4-Day Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve Adventure
Overview
Available languages
96 hours
Mobile ticket
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 that is better known as the ‘Oriente’, but it has a third of all existing Amazonian biodiversity. The Cuyabeno wildlife reserve protects around 603,380 hectares, which are 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 that range from small hummingbirds to majestic harpy eagle.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.
Additional Info
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
What To Expect
Adventure in the rainforest
Accommodations
Overnight stay in a Lodge in the Cuyabeno Reserve
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Box Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Cuyabeno Reserve
The tour will start in Lago Agrio at 09:30am in the morning. You will travel by pick-up bus for approx. 2.5 hours until you reach "El Puente", the main entrance to the Cuyabeno Reserve and last point of real civilization. Here you will have a box-lunch and then drive on the Cuyabeno River in a motorized canoe for 3 hours until you reach the Lodge. With a bit of luck you can already observe species of one of ten different species of monkeys and tropical birds, as this part of the river is narrow enough to observe wildlife closely. After your arrival at the Lodge, you will have more time to rest and then take an introductory tour around the area. After dinner, your bilingual tour guide will supply you with information about the activities you will do in the coming days. Meals: - / L / D
Adventure in the rainforest
Accommodations
Overnight stay in a Lodge in the Cuyabeno Reserve
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Cuyabeno Reserve
After an early breakfast you will start your exploration, taking advantage of the early hours of the day, which is the best time to observe the flourishing activities of the tropical forest. Your tour guide will share his knowledge with you during a walk in the rainforest, that has been passed on from generation to generation and is still applied by the local population. Watch out for amphibians, butterflies, centipedes and millipedes, snakes, birds, monkeys and other mammals along the trail. In the afternoon, you will make an excursion which will take you along the Cuyabeno River to discover the animals that live in the dense forest on the banks of the river, especially monkeys and also aras, toucans and sloths. Meals: B/L/D
Adventure in the rainforest
Accommodations
Overnight stay in a Lodge in the Cuyabeno Reserve
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Cuyabeno Reserve
An early morning activity through the forest will allow you to enjoy nature while wildlife awakens and the jungle arises; 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. Your guide will explain local traditions and cultures from the past to the present. In the afternoon you will drive by motor canoe along the Cuyabeno River to the Laguna Grande. When exploring the lagoon, you will get to know the flooded forest (Igapo), a very special ecosystem of the tropical jungle that is dominated by powerful trees in which many epiphytes grow and give the natural habitat to local birds. Meals: B / L /D
Last day of adventure in the rainforest.
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
Box lunch.
Cuyabeno Reserve
This morning activity will be a short canoe trip to enjoy the sunrise in the jungle, where you will have a good opportunity to observe some different types of wild animals and enjoy another moment of peace in this wonderful natural paradise. After breakfast you will have time to prepare your luggage for your return trip. You will navigate upriver to return to El Puente de Cuyabeno. After your box lunch, your bus will take you back to Lago Agrio, from where you can return by plane or shuttle bus to Quito. Meals: B / L
What‘s Included
Local guide
3 nights accommodation
Entrance fees to local community (approx. 5 USD)
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Gratuities
Overnight shuttle bus from Quito to El Puente and return
Options
4-Day Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve Adventure
Reviews
12 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wonderful.
albasR3868SW,,Oct 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My experience was spectacular from Natalia’s advice to the accompaniment of the guides and the experience in the community. It was wonderful.
Cuyabeno
Pics25,,Jun 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Thank you to Riwal for organizing my stay in the Amazon. I recommend 100% to trust him, I had the guide Jonathan, the best
Rain Forest Immersion
albrechti2024,,Mar 22, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went at the beginning of March, and it rained only once moderately during the four days. This meant we were out exploring nature as early as 6.30 am. Our group consisted of eight congenial individuals, all passionate nature lovers and travelers, which made excursions and meal times interesting and enjoyable. The rain forest immersion began as soon as our motor canoe entered the forest. From now on, we were surrounded by the sounds of insects, calls of birds and mammals, flowers, enticing smells, dense foliage, and, of course, wildlife: different species of apes, caimans (regular and black), pink dolphins (in a lagoon), snakes, huge spiders, and more. The camouflage of some of these animals is so perfect that I occasionally looked directly at an animal without seeing it -- until five fingers pointed at it, and it moved! I also liked the dramatic after-dark canoe rides during which insects, large bats, and night birds were exposed in the guide's beam of light. And at the end of the day the spoils of civilization seemed twice as sweet (although our showers never got warm). Our guide, Rom, was fantastic.
3 nights and 4 days in Cuyabeno
Ali94 AC,,Sep 2, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A friend of mine and I had a very good time, booking the trip and communicating with the agency was easy, the stay was very pleasant. The lodge in Fotestabamazzonica was very nice and respectful of the environment, the staff were friendly and the food was excellent.
Unmissable!
benjamindT2927LR,,Apr 14, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent, stay at the top! Thanks Riwal for all the information. Lodge at the top, very good activities once there. To do again if I get the chance this year
Great adventure in Cuyabeno
matthieubI1623FY,,Apr 3, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A sublime stay, filled with wonder! We went to 8 to discover this nature reserve in the jungle and we came back with stars in our eyes!! Thanks to Riwal who advised us this trip and organized everything for us! We'll call on him again!
Dreamlike
GretaH1990,,Mar 5, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An incredible tour everything perfectly organized and always with a contact person to reach. The food is very delicious and individual wishes / diets are superb.
WOW! Amazing experience of the Amazon rainforest
amitunger,,Oct 20, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing experience of the Amazon rainforest with Nicky Amazon Lodge. Our guide Jefferson was very knowledgable and wonderful, we saw so many animals indluding different species of monkeys, birds, reptiles, and even dolphins! The food was great fresh meals everyday.
Jungle sounds, animal species, communities welcoming you...
Billyana T,,Aug 24, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We spent five days there and we didn't want to leave. Jungle sounds, animal species, communities welcoming you, it is a tour which turns you inside out. You feel as if you come back to the energy source.
AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
Eva C,,Apr 29, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00One of the best experiences we had in Ecuador. We had the chance to live a unique experience in the Amazon in Cuyabeno. We saw in the jungle monkeys, many birds, insects and snakes! Not to mention the really sublime vegetation. If it were to be done again, we will return without hesitation.
From US$470.00
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Operated by Ecuador Galapagos Travels