Are these really the Top Amazon River Cruises in Ecuador?
YES! This is why...
When walks through the jungle, wildlife overhead in the canopy are difficult to
distinguish. When you look up there is not much to see. The leaves are dark
against the light sky, appearing almost black. Along narrow rivers though,
light can penetrate through the forest allowing you to see birds and other
animal. This allows you to watch birds, flowers and mammals much better, from
the comfort of your canoe.
So what makes Cuyabeno so special...
The only nature
reserve in the Amazon-Andean countries with plains in the near-Andes Amazon
region. Slow-flowing rivers and abundant lakes can only occur in flat
terrain; not in hills. This makes Cuyabeno so unusual!
While there are
some well-drained forests, you may see some land-bound animals and birds;
but with such abundance of water, you will get to see lots of water-bound
animals like: Dolphins, Manatees, Capybaras, Caymans, Ducks, Cormorants,
Herons, etc.
Watching animals
from a boat is much more comfortable than on foot. Your birding and
mammals books, your binoculars and your camera are all easily at your
disposition.
But there is more...
Getting from
Lagoagrio to Cuyabeno is (mostly) over an asphalt road. Distances over water
are much shorter than to other reserves, like Yasuní National Park;
Our programs are
organized by or in collaboration with small Indian tribes, the Cofans and
Sionas;
All programs are
so child friendly, I took my grandchildren (3,5 & 6) there. Wao, did they
love it!
Our vehicle meets you in Lagoagrio to bring you to the
main entrance of the park "El Puente".
Our transport meets you in Lagoagrio to bring you in
about 2 hours to the main entrance of the park.
Main entrance ranger station "Cuyabeno Bridge",
where visitors enter the canoes to the Cuyabeno Lake area.
Upon arrival, your adventurous Amazon journey really takes off, as we take you
along the beautiful winding Cuyabeno River to reach our Cuyabeno Lodge. It's a fascinating ride on this tributary of
the Amazon River, that will take you first to the largest lake in the
reserve, the Laguna Cuyabeno also known as Laguna Grande. This is the perfect
spot to experience the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador, as
our
Cuyabeno Lodge is one of the few accommodation located on any of the seven lakes
of the Cuyabeno river system.
Our canoe takes you down the winding, narrow upper Cuyabeno River.
Until you reach the Cuyabeno
Lodge at a seasonal island in Lake Cuyabeno.
The welcome sign of the Cuyabeno Lodge.
Upon arrival you can take a
refreshing shower in your cabin.....
and take a look over the premises from the Cuyabeno Lodge
Canopy Tower.
After which you can relax on the deck, or....
take a refreshing swim in the lake.
At night enjoy a delicious meal
in the Cuyabeno Lodge restaurant.
All beds have mosquito netting.
Amazon River Cruise, Ecuador, Days 2 and 3
As birds are most active at dawn, you may start out your day with birdwatching
before or right after breakfast with our experienced guide. Blue and Yellow Macaws fly noisily
across the Cuyabeno Lake, while Hoatzins whisper their hoarse sounds as they
brows the leaves of the Macrolobium trees. You may also hear the mysterious swelling
sound of the Howler Monkeys or see a troop of squirrel monkeys bouncing through
the treetops. In fact, 10 species of monkeys have been recorded in the reserve.
Birdwatching early in the morning.
Exploring
Lake Cuyabeno
from a dugout canoe. For the short distances we like to use peddles instead of a
motor or use our brand new whispering electrical motor.
Chestnut-fronted Parrots are among the 550 species known
to Cuyabeno.
The Common Patoo is so well camouflaged, it hardly ever
leaves its day-roost when approached by visitors.
After
breakfast
experience the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador
in the "terra firma" forest with your naturalist guide where you can learn about
the forest's medicinal plants and traditions. There are many colorful flowers in
the
Cuyabeno Nature Reserve,
but it takes a bit of an effort to find them. Orchids and Heliconias are among
the more spectacular Amazon Forest Plants.
Some of the spectacular flowers of Cuyabeno.
A giant tree in the better-drained "tierra firma.
At a distance of
3000 km from the sea, there are fresh water crabs, high up in the Amazon
watershed. Are they there
from ancient days when the Amazon was under the Atlantic Ocean, or did they
adapt to fresh water and migrated upstream? Any way, they now live on
land in the tierra firma.
One of the afternoons, you will be taken to a Siona village, where you will
learn about Siona cooking and traditional food from their kitchen garden. Each
time a different woman of the community will give an explanation so that they
will all get a turn.
A visit to the Siona community: The Siona Kitchen
garden includes all sorts of staple food, like manioc
and even cacao.
Siona woman showing the
traditional way of cooking on a fire in a fire box.
At night you will be taken on night excursions, some - by canoe - to look for
nocturnal animals in the swamps, like Caymans and frogs. Other excursions are on
foot to look for the critters of the night in the forest.
A night excursion to experience the critters of the night.
Whip spiders are
related to the spiders, but but still very distinct. They are among the many
critters of the jungle you only get to see at night.
The Cuyabeno Lodge landing
dock offers a fabulous view over the Cuyabeno Lake and
is a favorite hangout for many of our guests.
The famous bonsai shaped
Macrolobium trees of Cuyabeno Lake at sun set.
Some of the fascinating wild animals of the Cuyabeno Lake area.
Amazon River Cruise, Ecuador, Day 4
On day four you will experience the feel of so many of our visitors: "It all
went by too quickly". Maybe you will become one of our frequent visitors that
keep coming back for a special program of one or two weeks. Anyway, you will
have to leave in the morning to get back on time to catch the plane or bus in
Lago Agrio. You will ride the canoe up the Cuyabeno River to the bridge, where
your transport will be waiting for you to bring you to the airport or to the bus
station for your return to Quito.
Days 4 and 5 are like days 3 and 4 if the 4 DAYS CUYABENO LODGE TOUR. The 5 DAYS
CUYABENO LODGE TOUR offers a fantastic opportunity to really
experience the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador and get to know the Cuyabeno
Lake area more thoroughly while spending a bid more relaxation time at our
wonderful lodge.
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.
We hope will meet you in person on one an Amazon River Cruise, Ecuador
and enjoy the beautiful Amazon region.
OUR PARKS AND TRIBES ECO TOURS
(Scroll down for the full description of the current page)
STANDARD COFAN LODGE TOUR
Start your Cuyabeno journey on
Ecuador's most scenic wide Amazon tributary, the Aguarico River. Spend 3 nights in the Cofan Lodge,
exploring the lower Cuyabeno and Zábalo Rivers.
The Cuyabeno Loop explores
the breathtaking scenery of lower Cuyabeno and Zábalo
Rivers and the Cuyabeno Lake. Watch the amazing birds and
wildlife. Pass 2 nights with the amazing Cofan Indians in
the Cofan Lodge and enjoy 2 nights of comfort in the famous
Cuyabeno Lodge.
The Lagarto Cocha Expedition on hidden
creeks and lakes is the best Amazon journey in Ecuador!
Discover Indian tribes in Ecuador, Monkeys, Sloths,
Dolphins. No other Amazon rainforest in any of the
Amazon-Andean countries can match the wildlife viewing
of Cuyabeno and it is far better than Yasuní!
The Cuyabeno Lake Program
explores all the wild places surrounding the Cuyabeno Lake.
Bonsai-shaped Macrolobia trees with the whispering of the
mysterious prehistoric Hoatzin birds and the noisy Blue and
Yellow Macaws. Our Cuyabeno Lodge is on the best location,
because we were the first and chose the best location on a
seasonal island in the Cuyabeno Lake itself.
Our Northern Andes Tour lets you get a
taste of some of the best Andean National Parks,
visiting the highest groves in the world: the Polylepis
trees, the highest mountain in the world calculated from
the center of the Earth, the Chimborazo with Vecuñas and
Lamas, the highest active volcano in the world, the
Cotopaxi.
Our National Parks Tours take you on a fantastic
journey along the best possible sample of Andean and coastal
parks. They have been designed to complement
Galapagos and/or Amazon cruises. They can start from different places, particularly Quito,
Guayaquil and Cuenca. While the full program lasts 9 days, it is possible to
make a limited selection of parks, like the 6 days' "Andes
and Coast" module.
We have a fabulous selection of Galapagos
programs, including cruises, island hopping, scuba
diving or relaxing on one of the many different hotels
varying from modest inns to deluxe resorts.
A fabulous program for visiting the most
famous cultural highlights Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and the
Sacred Valley. At the same time it serves as the Lima hub
for the Peru National Parks Tour. This module is an
extension to our National Parks Tour Ecuador and/or Galapagos National Park
and/or Amazon Cruises.