PROGRAMS FOR CUYABENO VISITS

Day one Program

Fly in about half an hour from the capital Quito across the Andes and visit the frontier town of Lago Agrio at the high Amazon or Andean Foothills. Our visitors continue their program by private transportation through typical frontier Amazon landscape to the entrance of the Cuyabeno Reserve, "El Puente". After a welcome orientation by the park guard, you will actually start your visit 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 Reserve.  

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 river 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 Program

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.

Our visitors 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 visit: grab your flashlight and check-out the rainforest's nocturnal critters such as translucent tree frogs, armadillos, kinkajous and fruitbats.

Day Three Program

Early morning bird watching. After breakfast a trip on the river to a location with permanently dry forest to watch bird life, like huatzins, caciques, parrots, guans, king vultures and plants like bromeliads, palms, etc.

Day four Program

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 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 along the Andes flanks. 

The smile of this Siona girl symbolizes the welcome you will receive during your visit of the Cuyabeno reservation