3-day Amazon tour from Quito: Tamandua Ecolodge all-inclusive

Sleep in the jungle and wake to the sounds of the Amazon for three days

This 3-day, 2-night all-inclusive tour from Quito takes you into the Ecuadorian Amazon to stay at Tamandua Ecolodge, where you hike to a 70-meter waterfall, explore the Upper Anzu River, make chocolate from native cacao, and watch birds from observation towers overlooking Llanganates National Park. The package includes round-trip transportation from Quito, all meals, lodging, and guided excursions. You'll need to arrange your own airport transfer if required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Puyo and Waterfall Hike

• Pickup from Quito at 7:00 AM
• Travel to Puyo (approx. 5 hours)
• Lunch in Puyo
• Transfer to Tamandua Ecolodge and check-in
• Hike to Pusculin Waterfall
• Dinner at the lodge

Day 2: Upper Anzu River and Chocolate Workshop

• Breakfast at Tamandua
• Excursion to Upper Anzu River
• Lunch at the lodge
• Artisanal chocolate workshop
• Dinner at the lodge

Day 3: Birdwatching and Return to Quito

• Breakfast at Tamandua
• Explore observation towers and lookouts
• Lunch at the lodge
• Check-out from Tamandua
• Return transfer to Quito

The experience

The tour starts with a shared pickup from Quito at 7 AM for a five-hour drive to Puyo, where you'll have lunch before heading to Tamandua Ecolodge to check in. That first afternoon, you hike to Pusculin Waterfall (a 70-meter cascade where you can swim), and return for dinner surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest. The lodge itself has no electric light after 10 PM, so the only illumination comes from nature and the stars.

Day two centers on the Upper Anzu River in the morning, followed by an artisanal chocolate workshop in the afternoon where you work with cacao grown in the Amazon. Day three starts with breakfast and a climb to Tamandua's observation tower and viewpoints for birdwatching and panoramic views of the canopy, then lunch and checkout before the return drive to Quito. All meals, accommodation, and excursions are included. You specify your drop-off location in the city.

The lodge sits deep enough in the jungle that you're surrounded by the forest's own rhythms (animals, birds, and the river) rather than by other tourists or infrastructure. This is not a lodge with scheduled group activities. It's a place built around disconnecting. Bring insect repellent, hiking shoes, a swimsuit, and binoculars if you want to spot birds from the tower.

What’s included

• Round-trip shared transportation from Quito.
• two nights at Tamandua Ecolodge.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
• guided hikes to Pusculin Waterfall and the Upper Anzu River.
• an artisanal cacao workshop.
• and access to the lodge's observation tower and viewpoints for birdwatching.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Vanessa Bravo

Is this one for you?Three days means you leave Quito early morning and return by evening on day three, so this fits into a longer Ecuador trip without consuming a full week. If you need to reach the airport the same day you return, arrange that transfer when you book.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Quito to the lodge?

The shared transportation from Quito to Puyo takes approximately five hours or more depending on traffic, then a shorter transfer to Tamandua Ecolodge itself.

What is Pusculin Waterfall like?

Pusculin Waterfall is a 70-meter-high cascade where you can swim and refresh yourself after the hike in from the lodge.

What happens in the chocolate workshop?

The artisanal cacao workshop teaches you to work with cacao native to the Amazon, held in the afternoon of day two.

Will I see wildlife from the lodge?

Yes. The observation tower and viewpoints on day three are used for birdwatching and spotting the rainforest's flora and fauna, and the lodge itself is surrounded by animals and birds throughout your stay.

Is airport pickup included?

Round-trip transportation from Quito is included, but airport drop-offs are not. You can request that as an additional service when you book.