Cuyabeno Tour – 7 Days

Upon your arrival in Quito, you will be transferred to your hotel in the city. For the Cuyabeno jungle excursion, you must arrive at the pick-up point in Quito at approximately 11:30 p.m. The shared night bus will take you on an 8-hour journey to the Cuyabeno Bridge.

Accommodation Hotel Ikala Quito

In the afternoon, you will head to the meeting point to take the night bus to Cuyabeno.

In the morning, you will arrive at “El Puente,” the main entrance to the Cuyabeno Nature Reserve. From there, you will travel to your lodge in a motorized canoe. The journey along the Cuyabeno River takes about three hours and, with a bit of luck, you may spot the first species of monkeys and birds.

Since the river is not very wide in this region, there are many opportunities to observe the flora and fauna up close. Once you have safely arrived at the lodge, you will have time to rest a bit and take a first walk around the area. After dinner, your bilingual guide will briefly introduce the activities planned for the coming days.

Meals: Box Breakfast / Box Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation Nicky Lodge

Early in the morning, you will explore and observe some species of monkeys and birds—the awakening activities of the tropical forest. Breakfast. After a moment of relaxation, we will take a walk through the rainforest, where your guide will share their knowledge and experience with you. You will learn how the most diverse forms of life can coexist in the jungle and survive alongside each other in a delicate balance. Keep an eye out for colorful butterflies, frogs, and birds as you learn more about the wide variety of flora. Later, you will return to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will take an excursion along the Cuyabeno River, which will lead you through the dense forest landscape. You will be able to observe the wildlife found along the riverbanks, especially monkeys, macaws, toucans, and sloths. Here, you will also have good chances of spotting pink river dolphins (Iniageoffrensis and Sotaliafluviatilis) in the stunning river scenery. Before dinner, at dusk, you will explore the surroundings of the lodge in search of nocturnal animals that become active at sunset, such as insects, spiders, snakes, and frogs.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation Nicky Lodge

Early in the morning, you will go on a canoe ride to enjoy the awakening of nature. After breakfast, you will take a motorized canoe to visit the Seoqueya community, home to several Siona indigenous families. Family members will teach you how to make ‘Cassave’ (a traditional yuca bread from the region). Your guide will explain the local customs and traditions of their past and present culture while we have lunch. Later, return to the lodge.

In the afternoon, you will travel by motorized canoe along the Cuyabeno River to Laguna Grande. While exploring the lagoon, you will discover the ‘Igapo’, the flooded rainforest. This is a very special rainforest ecosystem dominated by giant macrolobium trees that provide habitat for epiphytes and specialized bird species. After exploring the lagoon, you can refresh yourself with a swim in the calm waters while enjoying the spectacular Amazon sunset. Later, your adventure continues as you observe the nocturnal wildlife of the river landscape. In particular, keep an eye out for caimans before returning to the lodge. Dinner.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation Nicky Lodge

This morning, you will have the opportunity to take an additional excursion, either by canoe or on foot. The choice will depend on weather conditions and the group’s interests. After breakfast, explore a pristine section of the rainforest with your guide. He will share insights about the medicinal uses of the flora, as practiced by native cultures for generations. At lunchtime, you will return to the lodge to rest. In the afternoon, you can explore the Cuyabeno River by canoe, enjoying the views of the exceptional landscape and listening to the sounds of the jungle while observing the region’s exotic species.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation Nicky Lodge

After breakfast, we will head back to the Cuyabeno Bridge for our final activity: searching for all kinds of animals the rainforest may reveal to us. Upon arriving at the Cuyabeno Bridge, we will receive our box lunch, and it is the place where our transportation will take us to our next destination.

Meals: Breakfast / Box Lunch

Accommodation Hotel Ikala Quito

Breakfast. Free day until your transfer to the airport for your international flight back home.

The journey has come to an end. After breakfast, we will head to the airport. At the airport, the guide will assist with any last-minute needs and ensure that everyone is checked in.

Meals: Breakfast