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PARKS AND TRIBES

WHAT R CUYABENO NATIONAL PARK, ECUADOR, FACTS [2022]?

Why better wildlife viewing on the narrow rivers in Cuyabeno, Ecuador:

1. Imagine yourself exploring the Amazon rainforest. Of course, you really want to see wildlife. But only in Cuyabeno you actually get to see it. This is why: Most wildlife moves about through the canopy of the trees. From where you are on the ground, your vision is limited, because the undergrowth and the leaves are in your way. From the relative darkness where you are on the ground, you get blinded when you look up towards the canopy. That makes it difficult to distinguish the characteristics of the birds and mammals;

2. From the ground, the canopy of the Amazon jungle looks almost black and distinguishing fauna that moves around at 35 m above the ground is almost impossible, except for highly experienced birdwatchers. The contrast between the canopy and the light of the sky is blinding;

3. From the water, however, birding is great, because trees along the creeks are lower and also, many birds and mammals like to move about edges of the forest, not surprisingly, among them of course many water birds. The light shines on the trees from the side and you are not blinded by light overhead. Moreover, from a canoe, one can explore the rainforest comfortably watching wildlife from a seat with your camera, binoculars and a bird guide at hand;

4. As wildlife observation must take place very early in the morning, it is paramount to be in the heart of the location of observation. In the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, the Cuyabeno Lodge is on a peninsula on the border of the Laguna Cuyabeno, right in the heart of the lake system, while visitors coming from other lodges must first travel at least 45 minutes to get to the lake.

These facts make the Cuyabeno National Park one of the best, if not the best Amazon National Park in the world, where one can see more different species of animals and flowers per day than in any other Amazon park.

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The location within the Cuyabeno National Park also is of the essence:

As bird and wildlife observation is best very early in the morning, it is paramount to be right in the heart of the best place for observing animals. In the Cuyabeno, this is the Cuyabeno Lake system. The Cuyabeno Lodge is on a seasonal island, right in the heart of the lake system, while visitors coming from most other lodges must first travel 30 to 45 minutes to get to the lake. According to Tripadvisor, our Cuyabeno Lodge is the best Amazon Rainforest eco lodge in Ecuador!

Cuyabeno National Park Facts

With or About 150 long and 50 km wide, the Cuyabeno National Park covers 590,912 hectares (5,901 km2 or 2,330 square miles) of mostly pristine Amazon jungle as you can see on Google Earth above. The Cuyabeno Lodge is only a few hundreds of meters away from the equator.

CLICK TO ENLARGE the official map:

Rivers of the Cuyabeno National Park

The Reserve incorporates most of the Rio Cuyabeno watershed which drains into the Aguarico River; About 60 km down stream, along the Río Aguarico, is the Zancudo Cocha Lake and further down stream are the Lagarto Cocha Lakes along the border with Peru. At a gradually sloping elevation form 300 in the East and 200 m at the border with Peru, the Reserve is covered with humid tropical rainforest.

Of the 19 monkeys of Ecuador, 10 species occur in Cuyabeno National Park.

The Cuyabeno Rivers and Lakes are visited by Amazon Dolphins and  occasionally by Manatees.

The Cuyabeno and Cofan Lodges, are located for exploring the park. Our programs famous for the quality of our tours with great guides who know their birds, mammals and plants. Check our Cuyabeno Lodge rates.

Cuyabeno National Park, Canopy tower

CUYABENO, GETTING THERE AND BACK

There are 3 options to travel to the Amazon Lowlands:

• Take the night bus from Quito to Lagoagrio (usually leaves at 11 at night) from the "Terminal Norte" in Quito and arrive in Lagoagrio at dawn, which takes about 7 hours. It costs about $ 25 for the round trip and you have to leave from your hotel in Quito to the terminal  an hour before departure (by taxi). Alternatively, you can take a day bus, but then you will have to spend the night in Lagoagrio. We will pick you up in Lagoagrio in combination with arriving passengers by plane, departing generally at 10:30 (depending on the arrival of the plane), to Nuevo Unión (2 hours), where we embark in our canoe at about 12:30. Between your departure from your hotel at night at 10 at night until boarding the our motorized canoe, will be more or less 15 hours. The same applies for the Lake Cuyabeno accommodations which pass through the main park entrance on the Cuyabeno River.

• Fly with Tame Quito - Lagoagrio. You can book your ticket at https://www.tame.com.ec, which costs about $ 150 round trip, but additionally you have to consider the cost of a taxi that costs 2X25; Then it actually costs $ 200. Your flight usually leaves at 9 in the morning, and takes 30 minutes to arrive. As many times the flight is delayed, count on arriving around 10, and after getting your luggage, it will be 10:30. We'll pick you up at the airport. From there it takes two hours to arrive in Nuevo Union, where we leave in our canoe at 12:30. Thus flying takes a total of 5 - 6 hours from your hotel until you can embark on the Rio Aguarico. The same applies for the Lake Cuyabeno accommodations which pass through the main park entrance on the Cuyabeno River.

• Take our Private Trans-Andean Transportation to the Aguarico or Cuyabeno River, of which you can read the details below. We 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 from the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve programss of Parks and Tribes / Cofan Lodge: Left above: Cuyabeno Lake Area; Right above: Cuyabeno Loop; Left: Lagarto Coche Expedition with the Cuyabeno Lake area as an additional option.

PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION QUITO - AGUARICO

• 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.

• Many passengers who take the private transportation, chose to fly back or visa versa.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

National Parks Tours

1. All hotels and lodges;

2. Transportation: All ground transportation on the National Parks tours;

3. In-country flights where included in the national parks tour program, but NOT to/fro Galapagos or Lagoagrio;

4. An English speaking naturalist guide. A German or French speaking guide may also be available, but can't be guaranteed.

5. All entry fees.

Amazon Tours

1. Lodging;

2. Excursions with professional nature guides;

3. 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.

4. Meals include coffee, tea and bottled water;

5. 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.

WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO BRING?

For this question we link to our special vacation packing list.

2021 COFAN LODGE / CUYABENO LODGE / PARKS AND TRIBES PRICES

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

Individual bookings are WELCOME