Cuyabeno 3-Day Rainforest Escape
Laguna Grande, primary forest and night canoe rides from our own lodge inside the reserve
- All meals included
- Bilingual naturalist guide
- We own the lodge
- Boots and rain gear provided
- No experience needed
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Duration3 days / 2 nights
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DifficultyEasy
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DeparturePuente Cuyabeno (Cuyabeno River Bridge), reached by overnight bus from Quito the night before the tour
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Departure daysTuesdays, Fridays and Sundays
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LanguagesEnglish and Spanish
Tour overview
Three days is all it takes to sleep deep inside one of Ecuador’s richest wildlife reserves. You travel overnight from Quito, board a motorised canoe at Puente Cuyabeno and glide downriver straight to the lodge. No hotel stopovers, no waiting around.
Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge is ours. We own it and we run it, so the guide, the canoe, the room and the food all come from the same team. You book with the operator, not with a reseller.
You will swim in the Laguna Grande at sunset, hike primary rainforest with a bilingual naturalist guide, and head out after dark by canoe to look for caimans and boas. Pink dolphins live in these waters, and this is their neighbourhood.
Built for travellers on a tight schedule who still want the real Amazon. No experience required: all meals, rubber boots and rain gear are included.
Itinerary
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Day 1: Quito to Puente Cuyabeno and Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge
You travel from Quito the night before by public or private bus (around 8 hours) and arrive at Puente Cuyabeno. From there a motorised canoe carries you down the Cuyabeno River to our lodge. Lunch on arrival, then out to the Laguna Grande to swim and watch the sunset. Dinner at the lodge, followed by an exciting night walk to meet the creatures that only come out after dark.
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Day 2: Hiking day in the primary forest
After breakfast, a three-hour hike through primary rainforest with your bilingual naturalist guide: medicinal plants, frogs, insects, birds and all the details you would walk straight past on your own. Afternoon to rest and swim in front of the lodge, plus a second walk in search of animals and medicinal plants. After dinner, a night canoe expedition looking for caimans and boas.
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Day 3: Cuyabeno to Lago Agrio and Quito
Early-morning birdwatching before breakfast. Then we navigate back up the Cuyabeno River to El Puente, with a box lunch on the way. Transfer at Puente Cuyabeno and return to Quito by public or shuttle bus, departing at 11:00 a.m.
What's included
Included
- Private canoe transport: Puente Cuyabeno to Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge and back
- Bilingual naturalist guide (English and Spanish)
- Accommodation in double or triple rooms with mosquito nets and private bathroom
- All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), plus purified water, coffee and tea
- Excursion gear: rain poncho, rubber boots, camping tents and life jackets
- All excursions listed in the itinerary
Not included
- Transport Quito to Puente Cuyabeno and back (bus or flight)
- Community visit USD 10 and shaman visit USD 10 per person, charged only if the activity takes place
- Meals before and after the tour
- Tips
- Wi-Fi. An optional internet plan is available: USD 30 per device for the 3-day tour if booked in advance, or USD 15 per device per day at the lodge
- Any other expense not specified in the itinerary
What to bring
- Long-sleeved shirts, 2 or more
- Comfortable trousers, 2 or more (no jeans)
- Shorts and T-shirts, 2 or more of each
- Socks, one pair per day
- Trainers and/or sandals
- Warm jacket and sweater
- Swimsuit
- Biodegradable or natural soap and shampoo
- Sunglasses and camera
- Small waterproof backpack
- Mosquito repellent and sunscreen
- Hat or cap
- Torch with spare batteries
- Binoculars (optional)
- Reusable water bottle and towel
- Personal first-aid kit
- Dry bags for gear, clothes and documents
- Original passport or ID card
Good to know
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How do I get from Quito to the lodge?
You take a public or private bus from Quito the night before the tour, around 8 hours, and arrive at Puente Cuyabeno. We meet you there and continue by motorised canoe down the Cuyabeno River to the lodge. The Quito to Puente Cuyabeno bus or flight is not included in the tour price.
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Do I need previous jungle experience or a high fitness level?
No. This is a low-level programme: no experience is needed. The main effort is a three-hour walk on forest trails on day 2, at an easy pace with your guide.
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Will I see pink dolphins?
Pink dolphins live in the Cuyabeno waters and searching for them is part of the experience, along with the other wildlife of the reserve. As with all wild animals, sightings depend on water levels, season and luck. We never guarantee them.
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Is there Wi-Fi at the lodge?
The lodge is designed for a complete disconnect, so Wi-Fi is not included. If you need to stay online we offer an internet plan: USD 30 per device for the 3-day tour when booked in advance, or USD 15 per device per day if you buy it at the lodge.
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Can I meet the Siona community or the shaman on this tour?
The 3-day itinerary does not include the community visit, but it can be arranged: the community comes to the lodge on request, at USD 10 per person for the community and USD 10 per person for the shaman. If you want the community day built into your programme, our 4-day tour includes it.
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What kind of room will I sleep in?
Double or triple rooms with mosquito nets and a private bathroom. Bed linen, all meals, purified water, coffee and tea are included, and we lend you rubber boots, a rain poncho and a life jacket for the excursions.
Book this tour
Tell us your dates and we will confirm availability within 24 hours.
Write to us and we will hold your places while you decide.
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