Ecuador

Starting Price:	$1,399.00
Trip Length:	5 days

Heading to the Lodge

Entrance of Tapir Lodge

Tapir Lodge 5 Days / 4 Nights

Description Pricing Itinerary

The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is located north-east from Quito; it’s indeed one of the most bio-diverse zones in the Ecuadorian Amazon Jungle. This reserve has 14 lakes, the ones that give the tourist the unique opportunity of admiring the beauty of the flora and fauna in this flooded rain-forest, known as Igapó. This reserve is part of the Ecuadorian National Protected Areas System so few visitors are allowed in this area.

This trip promises beautiful sights, a variety of birds, mammals, amphibians and ancient trees. We will get in contact with locals and be part of a shamanistic ritual and “heal” our souls. We will also learn about the properties of plants and their use in natural medicine.

Tapir Lodge, located within of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve was built in a partnership with family members of the Siona Community and the benefits of the tourism activities are shared with them. The lodge provides high ecological standards disturbing the rainforest the least possible. Enjoy very nice ventilated rooms, hot water and electricity from solar panels and ecological bathrooms.

Tapir Lodge offers accommodation for 32 passengers. It has one bungalow with 6 double rooms with private bathrooms. One 49.2 ft tower with 4 rooms with 2 twin size beds, private bathroom, hammock, balcony and a spectacular view to the Amazon jungle. Our new tower with 6 rooms equipped with twin size beds, private bathroom, hammock & balcony. The 6 rooms in this tower can be used as double, triple or quadruple rooms.

Additional information on this trip:

Days of Week the Trip can Start:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Go Back To Tapir Lodge

Day 1

Upon arrival to Quito, our representative will pick you up and help you with your 30 minute flight to Lago Agrio City. Upon arrival, private transfer (2 hours) to El Puente where the entrance of the Cuyabeno Reserve is located. We will enjoy of our lunch box and continue the trip on canoes through an amazing landscape of rainforest flora and fauna (2.5 hours). We will arrive to the lodge at dusk. After check in, dinner will be served and short introduction talk will be held.
Note: Road to El Puente is 40% paved and 60% open. Depending on the weather we could expect dusty or muddy road.

Day 2

Early morning journey around the lodge to watch birds and other animals. We will return on time for breakfast. After breakfast, we will paddle upstream to the Laguna Grande sailing slow to catch sight of nature. Once we get there, we will see this flooded forest also known as Igapo. The trees are growing straight in the water, and many of them, real ancient; offer a perfect habitat for other plants, like Bromeliads, Orquids, Ferns and Cactuses.

Arriving at dry soil, we will start our walk into primary forest. During this 3 hour hike, we will see a variety of ancient trees, long lianas, giant palms. We’ll also hope to catch sight and hear lots of birds such as woodpeckers, tanagers, macaws, and toucans; and with luck we’ll come across two or three species of monkeys. We return to the lodge for lunch and some rest. In the afternoon we will return to Laguna Grande for bird watching and swimming in this peaceful water. Depending on weather, we will stay until the sun sets enjoying the sounds of the rainforest and with help of flashlights, we will see the nocturnal animals in activity. Return to the lodge for shower or resting before dinner is served.
Note: Rubber boots, rain ponchos and life vests will be provided by the lodge at the beginning of the trip and it is responsibility of the guests to carry this gear every time we leave the lodge. For bigger show size than 45 EU, please bring your own. Depending on the size of the group we will take a motor canoe or a paddle boat.

Day 3

After breakfast, we carry our gear and meet at dock. We will go downstream looking at giant blue butterflies, toucans, macaws and monkeys. We will pass the village of Puerto Bolivar and to a small settlement where a shaman and his family live. He spends his time treating people with his vast knowledge on medicinal plants. We will start our hike on the river bank. We will get to see a marvelous ancient Kapok Tree (at least 800 years old) walk through small creeks for two hours; we will return the shaman’s house for lunch box.

A very inspiring lecture on medicinal plants will be held by the Shaman right after lunch. His almost 50 year’s old experience healing people will be summarized in the 40 minutes ceremony. There will be some time left for questions and for shopping handcrafts before heading back to Puerto Bolivar to meet a Siona family. We will make some cassava bread with them before we return to the lodge for dinner.

Day 4

Day at leisure to choose your own activities. There are many options: birdwatching, rowing in the Lake, fishing, or walking in the forest. According to what you choose, the day will be scheduled to fulfill your interests. Lunch will be served in the Lodge. In the afternoon we will be part of a briefing. At night, dinner will be served and we will also get to meet all the crew members in the lodge. A passion fruit cocktail will be served as a goodbye compliment.
Note: We recommend you to pack everything tonight. The following day may start very early.

Day 5

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take your flight back to Quito. Note: Early departures will be scheduled according to river and road conditions as well as time of flight departures.

5 days , from $1399

Occupancy Type	3-Star
Double	$1399
Single	$1769

Prices shown above are per person, in US Dollars ($).

Prices include domestic airfare from Quito to Lago Agrio round, private land transfer from Lago Agrio to Cuyabanero round including baggage handling, accommodation at Tapir Lodge including three meals per day and soft drinks, guided tours in English by naturalist guides, entrance fees and appropriate gear for the tours. It is not included airport taxes that are payable at the country of destination.
Note: The itinerary is 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.

What to bring: It is recommended to bring cotton wear and underwear, comfortable shoes and sandals, toiletries, sunglasses, a small first aid kit, small waterproof backpack, insect repellent, water canteen, binoculars, flashlight, sun block, bathing suit, hat.

Entertainment: The social areas offer hammocks for resting and a variety of books for reading. The bar serves a variety of drinks (not included). Soft drinks, purified water, coffee and tea, are included in the price.

Climate: It is a tropical rainforest, with a precipitation of ≈ 3000 mm (9.85 ft.) a year, and humidity percentages ranging from 60 to 85. From December to March we have a marked dry season; the rainy season goes from April to July, (this certainly means, the chances of raining are higher than in other months. Warm and sunny days are perfectly common); and from August to November, it’s moderate. The main annual temperature ranges over 25 Cº (77 Fº).

Ethnology: Cuyabeno is the homeland of 3 ethnic groups, whose communities are settled in the boundaries of two important rivers found in the reserve such as: Aguarico and Cuyabeno. Cofanes, Sionas & Secoyas, are legendary habitants in this area. The Siona community inhabits the upper part of the Cuyabeno Reserve, at Puerto Bolívar and the river Tarapuya.

Activities: Even though we are following an itinerary, this does not mean that we are in a hurry or we need to do exactly as described; there will always be time to stop or to get back, if we find something interesting to look at. Please notice that certain activities (bird watching, caiman watching, canoeing or fishing) can be rescheduled form one day to other depending on weather conditions and the decision of the guide. And, in the case there is a sudden change of plans, we will find a similar option or other activity to fulfill the clients’ interest. During the camping tour we provide private tents (2 person’s max. per tent) and aluminum berths.

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