Cuyabeno lodge is located in Laguna Grande, one of the largest concentrations of fauna in the reserve, with the presence of pink dolphins, alligators, anacondas, giant otters, etc. The presence of birds is also abundant.
It is located on a small island on the eastern margins of Laguna Grande. The spaces between the facilities are large enough to allow privacy and circulation of visitors in the Lodge. Being in a high area, Cuyabeno Lodge is not affected by flooding due to river flooding.
Cuyabeno Lodge, and sustainability and respect for the Environment are a fundamental part of the operation. Cuyabeno Lodg
e tries to continually incorporate new construction materials that are the product of recycling.
All wood used in the construction and maintenance of the Lodge comes from legal processes and under the supervision of the Ministry of the Environment. The energy used comes from solar panels and batteries.
The canoe service is provided by the Siona Community. No less than 25 families benefit from this activity with Cuyabeno Lodge.
SERVICES
Staff
Our friendly staff form the backbone of the Sani 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-curated wine list including wines from Chile, Argentina and Ecuador.
Canoeing
canoeing activities, for better observation of fauna in the Laguna Grande.
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.
Restaurant
Service times are adapted to your itineraries and food, depending on the number of visitors. Vegetarians and vegans are welcome.
Mosquito net
The rooms have mosquito nets for a better rest for our clients.
3 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
$340 PER PERSON
BOOK NOW
From Quito, fly or travel by road over the Andes to the frontier oil town of Lago Agrio, (at the moment there are not flights to Lago Agrio). (see How to Get to Lago Agrio). From Lago Agrio, our private transportation will take you to the “Cuyabeno Bridge” (distance 100 Kms / 62 miles, travel time approx. 2 hours) where you will meet your guide. Depending on logistics, either have lunch here in a local restaurant, or once you arrive at the lodge.
Your guide will register you with the National Park and help you get on the motorized canoe which will take you along the Cuyabeno River to the Laguna Grande, where our lodge is located. During this journey of approx. 2 hours (depending on the conditions of the river) you will be able to observe the richness of the wildlife.
It is common to see different species of monkey on the way, such as squirrel monkeys, capuchin monkeys and tamarin monkeys, as well as a variety of bird species like toucans, macaws and parrots. With luck, you may also spot sloth or larger species of monkey like woolly monkey or howler monkey. Other possible animals you can spot on the river are anaconda and caiman. Be sure to keep your eyes on the banks and your camera ready.
After arriving at the lodge, settling in your room and a short rest, you will go out to explore the beautiful Laguna Grande in search of pink dolphins and birdwatching. You will also be able to swim in the lake by sunset and enjoy the unique atmosphere on the lake.
After dinner back at the lodge, your guide will plan the next day’s itinerary and activities with you before you retire to your room for a goodnight’s sleep with the nocturnal sounds of the rainforest.
Monkeys or birds will probably wake you up in the morning. After breakfast, a short canoe ride takes you to one of the trails in the National Park. Walkthrough the “terra firma forest” and listen to your guide explaining the wildlife, medicinal forest plants, the forest ecosystem and indigenous life. As you’re getting a close look at the jungle, pay attention to the small details you might see: different species of ants that have perfected the organization of their colonies, tiny poisonous frogs hiding under the leaves, insects on the hunt for their next meal, or fungi that take over and kill small organisms like insects or spiders. All of our guides are experts and will happily answer any question you might have.After lunch, we recommend a siesta during the hottest part of the day. You can relax in your room, in the hammocks, or on the dock. Later in the afternoon, you will explore more flooded parts of the forest by canoe. The fascinating macrolobium trees covered with abundant epiphytes are the most typical plant of this area. Try to spot monkeys and birds, and also look for dolphins or anacondas.After dinner, get your flashlight out and walk through primary forest, looking for insects like giant grasshoppers, stick insect, praying mantis and others that come out at night and are fascinating to see from up close. If you’re lucky (and quiet) you might see some of the other nocturnal jungle animals, like night monkeys, owls, and different kinds of rodents.
If you like, you can go bird watching early in the morning. Early mornings are a beautiful time in the jungle, when everything slowly begins to wake up, the water is calm and the air fresh.
After breakfast, journey upstream, back to the bridge. Of course we will look for wildlife one last time. From the bridge, our vehicle will take you back to Lago Agrio. Return to Quito either by bus or private transportation.
4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS
$420 PER PERSON
BOOK NOW
From Quito, fly or travel by road over the Andes to the frontier oil town of Lago Agrio, ( at the moment there are not flights to Lago Agrio). (see How to Get to Lago Agrio). From Lago Agrio, our private transportation will take you to the “Cuyabeno Bridge” (distance 100 Kms / 62 miles, travel time approx. 2 hours) where you will meet your guide. Depending on logistics, either have lunch here in a local restaurant, or once you arrive at the lodge.
Your guide will register you with the National Park and help you get on the motorized canoe which will take you along the Cuyabeno River to the Laguna Grande, where our lodge is located. During this journey of approx. 2 hours (depending on the conditions of the river) you will be able to observe the richness of the wildlife.
It is common to see different species of monkey on the way, such as squirrel monkeys, capuchin monkeys and tamarin monkeys, as well as a variety of bird species like toucans, macaws and parrots. With luck, you may also spot sloth or larger species of monkey like woolly monkey or howler monkey. Other possible animals you can spot on the river are anaconda and caiman. Be sure to keep your eyes on the banks and your camera ready.
After arriving at the lodge, settling in your room and a short rest, you will go out to explore the beautiful Laguna Grande in search of pink dolphins and birdwatching. You will also be able to swim in the lake by sunset and enjoy the unique atmosphere on the lake.
After dinner back at the lodge, your guide will plan the next day’s itinerary and activities with you before you retire to your room for a good night’s sleep with the nocturnal sounds of the rainforest.
Monkeys or birds will probably wake you up in the morning. After breakfast, a short canoe ride takes you to one of the trails in the National Park. Walkthrough the “terra firma forest” and listen to your guide explaining the wildlife, medicinal forest plants, the forest ecosystem and indigenous life. As you’re getting a close look at the jungle, pay attention to the small details you might see: different species of ants that have perfected the organization of their colonies, tiny poisonous frogs hiding under the leaves, insects on the hunt for their next meal, or fungi that take over and kill small organisms like insects or spiders. All of our guides are experts and will happily answer any question you might have.After lunch, we recommend a siesta during the hottest part of the day. You can relax in your room, in the hammocks, or on the dock. Later in the afternoon, you will explore more flooded parts of the forest by canoe. The fascinating macrolobium trees covered with abundant epiphytes are the most typical plant of this area. Try to spot monkeys and birds, and also look for dolphins or anacondas.After dinner, get your flashlight out and walk through primary forest, looking for insects like giant grasshoppers, stick insect, praying mantis and others that come out at night and are fascinating to see from up close. If you’re lucky (and quiet) you might see some of the other nocturnal jungle animals, like night monkeys, owls, and different kinds of rodents.
After an early breakfast, today you will visit the indigenous Siona. Follow the Cuyabeno River downstream for about 1.5 hours, of course always looking for wildlife, until you reach one of the three indigenous villages we work with and support with our visit. One of the women will give you a hands-on lesson in how to prepare the typical casabe, a tortilla made from manioc.
Start by harvesting the maniok in the family’s fields, before it gets cooked in a traditional kitchen over the open fire. Your guide will give you some explanations about the indigenous people of the area, their history and their way of life.
Return to the Lodge for lunch. After the siesta, take a refreshing bath in the lake and enjoy once more the beautiful sunset.
After dinner a special adventure awaits you: a nocturnal excursion by canoe, looking for caimans, snakes and nocturnal birds. Bring a good flashlight, then caimans are most easily spotted by the reflection of their eyes..
If you like, you can go bird watching early in the morning. Early mornings are a beautiful time in the jungle, when everything slowly begins to wake up, the water is calm and the air fresh.
After breakfast, journey upstream, back to the bridge. Of course we will look for wildlife one last time. From the bridge, our vehicle will take you back to Lago Agrio. Return to Quito either by bus or private transportation.
- Canoeing in motorized and dugout craft canoes, swimming, enjoying the spectacular sunset.
- Additionally to the motorized canoes we have installed electric motors in various of our canoes in order to reduce the noise when enjoying canoes trips.
- Bird watching, looking for dolphins and monkeys.
- Hiking in the rainforest and explanations of the jungle, the wildlife, medicinal plants and the history of the indigenous tribes.
- Visit to the Siona Community and preparation of the traditional “casabe”.
- Night walks to observe caimans, insects and nocturnal birds.
- Relaxing in a hammock, or enjoying the view from the observation floor of the tower as well as enjoying the view from our deck overlooking the lake
- One of the best ways to explore the rainforest is by canoe; in this way you will have the opportunity of seeing this wet and wild green world in a close-up and highly rewarding way.
5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
$520 PER PERSON
BOOK NOW
Fly or drive over the Andes to the frontier oil town of Lago Agrio, (at the moment there are not filghts to Lago Agrio). (see How to Get to Lago Agrio). Private transportation to the “Cuyabeno Bridge” (distance 100 Kms / 62 miles) where you will meet your guide. Motorized canoe transportation along the Cuyabeno River to Laguna Grande, location of the Lodge. During this journey of approx. 2 hours (depending upon the conditions of the river) you will be able to observe the richness of the wildlife. After settling into your room at the Lodge, exploring tour of the lagoon to observe animals, take a swim in the lake and enjoy the sunset from the canoe.
After breakfast, walk through the “terra firma forest” with your naturalist guide who will explain the wildlife, medicinal forest plants, the forest ecosystem and indigenous life. After lunch, a siesta, followed by a trip in a dugout canoe to the flooded parts of the Forest with macrolobium trees covered with abundant epiphytes to spot monkeys and birds. After dinner, night walk in primary forest to look for insects and observe nocturnal flora wildlife.
After breakfast, you will follow the Cuyabeno River downstream to reach the Siona indigenous Village. There you will observe and participate in how they cook the typical “casabe”. Your guide will give you some explanations about their way of life. Return to the Lodge for lunch. Late afternoon a siesta and a refreshing swim in the Laguna Grande. In the evening, after dinner, night excursion by canoe to spot caimans, snakes and nocturnal birds.
After having breakfast at the Lodge, you will enjoy a paddling canoe journey to experience the silence of the Lagoon and at the same time the exotic sounds of birds and insects. For the evening, an excursion to discover smaller lagoons or hike along other paths in the Cuyabeno Reserve.
Bird watching early in the morning. You have one last breakfast at the Loge, afterwards journey upstream to the bridge where our vehicle will take you back to Lago Agrio. Return to Quito either by bus or private transportation.
- Canoeing in motorized and dugout craft canoes, swimming, enjoying the spectacular sunset.
- Additionally to the motorized canoes we have installed electric motors in various of our canoes in order to reduce the noise when enjoying canoes trips.
- Bird watching, looking for dolphins and monkeys.
- Hiking in the rainforest and explanations of the jungle, the wildlife, medicinal plants and the history of the indigenous tribes.
- Visit to the Siona Community and preparation of the traditional “casabe”.
- Night walks to observe caimans, insects and nocturnal birds.
- Relaxing in a hammock, or enjoying the view from the observation floor of the tower as well as enjoying the view from our deck overlooking the lake
- One of the best ways to explore the rainforest is by canoe; in this way you will have the opportunity of seeing this wet and wild green world in a close-up and highly rewarding way.
