks and around the lodge during meals and free time. And don't forget your bathing suit!
• Passport
• Binoculars
• Flashlight and batteries
• Camera, memory, and flash
• Insect repellent
• Sun protection (cream/sunglasses/hat or cap)
• Light long pants and long-sleeved shirts for walks
• Shorts, short-sleeved shirts, and swimsuit for the lodge
• Comfortable shoes and extra socks
• Small day backpack
• Plastic bags to protect cameras, binoculars, batteries, etc. from rain

Know before you go

• The taking or harmful intrusion of fauna and flora is prohibited.
• Do not touch or handle the animals; you could transmit diseases, infections, or parasites to them, and vice versa.
• Do not feed the animals or lure them with food.
• Also, try not to eat during the visit, as this could transmit diseases or provoke animal attacks.
• When you finish the activity, take all garbage with you, including fruit skins or organic remains that you might consider harmless.
• Do not provoke the animals or try to attract their attention by shouting, making noises, or making exaggerated movements. This may stress them, frighten them, interrupt their natural behaviours, or they may even interpret it as a threat and attack.
• Avoid eye contact with animals; for some species, it can be threatening.
• Try not to damage plants when walking or driving vehicles in areas or on slopes covered by mosses or lichens.
• Minimize noise to avoid scaring wildlife.
• Be predictable and consistent in your behaviour. Avoid making sudden movements.
• Do not introduce non-native plants or animals.
• Respect the maximum time allowed for sighting.
• Respect the rules regarding the maximum number of visitors allowed. Too many people can stress the animals, make them nervous, and may even cause them to move away from their area.
• If someone in the group, or even the guide, does not respect these rules, correct them and report them to the organizers.
• Explore one of the most mystical and wonderful regions of the world: the rainforest of South America. Around 2% of the Amazon rainforest is found in the foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes, a place better known as the "Oriente," yet it holds a third of all existing Amazonian biodiversity. The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve protects around 603,380 hectares located close to the Equatorial line in the northeastern part of the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. In the reserve, there are more than 500 different species of colorful birds, ranging from small hummingbirds to majestic harpy eagles.
• Within one hectare of this place, you can find 240 different species of plants, and many of them are used for medicinal purposes. Jaguars, monkeys, anteaters, sloths, river dolphins (Iniageoffrensis and Sotaliafluviatilis), manatees, and armadillos are just some of the mammals that live in the reserve.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Lago Agrio, Ecuador

Tour start

P6HW+FPF, Aguarico, Ecuador

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.