4 Days at the Cuyabeno Waita Lodge

Cuyabeno Reserve, the second-largest in all of Ecuador, is located in the Amazon Region, in the northeastern part of Ecuador. It is traversed by the Cuyabeno, Aguarico and SanMiguel rivers, with a complex system of lagoons to complement the main water sources.
Cuyabeno is one of the most biodiverse nature reserves on Earth, with over 500 bird species, 350 birds, 100 mammals, and over 400,000 plant species.

There are 5 different indigenous ethnic groups living along its banks, the Siona, Secoya, Cofan, Quichua, and Shuar. Each community has its own territory, beliefs, and practices, but they all share a deep respect for nature and a simple way of life-based largely on hunting and gathering.

Cuyabeno Reserve is under threat from the oil industry and deforestation, which is why today it is more than ever paramount to protect this valuable ecosystem.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Day

Stop At: Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Sucumbios Province
Our adventure starts 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. To then take our private bus and travel for approximately 2 hours to reach the town of “Tierras Orientales” place located on the banks of the Aguarico River, at this point we will provide a Box Lunch and prepare to take the motor canoe, and begin our journey downstream Aguarico River approximately 3 hours to reach the “bocana” place where the river Aguarico joins the river Cuyabeno at this point we will have the opportunity to enjoy an incredible landscape, since it is a place where you can observe without difficulty the pink dolphins of fresh water, and to be 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 river Cuyabeno upstream until arriving at our Amazon Lodge located to borders of the lagoon San Francisco inside the reserve Cuyabeno. Along this route we will be able to appreciate the great biodiversity of the forest, we will have the opportunity to observe and photograph several species of animals such as monkeys, birds, reptiles and aquatic mammals. You will be able to observe them without difficulty since our guides will provide us with Binoculars in case we do not have them or need them. Finally we arrive 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 an 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.
Along this route we will be able to appreciate the great biodiversity of the forest, we will have the opportunity to observe and photograph several species of animals such as monkeys, birds, reptiles and aquatic mammals. You will be able to observe them without difficulty since our guides will provide us with Binoculars in case we do not have them or need them.

Finally we arrive 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 an informative talk 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 much more.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Over night at Waita Lodge

Day 2: Canoe + Jungle Walk

Stop At: Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Sucumbios Province
The best time for bird watching is before dawn, our activity starts at 6 am, we will take our rowing canoe to enjoy the sunrise and an incredible landscape of the rainforest, 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 return to our Lodge to enjoy a delicious breakfast.

After a short rest, our Guide will invite us to be part of a walk of 3 hours approximately, accompanied by our Local Guide, who will explain us and will share their knowledge about the practical use of medicinal plants that their ancestors have transmitted through generations, after enjoying the great knowledge of our guides and their connection with the world of botany we return to our Lodge to take a delicious lunch. In the afternoon at 16h30 we will once again take our rowing canoe to navigate around the lagoon of the Ceibo "giant tree of the jungle" that is located near our Lodge, and thus be able to admire the forest flooded by black water or also called "Igapo" considered within the tropical rainforest as one of the 5 ecosystems dominated by the famous trees of "Macrolobium" trees that because of their great ability to store nutrients in their bark become home to countless microscopic animals, epiphytes and many species of birds, we will visit the San Francisco river a narrow white water river surrounded by exuberant vegetation where we can find species of birds that are not found in the part of the big rivers, after having enjoyed an afternoon full of surprises When the night begins to fall back to the Lodge we venture downstream in search of caimans (family of lizards), also on the way we can find species of nocturnal animals such as, fishing bats, tree boas and nocturnal birds.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Waita Lodge

Day 3: Salt Clay + Canoe + Bird Watching Tower

Stop At: Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Sucumbios Province
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 sunrise.
Very early around 05h30 am. we begin our excursion by the Cuyabeno river in our motor canoe downhill by the Cuyabeno river for approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, this 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 nutrient-exposed river banks) where colorful parrots and parakeets 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.
After enjoying this wonderful morning we return to our Lodge for breakfast.

After taking a rest we will take our motorized canoe to go downstream along the Cuyabeno River enjoying 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 in the union of these two rivers we can appreciate 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, after having enjoyed this morning we return to our Lodge where they wait for us with a delicious lunch.

In the afternoon at 16:00 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 "a Ceibo tree" from the top of the tower to 28 meters high we will have a great view of the Canopy and a breathtaking view of 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.

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Waita Lodge

Day 4: Return Day

Stop At: Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Sucumbios Province
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 allows us to take the last memory of this wonderful place.

After breakfast you must prepare your 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, arriving approximately 16h00 either to take the bus or the plane back to Quito.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.