TAPIR LODGE

Our services start and end at the Cuyabeno Bridge.
You have 3 options to get there:
Nr1: You can use the tourist bus from Quito to Cuyabeno which takes about 9-10 hrs.
Nr2 : you can use a private transportation from Quito to Cuyabeno which takes about 7 hrs.
Nr3 : you can use the daily flight from Aero Regional which takes about 35 minutes to get from Quito-Coca.
From Coca we will pick you up,* ask about the transfer costs each way) and drive to Lago Agrio, to continue to the Northeast side of the Sucumbíos province where “El Puente del Cuyabeno” (The Cuyabeno Bridge) is located. It will take us between 2 to 2 ½ hours to reach el Puente depending on weather and traffic conditions. Throughout this drive, you will have the opportunity to see beautiful landscapes created by the combination of rainforest, rivers, and small towns.
After our arrival to “EL Puente”, we will take a break to enjoy our box lunch and then we will proceed to get ready for our journey on board of a motorized canoe. We will provide you with rain ponchos and life vest; your luggage be covered with plastic for protection to prevent it from getting wet in the event of rain. Throughout the trip down this narrow river “called” Cuyabeno, you will be able to admire some of the wide variety of flora and fauna that the Reserve has to offer. We will navigate for 2 to 3 hours until we arrive to the Tapir Lodge. Once in the Tapir Lodge, indicate guests to their rooms to make themselves comfortable. After dinner (19:30), the guide will provide general explanations about the Tapir Lodge as well as about the Cuyabeno Reserve and the activities that will take place the following days.  

Our day will begin with a healthy and delicious breakfast that will be served at around 07:30 am, after that we will meet our guests at our pier where we will make sure that everyone has got a pair of rubber boots for the excursion (available until size 45 EU). Depending on the size of the group, we will be driving with a motorized canoe or with a paddle canoe. Our tour this day will start at 09:30, this day consist of an upstream drive to the “Laguna Grande” (Big Lake). In the Laguna Grande, we will have the opportunity to observe that surroundings Flora and Fauna. The Flora find in the lake is quite unique, we will find Igapos or inundated forest as well as the macrolobium; ancient trees that have adapted themselves to the surrounding, environment thus growing straight out of the water. These majestic and antique trees create the perfect habitat for other plants, such as Bromeliads, Orchids, Ferns and Cacti Once the Igapo excursion been completed, we will travel to “Terra Firme” and begin a trek on a path called “Palma Roja” (Red palm); this path was once part of a scientific research station belonging to the Catholic University. Before starting our trek our guide will provide a brief explanation regarding basic ecology of the rainforest. 
We hope to have the opportunity to see and hear many species of birds such as Woodpeckers, Tanagers, Macaws, and Toucans; and if we are lucky, enough we will come across two of three species of Monkeys. We will return to Tapir for lunch, it be served at 14:30, after that our guests will have a 2 hours brake approximately.
At around 17:00, we will meet at our pier and drive with the canoe to a different area of the “Laguna Grande”. Once we get to the lake, we will navigate thought the surrounding area searching for birds and other animals. If so desired our guests could go for a swim, which is a perfectly safe, and a very relaxing activity. Depending on the weather, we may be able to admire a breathtaking sunset.
Once the evening activities are closed, we will return to Tapir and have a refreshing drinks at our bar or chat with the guide about the day´s events. After dinner depending on the weather conditions, we can take a quick night trek around the Lodge looking for frogs and other night wanders.    

Depending on the weather conditions, we could have an early start and head out on a bird watching excursion. We will leave Tapir at around 06:00am navigating downstream admiring the flora and fauna found along the river while searching for exotic birds, native to the region we should be returning at around 07:00 am to enjoy a delicious breakfast. After this, we will meet at the pier. This day our excursion will consist of a 2 hours canoe drive downstream. Throughout our journeys we will search Morphos (giant Blue Butterfly), Monkeys and more.
On Our way we will pass the village of Puerto Bolívar who´s, solely inhabitants are the Sionas. Following Puerto Bolívar, we will continue to a small community where we will have the opportunity to visit and meet Thomas the local Shaman who belongs to the Cofan ethnic group. Thomas spends most of this time curing and treating the local inhabitants with his vast knowledge of medicinal plants.
At Thomas´ backyard, we will take a break to enjoy a tasty box lunch. After lunch, Thomas will share with us his experience in the rainforest as well as the processes for healing people. For those interested in taking part of a healing ceremony the option is there and it should last about 40 minutes. Handicrafts are available for purchase, all of them crafted out of materials provided by and obtained in the rainforest.
At around 15 hours, we will navigate back to Puerto Bolívar where the local Siona family will greet us. There we will observe how the Cassava Bread is prepared. The Yuca (Cassava) Root (Manihot Esculenta) has always been an essential food supply and perhaps the main source of carbohydrates for the indigenous communities of the rainforest
Once the Yuca (Cassava) has been collected, it will be peeled and grinded into a paste; this “paste “It is pressed to eliminate the water and the starch. Toast the remaining dried product in a pan for few minutes and the result will be a “pancake” like bread of neutral taste, which we will be able to taste. We will then head back to the Tapir Lodge, Dinner will be served at 8 o clock.

After dinner we will serve and enjoy a farewell Passion fruit Cocktail, as we take a little time to introduce our hard working, attentive and diligent staff members; whom without their cooperation, assistance and courteous service Tapir Lodge could not provide our guests with the first – class service you will receive from the first day with us.

To finish the day, for those who want action, we will have a short hike around the Lodge for about 50 min., searching for tree frogs, spiders, night monkeys, among others. 

Breakfast at 7:30 AM. After breakfast, we will coordinate and schedule your departure from Tapir. Departure time is generally at 9:30 AM depending, on weather conditions, river level. Our staff will attend to the luggage, as they make sure it is all loaded onto the canoe. We will depart Tapir and make our way back to the bridge, where the transportation will be waiting, to take us back to Lago Agrio-Coca- Quito, with the option you have chosen.
Arrival in Quito at 19 hrs.

For those guests using the airplane to and from Coca, the departure schedule will be different, so far the flight times are in the morning, and we need to cover the necessary logistic to get in time to the airport.. l

End of our services
These itineraries are subject to change without previous notice depending on weather conditions, client’s requirements or if our guides feel that it would improve the quality of services.