Dolphine Lodge
The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is considered one of the most beautiful reserves in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Cuyabeno boasts incredible biodiversity. Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge is located in the heart of this natural attraction. Our lodges are situated right alongside the banks of the Cuyabeno River and just a few minutes by motor canoe from the Cuyabeno Lake area. Our location guarantees free navigation and access throughout the year!
Our lodge has a privileged location facing a natural pool of pink dolphins, where you can observe them throughout your stay with us, during the dolphin season.
You can discover this beautiful area with us! Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge offers several tours in Cuyabeno, with overnight stays in our eco-lodges. We offer 4-day tours. We strive to provide our guests with the experience of a lifetime.
Itinerary
Day 1
The Adventure Begins
Our guide will meet us at El Puente de Cuyabeno at 11:00 a.m. with an explanation about the reserve and the entrance.
We will travel by canoe on the Cuyabeno River to our Lodge, a 2-hour navigation where we can observe 10 different types of monkeys if we are lucky with the weather, including the pocket monkey that measures 10 cm, the only one of its kind in Cuyabeno, as well as birds, reptiles, mammals, etc.
Lunch: After the long journey, we will wait for you with our first meal, lunch.
Check-in and rest.
At 4:30 p.m., we will depart for the second activity: Laguna Grande, swimming, photos, sunset.
Upon returning to the lodge, we will search for caimans and boas in the river.
Dinner at 8:00 p.m.
Accommodation.
Level: Low.
Altitude: 0 to 200 m or 656.16 feet.
Temperature: 24°C to 26°C.
Activities: Navigation, swimming, photography, guiding.
What to Bring: Comfortable shoes, life jacket, raincoat, swimsuit, camera, insect repellent, towel, flashlight, sunscreen, binoculars (optional).
Day 2
Hiking to Discover the Amazon
Breakfast at 7:30 a.m.
We will take a canoe to the trail to begin a walk in the primary rainforest; our native bilingual guide will explain about the animals and medicinal plants we encounter along the trail. Duration: 3 hours, observation of birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals in their natural state.
Lunch.
Time to rest, read a book, or swim in front of the lodge, observation of dolphins in season, and discover the tranquility of the jungle.
At 4:30 p.m., we will leave the lodge by canoe to look for animals in the river, such as sloths, monkeys, parrots, dolphins, hoatzin, caimans, etc.
In the evening, we will have a night walk around the lodge for about 45 minutes to 1 hour to observe nocturnal animals.
Dinner.
Accommodation.
Level: Low - Intermediate.
Altitude: 0 to 300 m or 984.2 feet.
Temperature: 24°C to 26°C.
Activities: Navigation, hiking, photography, guiding, observation.
What to Bring: Rubber boots, raincoat, life jacket, camera, insect repellent, flashlight, sunscreen, water, binoculars (optional).
Day 3
Culture and Tradition: Visit to the Community
Breakfast at 7:30 a.m.
We will enter deeper into the primary rainforest towards the community, by canoe from the lodge to the trail known as Taricaya. We will walk for 1 hour to get there, and once there, the community will welcome us with typical fruits of the place.
With the women of the community, we will prepare the typical food called CASABE, from the harvest of the yucca to the preparation over firewood, and we will taste it.
This day we will not have lunch at the lodge; we will have it in the community.
In the afternoon, we will visit the shaman, the doctor of the community, where we will have a conversation with him about how they live, ancestral medicine; he will explain to us about the preparation of AYAHUASCA (without drinking). Ancestral cleansing for tourists who wish.
Return to the lodge around 4:00 p.m.
Visit to Laguna Grande.
Dinner.
Accommodation.
Level: Low - Medium.
Altitude: 0 to 300 m or 984.2 feet.
Temperature: 24°C to 26°C.
Activities:Navigation, hiking, photography, guiding, observation, culture, shamanism.
What to Bring: Rubber boots, raincoat, life jacket, camera, insect repellent, sunscreen, water, binoculars (optional), long pants and t-shirt, swimsuit.
Day 4
Bird Watching and Departure
At 5:30 a.m. On this day, we will wake up very early to observe birds since from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., the birds will come out to look for their food, and we will have the chance to observe them.
Breakfast at 7:30 a.m.; this will be our last meal included in the tour.
Prepare our luggage as we will be ready to leave.
Last excursion: navigation from Dolphin Lodge to El Puente de Cuyabeno, animal watching in the river.
Farewell, final photos, and at El Puente de Cuyabeno, we will help you take the buses back to Quito or recommend buses to other destinations.
