Cuyabeno Wildlife
Reserve
We are committed to offering the best experience in the rainforest of Ecuador
4 days cuyabeno tours
The 4 day Cuyabeno tour is a complete Amazon experience. With many activities to enjoy in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve: Canoe rides, community visit learning about their Cosmo-vision and local cuisine tasting, deep Amazon hikes, night walks, birdwatching at the observation tower, swimming in the lake at sunsets, and many more. The abundant Amazon wildlife is astonishing, you can even observe the pink dolphins, several species of monkeys, birds, caimans and anacondas… Prepare yourself to have the most unique Amazon eco lodges programs.
5 days cuyabeno tours
Enjoy the best Amazon tours in the Cuyabeno Wildlife reserve! During our 5 days Cuyabeno tours, you will experience unforgettable activities in one of our Amazon eco lodges: Canoe rides, deep Amazon walking exploration, night walks, birdwatching, and enjoying local gastronomy. This is the perfect option for travelers with just a few days available who desire to visit one of the most biodiverse areas in the world and complement a Galapagos or Ecuador tour.
Welcome to Ecuador Cuyabeno Amazon Jungle
The Cuyabeno area is the second largest reserve of the 56 national parks and protected areas in Ecuador. It is located deep in the Sucumbíos Province. The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is an important natural sanctuary and reserve in the Amazon jungle with rather unusual ecological characteristics. Located at the foothills of the Andes, it is different from any other Amazon protected area in the world, the Cuyabeno reserve is incredibly rich in species. This Amazon region is characterized by its trees such as ceibo, sande, and caoba can easily grow and reach a height of 50 meters.
The protected area is named after the Cuyabeno River, which overflows in its midpoint creating a 14 lagoon complex and also the most extensive wetlands of the Ecuadorian Amazon. These flooded forests are the territory of pink dolphins, caimans, tapirs, manatees, alligators, anacondas, otters, and of the water guarango tree, the most unique tree in this reserve; thanks to its special adaptations, it can grow on the shores of rivers and lagoons, creating a magical and mysterious environment that attract thousands of visitors every year. The reserve is also considered one of the most culturally diverse protected areas in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The indigenous communities of Siona, Secoya, Cofan, Kichwa, and Shuar live in this area.
Welcome to Cuyabeno Wildlife reserve, the place that will marvel your soul, your nature perspective and keep long lasting memories from this adventure.
Best time to travel to the Cuyabeno Reserve
The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is located in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The weather is tropical and humid due to our location at the equator. The annual temperature ranges from 20°C (68°F) to 25°C (77°F).
In the tropical Amazon jungle, it is recommended to be prepared for all kinds of weather. We recommend packing in layers and being ready for a great adventure!
Actually, there is no best time to travel to Cuyabeno; this is a destination all year round, and the drier months are from October to March. In terms of wildlife, you can appreciate all the species all year long, no matter if it is the dry or rainy season. You will be amazed at any time.
Explore the pristine, the history, the culture... immerse yourself in the wildest!
How to get to Cuyabeno
Cuyabeno eco lodges are located deep in the Cuyabeno river, reachable only by canoe rides.
In order to get to Cuyabeno, you must arrive at Lago Agrio. We will coordinate the meeting point and the transportation to the Cuyabeno Bridge, from this point, you finally start the navigation to the lodges from the Cuyabeno bridge for approximately 2 hours. While navigating, you will be immersed in the Amazon rainforest, which is home to thousands of species, and you will see monkeys, anacondas, and caimans before arriving at the eco lodge.
You can reach Lago Agrio by tourist private buses, public buses, or by booking a private transfer.
Our travel advisors will be happy to advise you about how to get to Cuyabeno Wildlife reserve on your booking process.
How to go to cuyabeno in bus?
Public buses: departing from Quitumbe bus station at the south of Quito, you must take an overnight bus (11:00pm) and travel for approximately 6.5 hours.
Private Tourist buses: this buses departs from La Mariscal or Quito Colonial areas. This is a very comfortable overnight bus, which goes directly to Lago Agrio. All the travelers of this buses are guides and tourists, so you can feel safe during the ride.
Line of buses that go to the reserve of the Cuyabeno
At the Quitumbe bus station you must take an overnight bus from the following companies:
Transportes Baños
Trans Esmeraldas
Transportes Loja
What are the departure times of the buses?
Public buses to Lago Agrio depart approximately every 2 or 3 hours, please note that you have to take an overnight bus.
The recommended departing time is at 10:30pm or 11:00pm, so when you arrive to Lago Agrio is safe and clear.
Ticket prices
The price of the bus tickets may vary depending on the bus companies.
The average for a public bus ticket is: $10 per person, each way.
If you take private tourist buses, the price is: $20 per person, each way.
How to go from Guayaquil?
You can reach Cuyabeno from any city in Ecuador, public transportation connects cities easily. The closest places to reach Cuyabeno are Quito, Baños, and Tena; of course, you can reach from any city. Please keep in mind that you must arrive to Lago Agrio and Cuyabeno bridge to start your tour.
How to go to the Cuyabeno Reserve by plane?
Nowadays there are limited connecting flights to Lago Agrio local airport.
If you need to reach Cuyabeno Eco Ldoges by plane, we suggest the following route:
Quito-Coca-Quito
Price per person: $260 (round trip airfare)
Cuyabeno Frequantly Asked questions
Travelers frequently asked questions
What type of accommodations should I expect?
Cuyabeno eco lodges have different types of accommodation. You can choose from shared, double, triple, or family rooms. All cabins have private bathrooms and amenities. There are social areas with lookouts to appreciate amazing landscapes and sunsets.
Is there WiFi access at Cuyabeno?
Being a protected area, there is no WiFi at the Cuyabeno Jungle lodges. You may find a very low signal in social areas, but it won’t work regularly. The great thing about being deep in the jungle, is being disconnected from our daily lives.
What should I pack for my Cuyabeno trip?
We will send a complete packing list and all the instructions with your travel voucher. But it is highly recommended to pack clothes in layers, sunblock, sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes, binoculars, flashlight, repellent, and dry bags.
How to book and pay for my amazon adventure?
Booking an Amazon rainforest tour is very easy. As soon as you choose your favorite lodge and tour, we need: your passport, a traveler’s form, and payment. We have a safe online credit card payment or wire transfer to our US bank account.
Fun Facts about wildlife in the Cuyabeno
Entering the Cuyabeno reserve means being a guest in the home of numerous unique species that welcome you to an unparalleled natural setting. The number of species that live in this reserve is only comparable to its incredible variety. This is home to more than 550 species of birds, 350 species of fish, 10 species of monkeys, and many reptiles like caimans, turtles, and anacondas. These animals harmoniously coexist with more than 12,000 species of plants that were discovered within the reserve.
This pristine natural environment is also home to truly extraordinary animals such as the pink dolphin, a sociable, curious, and intelligent mammal. There are only five species that live in freshwater and the pink dolphin is the largest, measuring 2.7 meters long and weighing 181 kilograms. Another amazing animal is the Hoatzin, a bird that has lived for millions of years. This bird is 66 centimeters tall, and the opening of its wings reaches 243 centimeters. All this added to the lagoons, rivers and flooded tropical forests create an ideal space to have the highest levels of biodiversity.
Experience nature up close at its purest level
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