Description

Embark on an immersive journey into the heart of nature with Casa Carpedm’s Jungle Trips. Discover the untamed beauty of lush rainforests, vibrant ecosystems, and diverse wildlife. Our expertly crafted itineraries promise thrilling adventures, from jungle treks to encounters with indigenous communities. Immerse yourself in the sounds of the wild, witness exotic flora and fauna, and experience the magic of the jungle like never before. Join us for an unforgettable exploration into the depths of nature, where every step unveils a new wonder. Welcome to the jungle, where adventure and discovery await with Casa CarpeDM.

THE LODGE IS LOCATED IN THE CUYABENO RESERVE IN NORTH-EAST ECUADOR. WE ARE DIRECTLY ON THE “LAGUNA GRANDE” RIGHT WHERE YOU CAN FIND LOTS OF WILDLIFE AND SPECTACULAR SUNSETS. OUR LODGE’S UNIQUE LOCATION OFFERS THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF SECLUSION AND QUICK ACCESS TO THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RESERVE.​

 

Itinerary 4 days

DAY 1

Quito – Lago Agrio – Rio Cuyabeno – Laguna Grande – Cuyabeno Lodge

From Quito, fly or travel by road over the Andes to the frontier oil town of Lago Agrio, ( at the moment there are no flights to Lago Agrio). From Lago Agrio, our private transportation will take you to the “Cuyabeno Bridge” (distance 100 Km / 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 monkeys 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 sloths or larger species of monkeys like woolly monkeys or howler monkeys. 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 of 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.

DAY 2

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 plants in this area. Try to spot monkeys and birds, and also look for dolphins or anacondas.

After dinner, get your flashlight out and walk through the primary forest, looking for insects like giant grasshoppers, stick insects, praying mantis, and others that come out at night and are fascinating to see 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.

DAY 3

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 on 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.

DAY 4,

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.

 

Itinerary 5 days

DAY 1

Quito – Lago Agrio – Rio Cuyabeno – Laguna Grande – Cuyabeno Lodge

Fly or drive over the Andes to the frontier oil town of Lago Agrio, (at the moment there are no flights 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, the 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, explore a tour of the lagoon to observe animals, take a swim in the lake, and enjoy the sunset from the canoe.

DAY 2

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 plants in this area. Try to spot monkeys and birds, and also look for dolphins or anacondas.

After dinner, get your flashlight out and walk through the primary forest, looking for insects like giant grasshoppers, stick insects, praying mantis, and others that come out at night and are fascinating to see 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.

DAY 3

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 on 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.

DAY 4

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

DAY 5

Bird watching early in the morning. You have one last breakfast at the Lodge, then journey upstream to the bridge where our vehicle will take you back to Lago Agrio. Return to Quito either by bus or private transportation.

 

LOCATION

Sucumbios province. Close to the Colombian border / Jungle 

TRIP TYPE

Adventure / Trekking / Nature / Wildlife / Indigenous Communities

DURATION

4 days / 5 days

AVAILABLE

Every monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

PRICE

Staring at $340 min 2 pax.

 

* Casa CarpeDM partner. Only here you will get the best rate

* Get a 10% discount on your night back from Cuyabeno or a free breakfast 

* Free storage room for your big backpack

* Get picked up from Casa CarpeDM