Skill Level

5-Day Canoe Paddle Paradise

• The adventure begins at 9:30 AM at Hotel D’ Mario’s restaurant in Lago Agrio. Whether you arrive by public bus, shuttle bus, or your own private transport, this is where we will meet. For those who prefer to fly, the nearest airport is located in Coca City. Be sure to check our transportation guide for more information.

• We’ll take our private bus and travel for approximately two hours to reach the village of “King of the Andes,” situated on the banks of the Aguas Negras River. Here, we pause for a well-deserved lunch and prepare our gear for a long journey downriver.

• It will be about a three-hour trip downstream. Along this route, we will have the opportunity to appreciate the rich biodiversity of the forest, observing a wide variety of local flora and fauna. After a wonderful journey, we’ll set up our tents. Our first campsite? A rustic abode nestled within a local family’s property. 

• After dinner, our guide will give us an informative talk about the activities for the following days and invite us to take a nocturnal walk around the campsite in search of interesting nocturnal species. Look for insects, spiders, amphibians, tree snakes, and much more.

• After the breakfast we immediately start the navigation river down, this will be approximately 4 hours. It’s an amazing chance to spot wildlife due to the narrow river.

• Following a lunch break and some time to relax, our guide will invite us to join a short hike. During this trek, our guide will explain and share his knowledge about the practical use of medicinal plants that have been passed down through generations by his ancestors.

• After enjoying a brief rest, we’ll once again take our rowing canoe to navigate downstream. We will navigate some obstacles and fallen trees until we reach our second overnight spot, where we’ll set up our camp.

• After experiencing an afternoon full of surprises and preparing our camp, as the night begins to fall, we’ll embark on a canoe journey or jungle hike. Along the way, we may also encounter nocturnal animals such as fishing bats, tree boas, and night birds.

• We start the day with an early breakfast before resuming our downstream river navigation along the dark waters.

• We break for lunch and try our hand at some catch-and-release fishing. Experience a rush of excitement as we cast our lines to catch legendary river predators and other Amazonian fish.

• After fishing, we set off on an interesting rainforest hike. Experiencing the rainforest on foot allows us to spot more species of wildlife.

• As the day unfolds, we arrive at our next campsite, which could be hidden deep within the forest or next to the riverbank.

• Bright and early, we set out on canoes for a bird-watching expedition, capturing the enchanting sunrise. After returning to the camp for breakfast, we continue our downstream journey until we reach the Cuyabeno River.

• From there, we proceed to our lodge, where we’ll spend the night. Along our river journey, we will engage in various jungle activities. After making our way through the different obstacles along our jungle adventure, we will reach our end destination. We will arrive to the lodge late in the afternoon.

• Upon reaching the lodge, we embark on an exciting nighttime hike in search of new species for our list, followed by a satisfying dinner and a well-deserved rest.

• As this is our last day in this wonderful place, we will have two final early activities. Our first activity is the “saladero,” a clay bank exposed on the river’s edge. Colorful parrots and parakeets arrive here every day around 7:00 a.m. to feed on clay, which helps them detoxify their bodies. At this location, we’ll have the chance to observe five species of parrots and parakeets feeding or perched in the vicinity.

• Return to the lodge for breakfast and pack your bags for the return trip.

• Take a 2.5-hour canoe ride back to Tierras Orientales, with opportunities for animal sightings and soaking up the beauty of the Cuyabeno rainforest.

• From Tierras Orientales take the private bus for around 2 hours to Lago Agrio.

• Arrive in Lago Agrio around 4:00 pm and take your bus or plane back to Quito. If you wish to use the shuttle bus option for your return, the itinerary can be adjusted on the final day to accommodate this.