Our Previews

5-day Cuyabeno Birdwatching

Our Previews

• 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.

• After that, you’ll travel by private bus for about two hours to the “Tierras Orientales” village and canoe pickup point on the Aguarico River. Here, you’ll have a boxed lunch and switch to a motorized canoe. The journey continues along the river for about 3 hours, taking you to “La Bocana,” where the Aguarico River meets the Cuyabeno River. You’ll have the chance to see pink river dolphins and explore the primary and secondary forests with a knowledgeable guide.

• Notably, many of these fascinating creatures can be readily seen without the assistance of binoculars. However, if you possess a pair, it’s encouraged to bring them along. Alternatively, we will happily provide binoculars to enhance your viewing experience.

• The next leg of the journey takes you 20 minutes up the Cuyabeno River to reach our Amazon Lodge on the shores of “Laguna San Francisco” within the Cuyabeno reserve. Along the way, you’ll encounter a diverse array of wildlife, including monkeys, birds, reptiles, and aquatic mammals.

• Upon arrival at around 4:30 pm, take some time to settle in and explore the stunning surroundings of the lodge. Indulge in a delicious dinner while our local guide outlines the thrilling activities planned for the following days.

• Under the cloak of night, we will embark on a guided expedition along the trails encircling the lodge. This walk will unveil intriguing nocturnal animals, including insects, spiders, amphibians, and arboreal snakes among other unique species. 

• At 6:00 am, we will take our motorized canoe to navigate upstream on the Cuyabeno River, through meanders and lagoons near the Lodge, to enjoy the morning and search for bird species that are not commonly observed during daylight hours.

• After relaxing and marveling at the richness of the rainforest, we return to our Lodge for an exquisite breakfast.

• After a short rest, we will take our canoe again to head to Laguna Grande, where we will take a walk in the terra firme forest to search for high-altitude birds such as pihas, manakins, and many more species.

• As lunchtime approaches, we return to our canoe where a delicious box lunch awaits us.

• We will then navigate among the vegetation adapted to the igapo ecosystem, such as macrolobium trees, in search of herons, tyrant flycatchers, and bird species that have made these ancient trees their refuge.

• As the afternoon falls, we venture for a dip in the lagoon and then continue to our Lodge, where a captivating dinner awaits us. Afterward, our guide will invite us to enjoy a glass of wine while we make a list of the birds observed during the day.

• A long day awaits us. We will have an early breakfast at 7:30 am, then gear up and board our motorized canoe to navigate downstream on the Cuyabeno River for about 5 hours. On this journey, we will have the opportunity to enjoy sighting new species as we go deeper into the forest. We will make several stops for photography, swimming and stretching our legs.

• We will have lunch on the riverbank surrounded by lush tropical jungle.

• As the afternoon falls, we finally arrive at a lodge that is built within the Kichwa territory, located on the shores of Laguna San Francisco, within the Cuyabeno Reserve.

• We will have a break and time to relax and familiarize ourselves with the surroundings until dinner time. At night, we will make a list of the species observed and our guide will give an informative talk about the place.

• Early at 5:30 am, we start our excursion on the Cuyabeno River in our motorized canoe (approximate time of 1h30 min.), the best time to observe a wide variety of birds and other animals until we reach the “Saladero” (a nutrient-rich clay bank on the riverbank) where we can enjoy 5 species of colorful parrots and parakeets feeding on clay to extract toxins from their bodies.

• After this magnificent morning with the birds, we return to our lodge for breakfast and a rest.

• Then, together with our guide, we will take our motorized canoe to navigate the Cuyabeno River, enjoying the thriving activity of the rainforest until we reach “La Bocana.” Here, we can once again observe freshwater dolphins and delight in a wonderful landscape, as well as appreciate the coloration of the white waters full of sediments from the Aguarico River and the black waters full of tannins from the Cuyabeno River, a spectacular experience.

• Afterward, we return to our Lodge for a delicious lunch.

• In the afternoon, at 4:00 pm, we will take our canoe to go to the Bird Observation Tower, which is built around a “Ceibo tree,” one of the largest in the area, with a height of 28 meters. We will have a spectacular and wide view of the canopy and tropical jungle, giving us the opportunity to listen to and observe a great diversity of animal life.

• As night falls, we venture on a short walk through the forest in search of new nocturnal creatures and enjoy the unique concert caused by the sounds emitted by a wide variety of insects. After this great time, we return to our Lodge where a delicious dinner awaits us. We will enjoy a local drink while making a general list of the entire trip, as it is our last night in the jungle.

• Enjoy one last early excursion into the forest or by canoe with your guide.

• 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.