Waita Lodge
Region > Cuyabeno

ECUADOR AMAZON TOURS

Nestled within the expansive beauty of Ecuador’s Amazon Region, Cuyabeno Lodge offers unparalleled access to the mesmerizing Cuyabeno Reserve, the second largest in Ecuador. Immerse yourself in the heart of the Amazon, where the intertwining Cuyabeno, Aguarico, and San Miguel rivers create a tapestry of life, complemented by a network of enchanting lagoons.

Discover the astonishing biodiversity of Cuyabeno, home to over 500 bird species, 350 fish species, 100 mammals, and a staggering 400,000 plant species. As you traverse this natural wonderland, encounter the vibrant cultures of the five indigenous ethnic groups — the Siona, Secoya, Cofan, Quichua, and Shuar — each with their own ancestral territories, traditions, and profound reverence for the environment.

Itineraries

TOUR SUP 4 DAYS - 3 NIGHTS
Price from (p/p): $ 380,00

Day1

- Our adventure will start at 09h30 am at Hotel Restaurante D' Mario for people arriving by bus to the city of Lago Agrio, and at 10h30 am for people arriving by plane. We will then take our private bus and travel for approximately 2 hours to reach the town of "Tierras Orientales", a place located on the banks of the Aguarico River. At this point, we will provide a box Lunch, prepare to take the motor canoe, and begin our journey downstream Aguarico River. It lasts approximately 3 hours to reach the "bocana" place where the Aguarico river joins the Cuyabeno river. We will have the opportunity to enjoy an incredible landscape, since it is a place where we can observe pink dolphins of fresh water without difficulty, and where we are able to see the great difference between the secondary forest and the primary forest. After enjoying this spectacle, we will continue our trip for 30 minutes more on the Cuyabeno river upstream until arriving at our Amazon Lodge located on the borders of the San Francisco lagoon inside the Cuyabeno reserve. Along this route, we will be able to appreciate the great biodiversity of the forest, and we will have the opportunity to observe and photograph several species of animals such as monkeys, birds, reptiles and aquatic mammals. They can be observed without difficulty since our guides can provide us with binoculars if needed. Finally, once arrived at our Lodge, we will have time to relax and familiarize ourselves with the environment of the place. After dinner, our guide will give us a briefing about the activities for the following days and will invite us to make a night walk around the camp in search of interesting nocturnal species such as insects, spiders, amphibians, tree snakes and many other animals.
Day2

The best time for bird watching being before dawn, our activity will begin at 6 am. We will take our paddle boards and navigate through small lakes near the Lodge to enjoy the sunrise and the incredible landscape of the rainforest. During this tour, we will have the opportunity to observe a wide variety of species of birds and mammals. After having enjoyed this fantastic landscape, we will return to our Lodge to enjoy a delicious breakfast. Following a short rest, our guide will invite us to be part of a 3-hour walk approximately, accompanied by our local guide, who will explain us and share his knowledge about the practical use of medicinal plants that their ancestors have transmitted through generations. After benefiting from the great knowledge of our guide and his connection with the world of botany, we will return to our Lodge to have a delectable lunch. In the afternoon, at 04h30 pm, we will once again take our boards to navigate around the lagoon of the Ceibo tree, also known as the "giant tree of the jungle", which is located near our Lodge. We will thus be able to admire the forest flooded by black water - also called "Igapo". Within the tropical rainforest, Igapo is considered as one of the 5 ecosystems dominated by the famous trees of "Macrolobium" trees. Because of their great ability to store nutrients in their bark, they become home to countless microscopic animals, epiphytes and many species of birds. Later, we will visit the San Francisco river: a narrow white water river surrounded by exuberant vegetation where we can find species of birds that cannot be found around big rivers. When the night begins to fall, we will venture downstream in search of caimans (family of lizards), but also of nocturnal animals such as fishing bats, tree snakes and nocturnal birds.
Day3

An early activity allows us to enjoy nature in its pure state since the best hours to enjoy the rainforest and its animal life are before dawn. Therefore, we will start very early, around 05h30 am. We will sail on our boards along the river downstream for approximately 2 hours. This time being the best time for bird watching, we will have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of a large number of species along the river until we reach the "saladero" (clay bank full of nutrients exposed to the banks of the river) where colourful parrots and parakeets can be observed every day around 7h00 am. In this place we will have the opportunity to enjoy 5 species of parrots and parakeets feeding on clay or perchados around the place. We will then return to our Lodge for breakfast. After a break we will take the boards again for a long journey downstream Cuyabeno, while enjoying a prosperous rainforest activity, until we reach the "bocana", where the two rivers meet. In this place, we will be able to behold pink dolphins of fresh water and to take delight in a bath and a wonderful landscape. The union of the two rivers will allow us to appreciate on one hand, the coloration of the white waters full of sediments that come from the Rio Aguarico and on the other hand, the black waters full of tannins that come from the river Cuyabeno. We will then retour to our Lodge where a delicious lunch will be waiting for us. In the afternoon, at 04h00 pm, we will take our canoe to go to the entrance of the lagoon of ¨Amarum poza¨. There, we will enter the lagoon with our boards and keep going until we reach the Bird Observation Tower which is built around one of the largest trees of the place: the "Ceibo tree". From the top of the tower – which is 28 meters high – we will be offered an impressive view of the Canopy and the rainforest. It will give us the opportunity to hear and observe a great diversity of wildlife. Before returning to our Lodge, we will make a short night walk around the tower in search of new species of insects, then return to our Lodge where a delicious dinner will be waiting for us.
Day4

This being our last day in this wonderful place, we will have a last early activity with a brief excursion into the forest or by canoe to enjoy the awakening of nature. This is a good opportunity for bird watching. This activity will be the last memory we will have of this wonderful place. After breakfast, we must prepare our luggage for the return trip. We will sail 30 minutes on the Cuyabeno river downstream and then take the Aguarico river upstream for 3 hours until we reach Tierras Orientales where we will be waiting for our transport to move to the city of Lago Agrio. We will be arriving approximately around 04h00 pm, either to take the bus or the plane back to Quito.

TOUR 5 DAYS - 4 NIGHTS
Price from (p/p): $ 420,00

Day1

Our adventure will start at 09h30 am at Hotel Restaurante D' Mario for people arriving by bus to the city of Lago Agrio, and at 10h30 am for people arriving by plane. We will then take our private bus and travel for approximately 2 hours to reach the town of "Tierras Orientales", a place located on the banks of the Aguarico River. At this point, we will provide a box Lunch, prepare to take the motor canoe, and begin our journey downstream Aguarico River. It lasts approximately 3 hours to reach the "bocana" place where the Aguarico river joins the Cuyabeno river. At this point, we will have the opportunity to enjoy an incredible landscape, since it is a place where you can observe the pink dolphins of fresh water without difficulty, and where you are able to see the great difference between the secondary forest and the primary forest. After enjoying this spectacle, we will continue our trip for 30 minutes more on the Cuyabeno river upstream until arriving at our Amazon Lodge located on the borders of the San Francisco lagoon inside the Cuyabeno reserve. Along this route, we will be able to appreciate the great biodiversity of the forest, and we will have the opportunity to observe and photograph several species of animals such as monkeys, birds, reptiles and aquatic mammals. They can be observed without difficulty since our guides can provide us with binoculars if needed. Finally, once arrived at our Lodge, we will have time to relax and familiarize ourselves with the environment of the place. After dinner, our guide will give us a briefing about the activities for the following days and will invite us to make a night walk around the camp in search of interesting nocturnal species such as insects, spiders, amphibians, tree snakes and many other animals.
Day2

- The best time for bird watching being before dawn, our activity will start at 6 am. We will take our rowing canoe to enjoy both the sunrise and the incredible landscape of the rainforest, and we will navigate through small lakes near the Lodge. During this tour, we will have the opportunity to observe a wide variety of species of birds and mammals. After having enjoyed a fantastic landscape, we will return to our Lodge to enjoy a delicious breakfast. After a short rest, our guide will invite us to be part of a 3-hour walk approximately, accompanied by our local guide who will explain us and share his knowledge about the practical use of medicinal plants, plants that their ancestors have transmitted through generations. After benefiting from the great knowledge of our guide – and his connection with the world of botany – we will return to our Lodge to take a delectable lunch. In the afternoon, at 04h30 pm, we will once again take our rowing canoe to navigate around the lagoon of the Ceibo "giant tree of the jungle", which is located near our Lodge. We will thus be able to admire the forest flooded by black water - also called "Igapo". Within the tropical rainforest, Igapo is considered as one of the 5 ecosystems dominated by the famous "Macrolobium" trees. Because of their great ability to store nutrients in their bark, these trees become home to countless microscopic animals, epiphytes and many species of birds. After that, we will visit the San Francisco river: a narrow white water river surrounded by exuberant vegetation, where we can find species of birds that cannot be found around big rivers. When the night begins to fall, we will head back to the Lodge. We will venture downstream in search of caimans (family of lizards). On the way, we can also find species of nocturnal animals such as fishing bats, tree boas and nocturnal birds.
Day3

- Early activities allow us to enjoy nature in its pure state since the best hours to enjoy the rainforest and its animal life are before sunrise. Therefore, around 05h30 am, we will begin our excursion river in our motor canoe downhill by the Cuyabeno river for approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Being the best time for bird watching, we will have the opportunity to enjoy a large number of species along the river until we reach the "saladero" (clay bank full of nutrientexposed riverbanks) where colourful parrots and parakeets can be found every day around 7h00 am. In this place, we will be able to discover 5 species of parrots and parakeets feeding on clay or perchados around the place. After relishing this wonderful morning, we will return to our Lodge for breakfast. After taking rest, we will take our motorized canoe to go downstream along the Cuyabeno River, while appreciating a prosperous rainforest activity, until we reach the "bocana" where two rivers meet. In this place, we will be able to enjoy once more the freshwater dolphins and delight in a wonderful landscape since the union of these two rivers allow us to observe both the coloration of the white waters full of sediments that come from the Aguarico River, and the black waters full of tannins that come from the Cuyabeno River. Afterwards, we will return to our Lodge where a delicious lunch will be waiting for us. In the afternoon, at 04:00 pm, we will take a canoe to go to the Bird Observation Tower which is built around one of the largest trees of the place: the "Ceibo tree". From the top of the tower – which is 28 meters high - we will have a breathtaking view of the Canopy and the rainforest. This will give us the opportunity to hear and observe a great diversity of animal life. Before returning to our Lodge we will make a short night walk around the tower in search of new species of insects, then return to our Lodge where they will be waiting for us with a delicious dinner.
Day4

Once again, we will prepare to go in search of new adventures and new species of birds to enrich a little more our "checklist". On this occasion, we will have an early breakfast at 7:00 a.m. Afterwards, we will take our canoe rowing down the Cuyabeno river upstream until we reach the San Francisco river - a narrow white water river surrounded by lush vegetation - where we can find species of animals that are not common around large rivers. After a box lunch, we will enjoy a 3-hour deep jungle walk on the trail of Terra Firme. Our local guide will share more knowledge about the Cuyabeno rainforest, and we will be able to spot more wildlife. Following this exciting day, we will return to our camp at approximately 04h30 pm. For the rest of the evening, we will prepare to make our "check list" with our naturalist guide, and enjoy a well-deserved dinner and rest.
Day5

This being our last day in this wonderful place, we will have a last early activity with a brief excursion into the forest or by canoe to enjoy the awakening of nature. This is a good opportunity for bird watching. This activity will be the last memory we will have of this wonderful place. After breakfast, we must prepare our luggage for the return trip. We will sail 30 minutes on the Cuyabeno river downstream and then take the Aguarico river upstream for 3 hours until we reach Tierras Orientales where we will be waiting for our transport to move to the city of Lago Agrio. We will be arriving approximately around 04h00 pm, either to take the bus or the plane back to Quito.

Included

- Bilingual naturalist guide: English/Spanish
- River transport
- Lodging in traditional cabins. Private bathroom
- Meals on tour (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- Tea, coffee, chocolate available all day
- Catering for vegetarians or vegans
- Electricity to charge the batteries
- Equipment (poncho, rubber boots, binoculars)
- Happy time: 18:30 p.m. to 21:00 p.m. Free Caipirinha in our bar
- Shampoo biodegradable soap

Not included

- Ground / Air transportation from Quito to Lago Agrio – Lago Agrio to Quito
- Additional beverages such as beer and wine inside and outside the Lodge
- Visit observation tower: 5 dollars per passenger
- Breakfast on the first day
- Last Day Dinner
- Tips for our crew and guides

Jungle Ecuador

In short

Waita Lodge
Region > Cuyabeno

Itineraries

TOUR SUP 4 DAYS - 3 NIGHTS
Price from (p/p): $ 380,00

Day1

Day2

Day3

Day4

TOUR 5 DAYS - 4 NIGHTS
Price from (p/p): $ 420,00

Day1

Day2

Day3

Day4

Day5

Included

Not included

Booking & availability

In short

Itineraries

TOUR SUP 4 DAYS - 3 NIGHTS Price from (p/p): $ 380,00

Day1

Day2

Day3

Day4

TOUR 5 DAYS - 4 NIGHTS Price from (p/p): $ 420,00

Day1

Day2

Day3

Day4

Day5

Included

Not included

Booking & availability

TOUR SUP 4 DAYS - 3 NIGHTS
Price from (p/p): $ 380,00

TOUR 5 DAYS - 4 NIGHTS
Price from (p/p): $ 420,00