Cuyabeno Transport Guide

This is a third-party service (which we can book for you) that exclusively provides night departures. The journey is expected to last approximately 8 – 10 hours depending on your destination. Your arrival destination will be either Lago Agrio or El Puente Cuyabeno in the morning when the tour starts. Departures are on fixed days of the week.

Transpot from Quito to Lago Agrio & El Puente:
Departs every night except Tuesdays.

Transport from El Puente & Lago Agrio to Quito:
Departs every morning except Wednesdays.

Starting point El Puente Cuyabeno:

3-Day Dolphin Delight tour
4-Day Wild Amazonia tour
5-Day Enchanted Cuyabeno tour
6-Day Total Jungle tour
7-14 Days Work & Wander Cuyabeno tour

The shuttle bus departure points are as follows:

23:00 PM | Blue House Youth Hostel
Location: Joaquin Pinto E8-24 y Diego de Almagro.

23:15 – 23:25 PM | Casa CarpeDM
Location: Francisco de Caldas E1-106 y Los Ríos.

23:30 PM | The Secret Garden Hostel
Location: Calle E4-60, Quito 170136.

23:40 – 23:50 PM | Viajero Hostel
Location: Rocafuerte OE3 – 97

Please select the meeting point that suits you best. We advise arriving 15 minutes prior to departure at any of our meeting points to ensure a seamless start to your adventure.

A representative from the transport company will pick up the group from the lobby of the location.

The cost for this service is $30 per person per way for transport to/from El Puente Cuyabeno. You can choose to pay for your tour in cash directly to the driver or conveniently online through our booking system.

Breakfast will be included upon arrival at El Puente Cuyabeno, and lunch will be included upon return to Quito. In case of delays for any reason, the complimentary breakfast and lunch provided by the shuttle bus company might be affected.

At the end of the tour, the bus will be waiting to take you back to Quito city. The bus will depart from Puente Cuyabeno at 11:00 am, and you will return to Quito around 21:00 pm.

Starting point Hotel D’Mario:

5-Day Canoe Paddle Paradise tour
5-Day Cuyabeno Loop tour
5-Day Cuyabeno Birdwatching tour
7-Day Peru Border Explorer tour

The shuttle bus departure points are as follows:

23:00 PM | Blue House Youth Hostel
Location: Joaquin Pinto E8-24 y Diego de Almagro.

23:15 – 23:25 PM | Casa CarpeDM
Location: Francisco de Caldas E1-106 y Los Ríos.

23:30 PM | The Secret Garden Hostel
Location: Calle E4-60, Quito 170136.

23:40 – 23:50 PM | Viajero Hostel
Location: Rocafuerte OE3 – 97

Please select the meeting point that suits you best. We advise arriving 15 minutes prior to departure at any of our meeting points to ensure a seamless start to your adventure.

A representative from the transport company will pick up the group from the lobby of the location.

The cost for this service is $20 per person one way for transportation to Hotel D’Mario in Lago Agrio. Payment is made in cash directly to the driver.

Due to our operations, if you wish to return to Quito at the end of your jungle tour, our crew members will assist you to take a public bus. The bus will leave around 15:30 p.m. and you will arrive in Quito at the bus terminal Quitumbe around 23:30 p.m. The cost for this ticket is 12 USD per person and you will pay in cash directly to the driver.

We always assist our travelers so they can take the first bus available, but if the public bus is fully booked (very rare) you will have to wait for the next bus available, later that day. The bus companies have several departures during the day.

Alternatively, you can opt to take a shuttle bus early on your last day. Please note that this option requires an early departure from the lodge and incurs an additional fee to cover the shuttle bus connection.

Starting Point: Puente Cuyabeno at 10:30 am

3-Day Dolphin Delight tour
4-Day Wild Amazonia tour
5-Day Enchanted Cuyabeno tour
6-Day Total Jungle tour
7-14 Days Work & Wander Cuyabeno tour

To get to our meeting point from Quito, you have a few options:

Take the night bus from Terminal of Buses Quitumbe at 21:00 pm on the day before your tour’s start date. The bus company is Transportes Putumayo, which offers a direct route from Quito to Puente Cuyabeno. The bus fare is $16 USD per person, and you can purchase your ticket at the counter. We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes in advance.

The bus will arrive around 09:30 am in El Puente Cuyabeno and will have a stop in Lago Agrio for approximately one hour.

If you prefer a later departure, you can take a bus to Lago Agrio (Nueva Loja). Note that the bus price for the Quito-Lago Agrio route is $12 USD per person. Once you arrive in Lago Agrio, you’ll need to catch the next bus to Puente Cuyabeno. We recommend using Transportes Putumayo or Transportes Petrolera for this leg of the journey. The bus ride takes approximately 2 hours, and the fare is $4 USD per person. You can purchase your ticket at the counter, and buses depart nearly every hour; check the schedule at the transport company’s counter.

Upon your arrival at Puente Cuyabeno, your guide will be waiting for you at the entrance.

On the last day of the tour, we will return to Puente Cuyabeno around 11:00 am. You can take a bus from Transportes Putumayo back to Lago Agrio (Nueva Loja). This bus departs around 11:30 am and costs $4 USD per person. Once you arrive at Lago Agrio (Nueva Loja) bus terminal, you’ll have various options to return to Quito. You can book your tickets with different companies such as Transportes Baños or Transportes Esmeraldas. Check the most convenient departure directly at the counter of the transport company. The cost for the bus from Lago Agrio (Nueva Loja) to Quito is $12 USD per person.

Starting Point: Hotel D’Mario at 09:30 am

5-Day Canoe Paddle Paradise tour
5-Day Cuyabeno Loop tour
5-Day Cuyabeno Birdwatching tour
7-Day Peru Border Explorer tour

Once you are in Quito, you must go to one of the bus terminals in the city, either Quitumbe Bus Terminal (South of the city and with more frequencies during the day) or Carcelén Bus Terminal (North of the city). You can book your tickets directly in one of the terminals (only one way, the last day of your tour we will assist you to book the return).

We recommend you to book 30 minutes in advance with one of these 2 companies: Transportes Esmeraldas (www.transesmeraldas.com) or Cooperativa de Transportes Baños (www.cooperativabanos.com). Both have modern buses, are comfortable and secure.

The cost is $12 per person and per way. The trip lasts around 8 hours, and this is a very popular option as it is an overnight trip. You must arrive at the terminal at least 1 hour in advance to book your ticket directly from the transport company’s selling point. You can have a look at their websites for more information about schedules. In order to arrive on time to Lago Agrio the next morning we recommend you to take the bus that departs just before midnight.

Once you have arrived at Lago Agrio Bus Terminal, please proceed to our meeting point which is Hotel D’Mario. You can take a taxi from the bus station for $1-$2. Our guide will pick you up from there at 9.30 am sharp.

If you wish to return to Quito at the end of your jungle tour, our crew members will assist you to take a public bus. The bus will leave around 15:30 p.m. and you will arrive in Quito at the bus terminal Quitumbe around 23:30 p.m. The cost for this ticket is 12 USD per person and you will pay in cash directly to the driver.

We always assist our travelers so they can take the first bus available, but if the public bus is fully booked (very rare) you will have to wait for the next bus available, later that day. The bus companies have several departures during the day.

Available for:

5-Day Canoe Paddle Paradise tour
5-Day Cuyabeno Loop tour
5-Day Cuyabeno Birdwatching tour
7-Day Peru Border Explorer tour

To begin your tour, take a flight from Quito to Coca City, ensuring that your flight lands by 10:30 am on the same day your tour begins. Upon landing, a lodge representative will provide your transfer from the airport to the designated point of entry, with an estimated arrival around 12:30 pm. There, you will join with the rest of the tour group and embark on your journey into the Cuyabeno.

On the final day of the tour, a transfer will be organized from the lodge to the airport, typically in the afternoon, with an estimated return time around 16:00 pm to Coca City. If your plan is to fly back to Quito, it is advisable to spend an additional night in Coca City and taking an early morning flight the following day.

Prices for the Coca – Tierras Orientales OR Tierras Orientales – Coca Transfer:

1 to 2 passengers: $140 one way
3 to 4 passengers: $160 one way
5 to 8 passengers: $180 one way

The cost of the transfer will be divided among the travelers who use this service.

Note:

Please be aware that changes to flight schedules, such as cancellations or delays, may impact the regular operation of the tour. Any extra expenses incurred due to these unforeseen changes will be covered by the traveler.

Transportation between the lodge and the airport (and vice versa) can be arranged by Cuyabeno Wildlife Center, but flights from Quito – Coca City – to the lodge and back are not included. If you choose this option, please ensure to provide your flight details, including the exact date and time of your arrival and departure, to ensure a smooth operation.

A private transfer service, which includes a private car and driver, can be organized for you or your group. This option covers roundtrip transport (to and from Cuyabeno), commencing with a pick-up from your hotel at your preferred time, whether during the day or at night. The destination will be your designated meeting point in the Cuyabeno which is either Hotel D’Mario or El Puente Cuyabeno.

Upon the end of your jungle tour, you’ll find us ready to provide the return transfer.

To optimize the cost-effectiveness of this service, it is advisable for groups of at least 3 people. However, if you are seeking a quicker, more comfortable, and more secure travel alternative, do not hesitate to make an inquiry. Should you be interested in this transport option to Cuyabeno, kindly notify us, enabling us to offer a customized quote based on the number of travelers and your initial departure point.

A very popular option among our visitors is to travel from or to Baños de Agua Santa before or after our Cuyabeno Tour. As a quick note, the best way to do this trip is via public transport. We recommend you to book with Cooperativa de Transportes Baños (www.cooperativabanos.com) for this route. This is usually a night route, but it’s always best to consult the schedule directly at the bus terminal.

Once you arrive in Lago Agrio, you can continue taking the bus to El Puente Cuyabeno.

If you start your tour in Lago Agrio, please proceed to the meeting point which is Hotel D’Mario. You can take a taxi from the bus station for $1-$2. Our guide will pick you up from there at 9.30 am sharp.

Travelers in car or motorcyclists embarking on self-driven tours across Ecuador will find the Cuyabeno Wildlife Center an enriching addition to their itinerary. Located in the heart of the Amazon, the Cuyabeno is a must-see destination for any traveler; it’s an experience that encapsulates the essence of Ecuador’s diverse natural landscape.

Starting point El Puente Cuyabeno:

3-Day Dolphin Delight tour
4-Day Wild Amazonia tour
5-Day Enchanted Cuyabeno tour
6-Day Total Jungle tour
7-14 Days Work & Wander Cuyabeno tour

At El Puente Cuyabeno, parking is available free of charge. This area, situated near a military station, offers a reasonable degree of security. Additionally, we can arrange for local individuals to periodically check on your vehicle. While this service is complimentary, you might consider a modest tip of around 1 or 2 USD per day as a gesture of appreciation.

Starting point Lago Agrio:

5-Day Canoe Paddle Paradise tour
5-Day Cuyabeno Loop tour
5-Day Cuyabeno Birdwatching tour
7-Day Peru Border Explorer tour

For those seeking enhanced security, we offer parking at Lago Agrio for a fee of $20 per vehicle per tour. This option is ideal for travelers who prefer dedicated parking for the duration of their stay in the reserve.

Please note that in both cases, vehicles are parked at the owner’s risk. We strive to provide the best possible care for your vehicle while you immerse yourself in the rich experiences that Cuyabeno Wildlife Center has to offer.