Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Reserva de Producción Faunística Cuyabeno) is well-known to be one of the areas with the most biodiversity on earth. The reserve is located in the Sucumbíos province, in the Ecuadorian part of the Amazon rainforest.

The reserve is guarded by national park rangers. It is compulsory to take pluvial transportation through a tour with an accredited guide to get in.

Transportation with motorized canoe is provided by the local communities.

From Quito, it is necessary to go to Lago Agrio, either by public bus (7 hours), shuttle van or by plane (30 minutes).

From Lago Agrio to El Puente en Cuyabeno (1½-2 hours), private transportation is organized by the lodges in Cuyabeno

From Banos it is necessary to take a bus to Coca and then to Lago Agrio, approximately it takes 8h.

The entrance to the reserve for nationals and foreigners is free There is no permission needed for personal photographies and films.

By motor canoe or on foot, accompanied by a guide.

• Cuyabeno Lagoon: The most visited area of the reserve is entered by navigating along the Cuyabeno River. The Laguna Grande is the largest of the 14 lagoons in this area. From here, through small canals, you can visit other lagoons such as Caimancocha, Mateococha, or Canangueno. There are several trails that go into the forest. The most visited are Palma Roja, Saladero de dantas, and Quebrada la Hormiga.
• Lagartococha: The Lagartococha River marks the border with Peru and it also is the eastern limit of the reserve. Navigating through this river and its small canals, you will see flooded jungle scenery, a huge variety of wild flora and fauna, especially birds and monkeys. You can navigate several lagoons, especially Imuya, Redondococha, and Delfincocha.
• Zancudococha: The largest lagoon of the Ecuadorian Amazon is found in the lowest part of the reserve, next to the Aguarico River. Its name comes from the Sianosecoya Soncari word, and means “sonco´s lagoon” referring to a small fish that is abundant here. Close to the lagoon is the Kichwa de Zancudo community that maintain a community tourism program.

• Rainforest treks (night and day)
• Bird Watching
• Caiman Watching
• Sportfishing (catching and releasing the fish)
• Shamanism
• Discovery of the indigenous communities
• Camping
• Cuyabeno and Laguna Grande area: Surrounding the Laguna Grande lagoon there are several trails:
  • Palma Roja. A 1.6-km trail that runs through the non-flooded tropical forest and part of the flooded forest, characteristic of the reserve. Medium difficulty.
  • El Saladero. A 1.7-km long trail that runs through the lagoons and non-flooded forest. It ends in a salting or quagmire where you can observe an infinity of macaws, parrots, and several mammals. Medium difficulty.
  • Copal. A 2.5-km long trail that runs through the lake system, the rivers, and the flooded and non-flooded tropical rain forests. Medium difficulty.
• Aguarico and Lagartococha area: Community tourism activities are offered by the Siona indigenous community of Puerto Bolivar, on the Cuyabeno riverside, the Cofan community of Sabalo, on the Aguarico riverside, and the Kichwa community of Zancudo, on the Zancudococha lakeshore. You can explore the tropical rainforest, go canoeing on the rivers, and buy artisan crafts.

Indigenous handcrafts can be purchased from the local community members.

The food is provided by the local operators (the ecolodges in the reserve).

It is possible to buy food at the entrance of the reserve (El Puente).

It is necessary to bring drinking water into the reserve, this will be organised by the tour operator. The tapwater is not drinkable.

• Geolodge Sanctuary Retreat, ☏ +593 2 443 633, +593 9 96892931, lodgecuyabeno@gmail.com. Geolodge Sanctuary Retreat is an ecolodge in the heart of Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve on the edge of the Cuyabeno River, under the thousands trees that grow in abundance on the river banks. The lodge is suited to private parties, families, groups and solo travellers who seek the middle of the Amazon Jungle. 
• Green Forest Ecolodge (Green Forest Ecolodge), Cuyabeno River, ☏ +593 960139085, +593 996892931, lodgecuyabeno@gmail.com. Check-in: 13h30, check-out: 11h30. Green Forest Ecolodge: Experience the wonders & the wildlife of the Real Amazon Jungle in Ecuador. Tours for 3, 4 and 5 days all inclusive.. The lodge is suited to private parties, families, groups and solo travelers who seek the middle of the Amazon Jungle. 80. (updated Mar 2018)
• Cuyabeno Lodge, ☏ +593 2 252-1212, +593 2 290-6036, info@cuyabenolodge.com. Built in 1989, the Cuyabeno Lodge, owned by Neotropic Turis was the first ecolodge to be built in the reserve, offering tours. It was built by a group of conservation biologists to provide an alternative source of income as opposed to deforestation for agriculture. 
• Tapir Lodge (Tapir Lodge), ☏ +593 2 290-2670, +593 2 290-6036, fax: +593 2 2546376, info@tapirlodge.com. Eco-lodge inside the reserve, accommodation with all included tours of 4, 5 and 7 days (with camping possibilities). 
• Samona Lodge Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, ☏ +593 2601 0183, +593 2250 1418, +593 2604 6567, info@ecuadortierradefuego.com. content (updated May 2015)

No incidents have been identified inside the Cuyabeno Wildlife reserve in more than 20 years of tourist activity in the zone.

There are not so many mosquitos and no malaria into the reserve, but insect repellent is advised.

Your guide and the staff of your accommodation have to be informed of any allergy or illness that you may suffer from.

Transportation is organized by the local tourism bodies as far as Lago Agrio (Nueva Loja).