DOLPHIN LODGE
Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge is set at the heart of natural attractions, just a couple of minutes' motor canoe ride away from the Cuyabeno lake area and right next to the banks of the Cuyabeno River. From the hammocks at our pier, you may spot freshwater dolphins and enjoy the scenery of the river. Our location guarantees free navigation and access all year around, even in the drier season from December to February. We can offer 4 matrimonial rooms, 1 quadruple room, 3 triple rooms, 4 double rooms with private bathrooms, all rooms with lower beds. Our maximum capacity is 40 guests. Our commitment to responsible and ecological tourism
Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge
follows rigorous ecological standards for protected areas. Accordingly, all sewage is carefully processed and filtered to avoid contaminating water systems and soils, and the lodge obtains its energy exclusively from clean energy through solar panels.
Each room is equipped with solar-powered light and a 110V electric socket. In order to reduce the use of nonrenewable energy resources, we do not use water-heating systems and provide cold water only. All of our refuse material is separated and recycled to the greatest extent possible
We maintain a strong and friendly relationship with members of the indigenous community and support their active involvement in tourism. They receive economic income through their work as paddling aids, motor canoe drivers, kitchen helpers, and camp administrators with us.
The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is considered one of the most beautiful reserves in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Cuyabeno has incredible biodiversity. Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge is located in the heart of this natural attraction. The Lodges are located right next to the banks of the Cuyabeno River and a couple of minutes by motor canoe from the Cuyabeno
Lake area. Our location guarantees free navigation and access all year round!
The lodge has a privileged location in front of a natural pool of pink dolphins, you will be able to observe them all the time during your stay with us, during dolphin season.
SERVICES
Staff
Our friendly staff form the backbone of the Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge experience, and are always available to cater to any special needs you may have.
Bar
Enjoy a beer or cocktail. We also have a well-selected wine list that includes wines from Ecuador..
mosquito net
All cabins are equipped with mosquito nets, placed over the beds to prevent mosquito bites.
Electricity
Throughout the Lodge, 24-hour electricity is provided by a distant, nearly inaudible generator.
Boots & Ponchos
Clean and disinfected bubber boots and rain ponchos are available for all of our guests at the Lodge, free of charge.
Water
Purified, safe drinking water is available at multiple points around the Lodge – there’s no need to bring your own bottled water.
Transport
Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge has transportation from the airport to the lodge.
Communications
In case of emergency, both cellular telephone and radio communications are available from the Lodge. In addition, each of our guides maintains permanent radio contact with the Lodge during all excursions and activities.
PROGRAM
3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS
$240
PER PERSON
BOOK NOW
Our guide will meet us at El Puente de Cuyabeno at 11:00 a.m. with an explanation about the reserve and the entrance. We will travel by canoe on the Cuyabeno River to our Lodge, 2 hours of navigation where we can observe 10 different kinds of monkeys if we are lucky with the weather, including the pocket monkey that measures 10cm, the only one of its kind in Cuyabeno, birds, reptiles, mammals, etc. Lunch, After the long trip we will wait for you with our first meal, lunch. Check in and rest.
4:30 p.m. Departure to the second activity Laguna Grande, Swimming, Photos, Sunset. Upon returning to the lodge, we will search for Caimans and Boas in the river. Dinner 8:00 a.m.
Lodging.
Breakfast 7:30 a.m. We will take a canoe to the trail to start a walk in primary rainforest, our native bilingual guide will explain about animals and medicinal plants that we find on the trail, duration 3 hours, observation of birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, in their natural state. Lunch. Time to rest, read a book or swim in front of the lodge, observation of dolphins in season, discover the tranquility of the jungle.
4:30 a.m. we will leave the lodge by canoe to look for animals in the river such as sloths, monkeys, parrots, dolphins, hoatzin, caimans, etc. In the evening we have a night walk around the lodge about 45min to 1 hour to observe nocturnal animals. Dinner. Lodging.
5:30 a.m. On this day we will wake up very early to observe Birds, since at 06:00 a.m., until 07:00 a.m., the birds will come out to look for their food and we will have the possibility to watch them. Breakfast 7:30 a.m., it will be our last meal included in the tour. Prepare our luggage as we will be ready to leave. Last excursion navigation from Dolphin Lodge to El Puente de Cuyabeno, animal watching in the river. Farewell, final photos, and at El Puente de Cuyabeno we will help you to take the buses back to Quito.
Note: Transportation Quito - Cuyabeno - Quito. (It is not included and has an extra cost of $30 per person each way, Round Trip $60)
PROGRAM
4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS
$290
PER PERSON
BOOK NOW
Our guide will meet us at El Puente de Cuyabeno at 11:00 a.m. with an explanation about the reserve and the entrance. We will travel by canoe on the Cuyabeno River to our Lodge, 2 hours of navigation where we can observe 10 different kinds of monkeys if we are lucky with the weather, including the pocket monkey that measures 10cm, the only one of its kind in Cuyabeno, birds, reptiles, mammals, etc. Lunch, After the long trip we will wait for you with our first meal, lunch. Check in and rest.
4:30 p.m. Departure to the second activity Laguna Grande, Swimming, Photos, Sunset.
Upon returning to the lodge, we will search for Caimans and Boas in the river. Dinner 8:00 a.m. Lodging.
Breakfast 7:30 a.m. We will take a canoe to the trail to start a walk in primary rainforest, our native bilingual guide will explain about animals and medicinal plants that we find on the trail, duration 3 hours, observation of birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, in their natural state. Lunch. Time to rest, read a book or swim in front of the lodge, observation of dolphins in season, discover the tranquility of the jungle. 4:30 a.m. we will leave the lodge by canoe to look for animals in the river such as sloths, monkeys, parrots, dolphins, hoatzin, caimans, etc. In the evening we have a night walk around the lodge about 45min to 1 hour to observe nocturnal animals. Dinner. Lodging.
Breakfast 7:30 a.m. We will enter deeper the primary rainforest to the community, by canoe from the Lodge to the train known as Taricaya, we will walk for 1 hour to get there, once there the community welcomes us with typical fruits of the place.
With the ladies of the community, we will make the preparation of the typical food called CASABE, from the harvest of the Yucca to the preparation in firewood, tasting.
This day we will not have lunch at the Lodge, we will do it in the community.
In the afternoon we will visit the Shaman, the doctor of the community, where we will have a conversation with yours, about how they live, ancestral medicine, he will explain us about the preparation of AYAHUASCA. (No drinking). Ancestral cleaning with the tourists who wish. Return to the Lodge at about 4:00 p.m. Visit the Laguna Grande. Dinner.
5:30 a.m. On this day we will wake up very early to observe Birds, since at 06:00 a.m., until 07:00 a.m., the birds will come out to look for their food and we will have the possibility to watch them. Breakfast 7:30 a.m., it will be our last meal included in the tour. Prepare our luggage as we will be ready to leave. Last excursion navigation from Dolphin Lodge to El Puente de Cuyabeno, animal watching in the river. Farewell, final photos, and at El Puente de Cuyabeno we will help you to take the buses back to Quito.
Note: Transportation Quito - Cuyabeno - Quito. (It is not included and has an extra cost of $30 per person each way, Round Trip $60)
PROGRAM
5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
$330
PER PERSON
BOOK NOW
Our guide will meet us at El Puente de Cuyabeno at 11:00 a.m. with an explanation about the reserve and the entrance. We will travel by canoe on the Cuyabeno River to our Lodge, 2 hours of navigation where we can observe 10 different kinds of monkeys if we are lucky with the weather, including the pocket monkey that measures 10cm, the only one of its kind in Cuyabeno, birds, reptiles, mammals, etc. Lunch, After the long trip we will wait for you with our first meal, lunch. Check in and rest. 4:30 p.m. Departure to the second activity Laguna Grande, Swimming, Photos, Sunset. Upon returning to the lodge, we will search for Caimans and Boas in the river. Dinner Lodging.
Breakfast 7:30 a.m. We will take a canoe to the trail to start a walk in primary rainforest, our native bilingual guide will explain about animals and medicinal plants that we find on the trail, duration 3 hours, observation of birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, in their natural state. Lunch. Time to rest, read a book or swim in front of the lodge, observation of dolphins in season, discover the tranquility of the jungle.
4:30 a.m. we will leave the lodge by canoe to look for animals in the river such as sloths, monkeys, parrots, dolphins, hoatzin, caimans, etc. In the evening we have a night walk around the lodge about 45min to 1 hour to observe nocturnal animals. Dinner. Lodging.
Breakfast 7:30 a.m.
We will enter deeper the primary rainforest to the community, by canoe from the Lodge to the train known as Taricaya, we will walk for 1 hour to get there, once there the community welcomes us with typical fruits of the place.
With the ladies of the community, we will make the preparation of the typical food called CASABE, from the harvest of the Yucca to the preparation in firewood, tasting.
This day we will not have lunch at the Lodge, we will do it in the community.
In the afternoon we will visit the Shaman, the doctor of the community, where we will have a conversation with yours, about how they live, ancestral medicine, he will explain us about the preparation of AYAHUASCA. (No drinking). Ancestral cleaning with the tourists who wish.
Return to the Lodge at about 4:00 p.m.
Visit the Laguna Grande.
Dinner.
Breakfast 7:30 a.m. Search for the necessary for this activity in the jungle.
We leave by motorized canoe for 1 hour upriver to a place known as Canangueno to do the paddling activity. We will go down the river in the non-motorized canoe, where we have a better chance of observing animals, the guide and the tourists with their paddles will start the canoe. Lunch. Rest. Visit to the Laguna Grande, sunset. Dinner.
5:30 a.m. On this day we will wake up very early to observe Birds, since at 06:00 a.m., until 07:00 a.m., the birds will come out to look for their food and we will have the possibility to watch them. Breakfast 7:30 a.m., it will be our last meal included in the tour. Prepare our luggage as we will be ready to leave. Last excursion navigation from Dolphin Lodge to El Puente de Cuyabeno, animal watching in the river. Farewell, final photos, and at El Puente de Cuyabeno we will help you to take the buses back to Quito.
Note: Transportation Quito - Cuyabeno - Quito. (It is not included and has an extra cost of $30 per person each way, Round Trip $60)
STANDARD ROOM
Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge has Single, Double and Triple rooms, private bathrooms, hot and cold water in the showers, biodegradable soap, towels, awnings.
• 1 King size bed
• Private bathroom , hot and cold water in the shower
ALL RATES ARE PER PERSON - 2025
PROGRAM | DOUBLE | SINGLE |
---|---|---|
3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS | $240 | $300 |
4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS | $290 | $340 |
5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS | $330 | $410 |
FAQ
THE TOUR INCLUDES:
- Canoe transportation from Puente de Cuyabeno - Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge - Puente de Cuyabeno
- Accommodation in double room with private bathroom
- All meals according to the program (The tour starts with the lunch of the first day and finish with the breakfast of the last day)
- Free water, tea & coffee
- Excursions and activities according to itinerary
- Bilingual English/Spanish speaking Naturalist Guide.
- Rubber boots (only up to size # 43)
- Water poncho
- Camping tents
NOT INCLUDED:
- Transportation Quito - Puente de Cuyabeno - Quito
- Visit to indigenous Community - entrance fee $10.00 per person / $ 5 Shaman (if the tourists request it the community comes to the lodge)
- Alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks
- Personal expenses and tips
Lightweight pants and long sleeved cotton shirts are ideal for walks in the forest. However, if you are more comfortable wearing short sleeves, remember that exposed skin may need a light dousing with insect repellant.
During the rain, full waterproof clothing can be uncomfortable as it often gets you wet with sweat instead of water, but rain ponchos are recommendable for tropical cloudbursts. Plenty of ponchos are available at no charge if you do not have your own, and we also supply rubber boots up to men’s size 14 for walks in the forest interior.
Comfortable shoes (or sandals), shorts and t-shirts are fine for walking on boardwalks and around the Lodge during meals and free time. And don’t forget your bathing suit!
- Passport
- Binoculars
- Flashlight and batteries
- Camera, memory and flash
- Insect repellent
- Sun protection (cream / sunglasses / hat or cap)
- Light long pants and long-sleeved shirts for walks
- Shorts, short sleeve shirts and swimsuit for the Lodge
- Comfortable shoes and extra socks
- Small day backpack
- Plastic bags to protect cameras, binoculars, batteries, etc... from rain
- Children from 6 to 12 years old: 30% discount
Single, Double, Double and Triple rooms, with mosquito nets and a private bathrooms, hot and cold water in the showers, biodegradable soap, towels, awnings.
Restaurant, lounge, hammock area, bar.
- Regarding transportation from Quito to Cuyabeno Reserve, the lodges offer a semi-private bus service for tourists.The bus costs 30 USD each way, and departs from Quito at night (11:00 PM) to Cuyabeno Bridge on the following days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. all the guides arrive on Cuyabeno Bridge with their canoes to meet clients and start the trip**
The bus return departs from Cuyabeno Bridge around 11:00 a.m. after the tour. The lodge guide will leave you at this meeting on time for the trip back to Quito. The cost is USD 30 for the ride to Quito, and operates on the following days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
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