"CUYABENO WILDLIFE RESERVE”

$ 45 usd x pers x per day

Transportation (bus and canoe), food, accommodation, equipment (rain poncho, rubber boots) and
Guides with English, French or German language skills

The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is situated 0 latitude, 76 longitude. The national park offers us the opportunity to get a deeper understanding of the tropical rain forest and its perfect ecological balance of flora and fauna. Since the park is a protected area visitors can observe animals in their natural environment. Among the animals we can find species like sweet water dolphins, Caymans, manatees, piranhas, monkeys, snakes, macaws, herons, parrots, toucans and millions of insects which make us feel like we are really in the heart of the tropical rain forest.

FIRST DAY:  

.Lago Agrio / Cuyabeno – we meet the group at 10:15 at the Hotel D'Mario where we can also leave our belongings in a safe place. (The first breakfast, before we meet is not included in the price). To reach the Cuyabeno National Park we have to take a bus or a chiva (which is a common way of transportation in the jungle) for about 3 hours. Afterwards, we change for a motorized dugout canoe for another 3 - 4 hours, which takes us through channels and rivers surrounded by thick jungle vegetation. During this time visitors have the chance to observe the tropical flora and fauna which is facilitated by the explanations of our two guides. We arrive at the lodge at approximately 6 - 7 p.m. in the afternoon. The camp is a property of our agency.

Depending on the weather conditions, the activities
of the second and the third day may be switched.

 

SECOND DAY:

We are leaving after breakfast to visit one of the largest communities in the area called Tarapuy – Siona Community. However, to reach the village we go for an approximately 2 - hour adventurous walk in the Jungle. The excursion provides us the chance to obtain a deeper understanding of the medicinal plants in the Rainforest, which were used by locals for centuries. If we are lucky we may also see some animals, but this highly depends on luck.

In Tarapuy we have alternative programs such as swimming in the Tarapuy River or other sporting activities, such as football or volleyball (maybe with the locals).

Later, we return to our camp by canoe to have lunch.

After a short “siesta” we go for the next activity which is to visit a native house which belongs to our Native guide and you could participated making a very old way of Casabe or jungle bread then we could taste it .

Dinner will be followed by an alternative evening activity:

1. "Caimania" which means: let us see those shining red eyes of the caimans in the river or

2. A night walking in the jungle for about an hour just to see how the jungle is at night because 70% of the animals are active in the darknes

 

THIRD DAY:

After breakfast we take our canoe for about an hour to reach the Cuyabeno Lake (black water) which is the largest one in the reserve. Then, we go for “piraña fishing”.

Since our company has the mission to operate under the concept of ECOTURISM, we would like only to demonstrate how piranhas look like. Therefore, if someone catches a piraña, after a short observation, we let it go!!!

Soon we will have a picnic at the lake, then a walk in the Jungle for about 3 - 4 hours. During the walk our native guide will show us different varieties of plants, leaves, seeds, vain? ... (not only medicinal ones but also other, locally used ones for various purposes).

After walking we have time not only to paddle with our canoe but also to swim in the warm Cuyabeno Lake which is surrounded by macrolobium trees covered by abundant epiphytes(this is call flooded forest which is the only ecosystem in Ecuador's Amazon Basin) . There can also be found various species of tropical birds around the lake such as parrots, toucans, herons, cormorants, swallows and the noisy hoatzins (or as its nickname says "stinky turkey"). There is also a chance to see sweet water dolphins in the lake, but this 0highly depends on luck. To finish our visit at the Cuyabeno Lake area we wait until the sun goes down since the sunset is outstanding on the Equator.

After having our dinner in camp we have an optional night-program (either of the above mentioned activities which are did not do the day before).

FOURTH DAY.-(0ptional) after breakfast we take the canoe for about 40 minutes then a walking of 2 hours and after if we go for a short swimming in the river then we'll stop in a local house to have either a short visit for a Shaman(native
doctor) or Servatana practice, which is a local weapon, After lunch we take a small quilla(canoe)for about two hours. This paddling is the best chance you have to enjoy peacefully the enviroment. After it we go back to the base camp for dinner.

FIFTH DAY:

Listening to the sounds of the awakening Jungle requires an early start before breakfast ( 6 a.m. ). We are going bird watching for about an hour. After breakfast we can have a short walk in the Jungle or a swimming session next to our camp in the river. An approximately three-hour canoe ride on the Cuyabeno River , with its wildlife and with its beautiful scenery, takes us back to the bridge where we started our canoe ride on the first day. On the way back to Lago Agrio we are going to travel another 3 hours. The trip will be finished in bridge Cuyabeno around 12 - 13 p.m

ANNOTATIONS:

Health requirements: It is always advisable to consult your physician regarding health measures before traveling. No immunizations are required. Anti-malaria tablets are not necessary. Drinking water is provided during the trip

 

YOU WILL NEED:

• Passport (original)
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Extra money for drinks and cigarettes.

 

OUR SUGGESTIONS :

 

WE PROVIDE YOU:

• Rubber boots
• Rain Poncho

Every group has a Native Guide accompanied by a Naturalist Guide who speaks English, French or German fluently; they have a great knowledge of the flora and fauna of the area.

The area we visit is property of the Siona's community, so many times you will see another group during your trip, but the Camping where you'll stay is exclusive for Rain Forestur's Passengers and it has a capability for 20 people