There are about a dozen lodges that offer Cuyabenode tour packages for 3 -
5 days. These are very good and interesting. However, quite a few people who
do not have the time to go out for several days or who don't have the money to
spend between $250 and $550 to see the reserve. That's why we offer an
alternative, the $99 day trip with discoutns for families
with children to the Laguna Grande of Cuyabeno.
We offer daily departures from 9:00 a.m.
from the main entrance at the Bridge across the Cuyabeno
River and return at 5:00 p.m., from
where buses leave for to Lagoagrio.
Currently, there are no flights to Lagoagrio, but there are bus departures
from Quito that take you directly to the main entrance of the reserve.
The main entrance "Puente de Cuyabeno" where you
board our daytrip canoe that takes you to the Laguna Grande
de Cuyabeno. The lake is the best place in the entire
watershed.
An Siona Indian naviagates the winding Cuyabeno river to
take you to the Cuyabeno Lake in his nimble motorized canoe.
We take you along the winding Cuyabeno River watching monkeys and birds. It is
a fascinating ride on this tributary of the Amazon River, which will first take
you to the largest lake in the reserve, the Laguna Grande Cuyabeno.
After your arrival, you can enjoy a swim in the lake and go on excursions in the
surroundings of the lake.
With a bit of luck you may see one or 2 species of dolphin as well as a family
of Giant Otters.
Birdwatching on the lake
There are flowers of
different colors in the reserve, but finding them takes a bit of effort. Orchids
and Heliconias are among the most striking plants in the jungle.
Blue and yellow macaws are quite common in Cuyabeno.
Black-mantled Tamarins live in groups of up to 200 individuals.
Huatzins prefer to eat the leaves of Macrolobium trees.
Macrolobium trees grow in the shallows parts at the margins of Laguna Grande. They are covered with thousands of
epiphytes and are home to anacondas
and thousands of birds and other animals.
After arrival the tour focuses on birds and flowers in the flooded
area, with its epiphyte covered Macrolobium "bonsai" trees. Huatzins in
particular are associated with Macrolobium trees which eat their leaves.
A visit to the Siona town is always interesting: a kitchen garden with explanations
from a Siona woman; Preparation of the cassava in the firebox, etc.
An orchard in the village with maniok plants.
A Siona woman preparing tortillas of maniok.
Depending on the time, you can visit the town of the Sionas to learn about
their customs and way of life.
CUYABENO, GETTING THERE AND BACK
There are 3 options to travel to the Amazon Lowlands:
Take the night bus on the Putumayo bus cooperative from Quito to the
Cuyabeno Reserve (usually leaves at 11 at night) from the "Terminal
Carcelen (Norte)"
in Quito and arrive in Lagoagrio the next day. Another option is from the
"terminal Quitumbe (Sur). As a result of major construction works it now takes about
13 hours. It
costs about $ 25 one way and you have to leave from your hotel in
Quito to the terminal an hour before departure (by taxi).
Fly Quito - Coca, which about $ 180 round trip, but it takes 2 X
$25 to take a taxi to Quito airport. The flight usually leaves at 9 in the morning, and
takes 30 minutes to arrive. After getting your luggage, it will be 10:30. We'll
pick you up at the airport. This fight is great for the
Yasuní - Napo River
Cruise. We can coordinate a 3 hours private transportation to Cuyabeno
for $60 with a minimum of 2 persons.
Take our Private Trans-Andean bus Transportation to
Coca and the Cuyabeno Reserve. It will pick
you up at your hotel early in the morning and take to the Aguarico River in
about 8 - 9 hours depending how much time we spend on the way at the
overlooks into the Cayambe - Coca Ecological Reserve, the San Rafael Falls,
the Reventador Volcano and the Papallacta spas.
The same applies for the Lake Cuyabeno accommodations which pass through the
main park entrance on the Cuyabeno River.
Routes of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve and Yasuní programs of Parks and
Tribes / Cofan Lodge:
Cuyabeno Lake Area including our new 1 Day Trip;
Lagarto Coche Expedition Leaving from Nuevo Rocafuerte at the border
with Peru;
Near the mountain pass you pass by
beautiful paramos and some of the highest rainforests in
the world along Lake Papallacta.
The San Rafael waterfall has collapsed into a sinkhole and
is no longer accessible.
Bordering Lake Papallacta is the Jamanco Spa with
great mineral water without prior filtration as done in
the Papallacta resorts. As a result, the mineral quality
is supposed to be better, while resort prices are a
fraction of the spas in Papallacta.
The Reventador is Ecuador's most
active volcano and frequently runs of lava can be
seen glowing in the night.
It is possible to
arrange for spending the night at either a Papallacta (costly) or Jamanco
(friendly and much more economical) Spa, but then another day is needed to
get to the reserve.
Many passengers
who take the private transportation, chose to fly back from Coca or visa versa.
Arrival at the airport of Coca.
On a clear day one can see the
Antisana Volcano, as you fly passed it.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
National Parks Tours
All hotels
and lodges;
Transportation:
All ground transportation on the National Parks tours;
In-country
flights where included in the national parks tour program, but NOT to/fro Galapagos
or Lagoagrio;
An English speaking naturalist guide. A German or
French speaking guide may also be available, but can't be guaranteed.
All entry fees.
NOT INCLUDED:
Meals and beverages.
Amazon Tours
Lodging;
Excursions with professional nature guides;
All Amazon
programs
include all meals, and fruit juices served with the meals. Our restaurants serve
a mix of international cuisine and occasionally, the Cofan Lodge offers a
sample meal of traditional Cofan dishes.
Meals include coffee, tea and bottled
water;
Transportation between Lagoagrio and the access
rivers.
NOT
INCLUDED:
Bottled and alcoholic beverages need to be paid.
COMBI-DISCOUNTS
Depending on the program you selected, we always try to give you
a discount on combined modules. Groups above 4 passengers will receive discounts, depending on group size.
HOW TO BOOK A TOUR?
Our programs are rather customized and we try to
accommodate the travel needs of our customers. To avoid misunderstandings, we
don't offer a prepaid travel option.
Just send an email to
or contact us through our contact data below.
From Abroad:
Sending money from abroad is rather costly and we try to minimize money going to
bank transfers.
Once your schedule has been worked out, we kindly request you to make a reservation guarantee
transfer of only $100 by
Western Union or
Moneygram. The balance you pay in CASH in
Quito upon arrival (we don't take credit cards!) This way you don't lose a lot
of money sending money. The $100 is NOT recoverable upon cancelation.
Why we don't accept credit cards in Ecuador either? The credit card services
charge 7%! We would have to charge you for that, making your trip more
expensive. We do everything to make your trip as cost effective as possible.
Already in Ecuador?
You can pay in our office mentioned below. We apply a cancelation fee of $100.