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Example of a Four Days' Program |
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Day one
Fly in about half an hour from the capital Quito across the Andes to the
frontier town of Lago Agrio at the high Amazon or Andean Foothills. Continue your journey
by private transportation through tipical frontier Amazone landscape to
the entrance of the Cuyabeno Reserve, "El Puente". After a welcome orientation
by the park guard, you will actually start your first excursion as you travel for about
two and a half hours by motorized canoe on the beautiful winding Cuyabeno River deeper and
deep into the primary forest of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve.
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| After a facination trip on the river, you will arrive at Cocha Grande,
the largest lagoon in the Cuyabeno Reserve. The Cuyabeno Lodge is the only
facility actually located on any of the seven lagoons of the Cuyabeno
system. After arrival, you take a hot shower and rest up from a facinating
yourney. If the sun is still above the horizon, you may enjoy a late afternoon
swim in the lagoon. Once the curtain of night falls you will silently head out onto the lagoon again by canoe this time in search of caiman, a close relative of crocodiles and alligators.
You can caiman with flashlights, reflecting in their eyes like bright
orange lights. Occasionally, with a bit of luck you may also catch the eyes of a
wandering cat in your beam. |
Day Two
At dawn, if luck is on your side you may catch a glimpse of a fresh water
dolphin or manatee streaking across the lagoon, while Blue and Yellow Macaws noisily fly
across the Grand Cuyabeno Lake. You may hear the mysterious swelling sound of the howler
monkeys or see a troup of squirrel monkeys bouncing through the treetops. In fact, 9
species of monkeys have been recorded in the reserve. Return to the Lodge for breakfast.
After breakfast a trek through terra firma forest with your Siona and naturalist guides to explore plants and wildlife, your Siona guide will teach you about the forest´s medicinal plants and local folklore. After lunch and a siesta you´ll take a trip by dugout canoe to the flooded igapo
(Brazilian Portuguese for Amazon swamp) with macrolobium trees covered in abundant epiphytes to spot monkeys and birds.
Possibility to stop in the middle of the lagoon for a sunset swim.
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Disembark for a short walk and a picnic lunch. In the late afternoon head back to the
Lodge by canoe. After dinner there is the option for a night hike: grab your flashlight and check-out the rainforest's
nocturnal critters such as translucent tree frogs, armadillos, kinkajous and
fruitbats. |
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Day Three
Early morning bird watching. After breakfast a trip on the river to a
location with permanently dry forest to watch bird life, like huotzins, caciques, parrots,
guans, king vultures and plants like bromeliads, palms, etc.
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| Return to the Lodge for breakfast. After breakfast travel deeper into the reserve down the Cuyabeno River. Disembark for a short walk and a picnic lunch. In the late afternoon head back to the Lodge by canoe. Possibility to stop in the middle of the lagoon for a sunset swim. Tonight there is the option of a night hike: grab your flashlight and check-out the
rainfores's nocturnal critters such as translucent tree frogs, armadillos, kinkajous and
fruitbats.
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Day four
On this day you will share 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 extremely early in the
morning to get back on time to catch the plane in Lago Agrio. You will ride the canoe up
the Cuyabeno River to the Puente, where your vehicle will be waiting for you to bring you
to the Airport, or to the bus for a trip back over the winding road through the
Andes flanks.
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The smile of this Siona girl symbolizes the welcome you will receive
during your visit of the Cuyabeno reservation
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For more information about Ecuador, visit
the Ecuador Explorer travel guide |
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