PARKS AND TRIBES

HOW TO GET FROM QUITO TO CUYABENO [2026]

HOW TO GET FROM QUITO TO CUYABENO, GETTING THERE AND BACK

There are 4 options [2026] to travel to Cuyabeno from Quito, fly to Coca; Public Bus; Private Bus; Private Transport:

• Take the night bus from Quito to Lagoagrio (usually leaves at 11 at night) from either the "Terminal Norte" in Northern Quito, or the "Quitumbe Terminal" in Southern Quito. You can now get to Quitumbe on the Metro for less than a dollar. In about 7 hours, you arrive in Lagoagrio at dawn. 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) for the Northern bus station. 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, generally at 10:30, to the entrance of the Cuyabeno Reserve at the Cuyabeno Bridge (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.

• Fly Quito - Coca. Your flight costs about $ 200 round trip, but additionally you have to consider the cost of a taxi that costs 2X25; Then it actually costs $ 250. 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 Bus. 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.

• Private Transportation... Read more: Private Bus; Public Bus Departures; Flights to Coca; and more...  We organize fully private transportation just for you. This may be a good alternative for groups of 4 persons or more. This way you can combine it with spending a night at the Papallacta Spa (details below) and make stops at scenic sites along the way. Like the Private Trans-Andean bus it takes 8-9 hours to arrive at the Cuyabeno Bridge Entrance.

	Routes of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve and Yasuni ­ programs of Parks and Tribes / Cofan Lodge: Cuyabeno Lake Area including our new 1 Day Trip; Lagartocoche Expedition Leaving from Nuevo Rocafuerte at the border with Peru; Cuyabeno Loop; Yasuni - Napo River Expedition.

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 Coca;

4. 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 Cuyabeno.

NOT INCLUDED:

Bottled and alcoholic beverages need to be paid.

A German or French speaking guide may be available at an additional cost.

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 info@cuyabenolodge.com or contact us through our contact data below. 

From Abroad:

Once your schedule has been worked out, we kindly request you to make a reservation guarantee transfer by Western Union or Moneygram, bank transfer or credit card, as we need to consolidate your reservation with providers. For customized itineraries, the cancellation fee is 10%, as customizing a tour requires a considerable amount of work. Cancellation 30 days from the departure date is 50% and 15 days prior to departure 100%.

WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO BRING?

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

[2026] COFAN LODGE / CUYABENO LODGE / PARKS AND TRIBES PRICES

Individual bookings are WELCOME

SAN RAFAEL WATERFALL, ECUADOR