5-day Cuyabeno Amazon tour from Quito: River and rainforest

Canoe the Cuyabeno river and walk primary forest with a naturalist guide

A 5-day tour from Quito into Ecuador's Cuyabeno Amazon reserve, based at the Tucan Eco Lodge on the river 30 kilometers inside the park. You travel by overnight bus, then spend four days on canoe expeditions, a 4-hour forest hike, and a visit to a Siona community where you'll see the preparation of traditional cassava bread and meet a shaman. A naturalist guide leads all activities and gives evening lectures on rainforest ecology and conservation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Slow Journey to Reserve Begins

• Meet at Secret Garden Hostel
• Enjoy meal or drink on rooftop
• Overnight bus to Cuyabeno Reserve departs 11:30pm

Day 2: Arrival and River Exploration

• Meet at Cuyabeno reserve entrance 11:00 AM
• Canoe trip to lodge, spot wildlife
• Lunch and relax at lodge
• Afternoon river and lagoon exploration
• Swim and enjoy sunset
• Night canoe expedition for caimans
• Dinner and evening lecture

Day 3: Forest Hike and Canoe Exploration

• Breakfast at lodge
• Four-hour primary forest hike with guide
• Lunch and relax at camp
• Afternoon canoe trip on streams
• Enjoy river sunset, watch for pink dolphins
• Night walk after dinner
• Taste traditional Amazon drinks

Day 4: Community Visit and Cultural Experience

• Visit Siona Community and see Casabe bread making
• Learn about native customs and traditions
• Box lunch
• Visit Shaman and learn about jungle ceremonies
• Return to camp
• Dinner and night walk

Day 5: Return Journey and Wildlife Viewing

• Early morning river exploration for birds and sunrise
• Breakfast and pack luggage
• Canoe trip back to reserve entrance, spot wildlife
• End of tour and transport home

The experience

The tour starts at the Secret Garden Hostel in Quito, where you meet the group and have time to eat or drink on the rooftop before the overnight bus departs at 11:30 PM. You arrive at the Cuyabeno reserve entrance the next morning and transfer by canoe to the Tucan Eco Lodge, a three-hour paddle down the river where you'll watch for monkeys and birds. The lodge sits on the river itself, 30 kilometers downstream from the park entrance and deep in the reserve's center.

Your days follow a rhythm of water and forest. Mornings often start before sunrise to spot birds and pink dolphins on the river. Afternoons bring either a 4-hour hike through primary forest (where the guide points out medicinal plants, frogs and insects) or canoe trips through smaller streams. Evenings include a night walk to listen for nocturnal wildlife, and every night the naturalist guide gives a different lecture (on rainforest culture, flora, fauna or conservation) before dinner. On day three you visit the Siona community to watch cassava bread being made and learn about their traditions, then meet with a shaman who explains jungle ceremonies.

On the final morning you paddle the river again in search of birds at sunrise, then return to the lodge for breakfast and a two-hour canoe journey back to the reserve entrance, where you board transport to Quito. The overnight bus gets you back to the city by the next morning. Waterproof boots and a rain poncho are provided. The guide speaks English or Spanish and all accommodation is in shared cabins at the lodge.

What’s included

• Accommodation in a shared cabin at the Tucan Eco Lodge.
• entry to the Cuyabeno reserve.
• round-trip overnight bus from Quito to Puente Cuyabeno.
• waterproof boots and rain poncho.
• all meals except breakfast on day two and dinner on day five.
• naturalist guide in English or Spanish.
• evening lectures on rainforest ecology and conservation.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday, Thursday and SundayDeparts at 23:30

AgesAdult (19 to 60 years) · Under 19: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Physically demandingNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by CarpeDM Adventures

Is this one for you?The 5-day length means you spend four full days inside the reserve doing canoe trips, forest hikes and community visits without rushing, but it also requires you to take overnight buses both ways and commit to a high level of physical activity. Choose this tour if you want time to see wildlife and learn from a naturalist guide without the pace of a shorter trip.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

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 much of the 5 days is actually spent in the rainforest versus traveling?

You leave Quito on an overnight bus and arrive at the reserve entrance the next morning, so you spend four full days at the Tucan Eco Lodge on the river doing canoe trips, forest hikes and community visits. The return is another overnight bus, so travel bookends the tour but doesn't cut into your time in the reserve.

What is the Siona community visit actually like?

You visit on day three and watch the Siona people prepare cassava bread, a traditional staple made from yuca root. The naturalist guide explains their customs and way of life, and you'll also meet with a shaman who talks about jungle ceremonies and answers your questions. It's a box lunch stop, so the visit fits into the afternoon before you return to the lodge.

Will I see pink dolphins and caimans?

Pink dolphins appear on the river if conditions permit, usually during afternoon and evening canoe trips. Night canoe expeditions are specifically designed to spot caimans with a flashlight. The guide will look for both, though sightings depend on wildlife activity on the day you visit.

What happens on the 4-hour forest hike?

You walk into primary forest with the naturalist guide, who points out medicinal plants, frogs, insects and birds along the way. It happens on day two in the morning, and you return to the lodge for lunch and rest time before afternoon activities on the river.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The itinerary includes a 4-hour forest hike, multiple canoe trips and night walks, so a high level of physical fitness is needed. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.