5-day Quito to Amazon tour: Cuyabeno Reserve with lodge

Five days in primary forest, lagoon paddles, canoe rides for wildlife, and a Siona shaman's energy cleansing ritual

A 5-day tour from Quito to Cuyabeno Reserve in Ecuador's Amazon lowlands, with private transport, naturalist guide in English, and four nights at Caiman Ecolodge. You canoe down the Cuyabeno River spotting monkeys and dolphins, hike primary forest learning medicinal plants, visit a Siona community to harvest yuca and prepare casave, meet one of the last four Siona shamans for a ritual energy cleansing, and birdwatch at dawn before returning to Quito.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel from Quito to Lago Agrio

• Meet at Secret Garden Hostel 11:30 pm
• Shuttle through Andes to Lago Agrio
• Stop for bathroom break and snacks

Day 2: Arrival and canoe to Caiman Lodge

• Meet in Lago Agrio at 9:00 am
• Private transport to Cuyabeno Reserve entrance
• Register at Reserve office
• Board canoe for 2-hour ride to Caiman Lodge
• Arrive at Caiman Lodge and relax
• Swim in lagoon and watch sunset
• Spot freshwater dolphins
• Dinner at lodge

Day 3: Jungle hike and canoe activities

• Jungle hike in primary forest
• Learn about rainforest ecology and medicinal plants
• Paddle around flooded Igapo forest
• Swim at Laguna Grande if water level allows
• Evening motor canoe trip to spot caimans

Day 4: Visit Siona Community and shaman ritual

• Travel downstream to Puerto Bolivar Siona Community
• Harvest yuca at plantation
• Prepare traditional Casave flat bread
• Meet Siona shaman
• Learn about Ayahuasca cosmovision
• Experience energy cleansing and ritual chants

Day 5: Birdwatching and return to Quito

• Early morning birdwatching at 5:30 am
• Breakfast at lodge
• Return to Cuyabeno bridge at 9:30 am
• Box lunch
• Shuttle bus to Lago Agrio
• Travel back to Quito

The experience

The journey starts the night before at Secret Garden Hostel in Quito, where you board a shuttle that climbs through the Andes toward Lago Agrio in the lowlands. You arrive at 9 am, transfer to private transport to the Cuyabeno Reserve entrance, and after registering, board a canoe for a two-hour paddle down the Cuyabeno River with a naturalist guide. The river crossing is when the forest reveals itself: monkeys move through the canopy, and depending on timing and weather, you may spot freshwater dolphins. You reach Caiman Ecolodge by mid-afternoon, settle into your room, then swim in the lagoon and watch the sunset from the water before dinner.

The next three days follow a rhythm of forest and water. A full-day jungle hike takes you into primary forest where the guide explains the ecology, medicinal plants, and the intricate relationships between species in one of Earth's most biodiverse ecosystems. Afternoons mean paddling the flooded Igapo forest around Laguna Grande, where if water levels permit and you choose to, you can swim at sunset. Evenings bring a motorized canoe search for caimans. On day four, you travel downstream to Puerto Bolivar, a Siona community, where an indigenous woman guides you to harvest yuca from the plantation and teaches the preparation of casave, a traditional yuca flatbread. Afterward, the guide introduces you to one of the last four shamans of the Siona tribe, who explains the cosmovision underlying the Ayahuasca brew and performs an energy cleansing ritual with traditional chants passed down through generations of apprenticeship.

The final morning begins at 5:30 for birdwatching and sunrise, followed by breakfast at the lodge. At 9:30 you return to the Cuyabeno bridge for a box lunch, then board a shuttle back to Lago Agrio and onward to Quito. Private transportation from Quito and back is included. The guide speaks English throughout.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Quito to Cuyabeno Reserve and return.
• four nights at Caiman Ecolodge.
• naturalist guide in English throughout.
• canoe rides on the Cuyabeno River and Laguna Grande.
• jungle hike in primary forest.
• visit to the Siona community with yuca harvesting and casave preparation.
• shamanic energy cleansing ritual.
• early morning birdwatching and sunrise.
• meals at the lodge except breakfast on arrival day.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday and SundayDeparts at 23:30

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by CarpeDM Adventures

Is this one for you?This tour suits travelers with moderate fitness who want to move through the forest and water each day: jungle hikes, canoe paddles, and evening motorized searches for wildlife are part of the rhythm. The five-day span gives time to acclimate to the lowlands and spend meaningful hours with the Siona community and their practices, rather than rushing through a shorter itinerary.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 2).

What animals might I see during the canoe rides on the Cuyabeno River?

Monkeys move through the canopy along the river, and freshwater dolphins surface in the water, though sightings depend on the time of day and weather. Caimans appear during evening motorized canoe trips, and birds are most active during early morning birdwatching sessions.

What does the Siona shaman's energy cleansing ritual involve?

The shaman performs a ritual that includes traditional chants from the Siona oral tradition, passed down through generations of apprenticeship. The ritual relates directly to the cosmovision underlying the Ayahuasca brew and is part of the community visit on day four.

How long is the canoe ride from the reserve entrance to Caiman Ecolodge?

The paddle down the Cuyabeno River takes about two hours, during which the naturalist guide provides information about the reserve, wildlife, and flora while you travel to the lodge, arriving around 3:30 pm.

Will I learn how to prepare traditional Siona food?

Yes. An indigenous woman from the Puerto Bolivar Siona Community takes you to the yuca plantation to harvest yucas, then shows you how to prepare casave, a traditional yuca flatbread that is one of their staple foods.

What is included in the price, and what do I need to arrange separately?

Private transportation from Quito to the reserve and back, four nights at Caiman Ecolodge, the naturalist guide, all activities, and meals at the lodge are included. Breakfast on the first day in the Amazon and personal expenses are not included.