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PARKS AND TRIBES

AMAZON, ECUADOR, TOURS

Tours to the Amazon of Ecuador

	Routes of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve and Yasuní programs of Parks and Tribes / Cofan Lodge: Cuyabeno Lake Area including our new 1 Day Trip; Lagarto Coche Expedition Leaving from Nuevo Rocafuerte at the border with Peru; Cuyabeno Loop; Yasuní - Napo River Expedition.

Are these really the best trips to travel the Amazon of Ecuador?

YES! This is why...

When one walks in the forest, the animals above you in the the crowns are difficult to observe. Looking up you hardly see anything. The contrast between the sky and the leaves is so overwhelming, that they appear almost black.  On the other hand, along narrow rivers, the light can break through the canopy, illuminating lower braches and wildlife. So, from the water you see the birds, flowers and mammals much better, as they frolick through the shrubs and lower trees along the shores.

So what makes Cuyabeno so special...

• It's the only Amazon park in all Amazon-Andean countries with wide flat plains. Slow-flowing narrow creeks, rivers and many lakes can only develop in flat lowlands; not in hilly terrain. This makes Cuyabeno so unique!

• In the dryer sections, one gets to see the terrestrial animals and birds. With so much water, one also gets to see water animals like: Dolphins, Manatees, Capybaras, Cayman, Ducks, Cormorants, Herons, etc.

• Spotting wildlife from a canoe is much easier than when walking on a trail. You have your birding and wildlife books, your binoculars and your camera all close at hand.

But there is more...

• Tours to the Amazon of Ecuador from Lagoagrio to Cuyabeno travel (mostly) over an asphalt road. Distances over water are much shorter than to other reserves, like Yasuní National Park;

•  Our programs are organized by or in collaboration with small Indian tribes, the Cofans and Sionas;

• All programs are so child friendly, I took my grandchildren (3,5 & 6) there. Wao, did they love it!

4 DAYS' STANDARD COFAN LODGE PROGRAM

Standard Program, Day 1 Ecuador Amazon tour

Our transport meets you in Lagoagrio to take you in about 1 hour 30 minutes to the the canoe landing location Nuevo Unión, on the Aguarico River.

Upon arrival in Zábalo, you will be shown around in the village and taken to your cabins to freshen up and rest, as it has been a long day since your departure from Quito.

CUYABENO, GETTING THERE AND BACK

There are 3 options to travel to the Amazon Lowlands:

• Take the night bus on the Putumayo bus cooperative from Quito to the Cuyabeno Reserve (usually leaves at 11 at night) from the "Terminal Carcelen (Norte)"  in Quito and arrive in Lagoagrio the next day. Another option is from the "terminal Quitumbe (Sur). As a result of major construction works it now takes about 13 hours. It costs about $ 25 one way and you have to leave from your hotel in Quito to the terminal  an hour before departure (by taxi).

• Fly Quito - Coca, which about $ 180 round trip, but it takes 2 X $25 to take a taxi to Quito airport. The flight usually leaves at 9 in the morning, and takes 30 minutes to arrive. After getting your luggage, it will be 10:30. We'll pick you up at the airport. This fight is great for the Yasuní - Napo River Cruise. We can coordinate a 3 hours private transportation to Cuyabeno for $60 with a minimum of 2 persons.

• Take our Private Trans-Andean bus Transportation to Coca and the Cuyabeno Reserve. It will pick you up at your hotel early in the morning and take to the Aguarico River in about 8 - 9 hours depending how much time we spend on the way at the overlooks into the Cayambe - Coca Ecological Reserve, the San Rafael Falls, the Reventador Volcano and the Papallacta spas. The same applies for the Lake Cuyabeno accommodations which pass through the main park entrance on the Cuyabeno River.

	Routes of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve and Yasuní programs of Parks and Tribes / Cofan Lodge: Cuyabeno Lake Area including our new 1 Day Trip; Lagarto Coche Expedition Leaving from Nuevo Rocafuerte at the border with Peru; Cuyabeno Loop; Yasuní - Napo River Expedition.

PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION QUITO - AGUARICO

• It is possible to arrange for spending the night at either a Papallacta (costly) or Jamanco (friendly and much more economical) Spa, but then another day is needed to get to the reserve.

• Many passengers who take the private transportation, chose to fly back from Coca or visa versa.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

National Parks Tours

1. All hotels and lodges;

2. Transportation: All ground transportation on the National Parks tours;

3. In-country flights where included in the national parks tour program, but NOT to/fro Galapagos or Lagoagrio;

4. An English speaking naturalist guide. A German or French speaking guide may also be available, but can't be guaranteed.

5. All entry fees.

Amazon Tours

1. Lodging;

2. Excursions with professional nature guides;

3. All Amazon programs include all meals, and fruit juices served with the meals. Our restaurants serve a mix of international cuisine and occasionally, the Cofan Lodge offers  a sample meal of traditional Cofan dishes.

4. Meals include coffee, tea and bottled water;

5. Transportation between Lagoagrio and the access rivers.

NOT INCLUDED:

Bottled and alcoholic beverages need to be paid.

COMBI-DISCOUNTS

Depending on the program you selected, we always try to give you a discount on combined modules. Groups above 4 passengers will receive discounts, depending on group size.

HOW TO BOOK A TOUR?

Our programs are rather customized and we try to accommodate the travel needs of our customers. To avoid misunderstandings, we don't offer a prepaid travel option. Just send an email to or contact us through our contact data below. 

From Abroad:

Sending money from abroad is rather costly and we try to minimize money going to bank transfers. Once your schedule has been worked out, we kindly request you to make a reservation guarantee transfer of only $100 by Western Union or Moneygram. The balance you pay in CASH in Quito upon arrival (we don't take credit cards!) This way you don't lose a lot of money sending money. The $100 is NOT recoverable upon cancelation.

Why we don't accept credit cards in Ecuador either? The credit card services charge 7%! We would have to charge you for that, making your trip more expensive. We do everything to make your trip as cost effective as possible.

Already in Ecuador?

You can pay in our office mentioned below. We apply a cancelation fee of $100.

WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO BRING?

For this question we link to our special vacation packing list.