Day 1: Our journey kicks off at “El Puente” in the morning, which serves as the main entry point to the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve and marks our last encounter with civilisation. We hop aboard a motorised canoe and cruise downstream for about 2 hours until we arrive at the charming Lodge. Along this river stretch, if we're fortunate, we might catch glimpses of our first monkeys and various bird species. The Cuyabeno River narrows significantly here, offering you a close-up experience with the local wildlife. Upon reaching the lodge, you'll be greeted with a refreshing welcome cocktail. Later, you'll have some downtime to unwind and explore the nearby area on your first adventure. After a satisfying dinner, we'll set out to discover the lodge's surroundings, keeping an eye out for the fascinating nocturnal creatures that come to life as the sun sets, including insects, spiders, snakes, and frogs.
Day 2: We start early, exploring the rainforest for monkeys and birds. After breakfast, our local guide leads us on a rainforest walk to learn about the diverse life forms in this delicate balance. Expect to see colourful butterflies, frogs, and hear the calls of various birds. Lunch at the lodge is followed by leisure time, perhaps swimming, reading a book, or napping.
In the afternoon, we take a canoe trip down the Cuyabeno River, spotting wildlife like monkeys, macaws, toucans, and even pink river dolphins. Before dinner, we explore the lodge's surroundings for nocturnal creatures like insects, spiders, snakes, and frogs that come alive after sunset.
Day 3: After breakfast, we'll visit the Indigenous Siona community to learn about their daily life and watch how they make 'Cassave' bread. We'll also discover their customs and traditions. Returning for lunch, we'll then travel upstream by motorised canoe to reach Laguna Grande. There, we'll explore the flooded forest ecosystem called 'Igapó,' home to giant macrolobium trees and various birds like cormorants. Afterwards, enjoy a swim in the calm waters while witnessing the stunning Amazonian sunset. As night falls, we'll observe bats and search for caimans before returning to the lodge for dinner.
Day 4: There's an optional morning canoe trip to observe wildlife and say farewell to the jungle. After breakfast, prepare to depart with a box lunch. We return upstream to 'El Puente de Cuyabeno', The optional service is a tourist bus can take you directly to Quito, or you can opt for a public bus to Lago Agrio and proceed to Quito from there.