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5 Days Traditional Canoe Experience

Start Days

Monday, Friday

Location

Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

Hotel

Tapir Lodge
Double Room (Matrimonial Bed or 2 Twin Beds)

Experience the magic of the Amazon aboard a killa de remo, a traditional canoe handcrafted from chuncho wood.

Paddle silently through blackwater lagoons and narrow creeks, allowing close encounters with pink dolphins, monkeys, and birds.

Guided by local Indigenous experts, this immersive journey blends wildlife, culture, and adventure, offering an authentic connection to the rainforest few travelers ever experience.

Contact Us Today to Start Your Amazon Adventure!

Tour Itinerary

Day 1. Welcome to Cuyabeno wildlife reserve!
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
After arriving at “El Puente,” we will take a short break to enjoy a box lunch. Then we will begin our trip by motorized canoe. You will receive a rain poncho and life vest, and we will cover your luggage with plastic in case of rain. As we travel down the narrow Cuyabeno River for about 2 to 3 hours, you will see many plants and animals along the way. When we reach Tapir Lodge, you will be shown to your room to relax. After dinner at 7:30 p.m., your guide will give an introduction about the lodge, the Cuyabeno Reserve, and the activities planned for the next days.
Meals: Breakfast,  Lunch, Dinner.
After breakfast at 7:30 am, we will begin a full-day adventure exploring the upper Cuyabeno Reserve by killa de remo, a traditional canoe. We’ll paddle upriver to Laguna Grande, enjoying a peaceful 1.5-hour ride through the rainforest, spotting unique plants and wildlife along the way. We’ll explore the flooded Igapo forest and see ancient trees like Macrolobium that grow straight from the water. Later, we’ll hike the Palma Roja trail for about 3 hours, looking for birds, monkeys, and other wildlife. After lunch by the lake, we’ll continue paddling to discover orchids, butterflies, and more. Guests can swim and, if the weather allows, enjoy a beautiful sunset. We return to Tapir Lodge by 7:30 pm for a relaxing evening, dinner, and possibly a short night walk to see frogs and other creatures.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
We start early at 6:00 am with birdwatching by the river, then return by 7:00 am for breakfast at the lodge. At 8:00 am, we take a 2-hour motorized boat ride downstream, looking for butterflies, monkeys, and wildlife. Around midday, we visit Puerto Bolívar and a nearby Cofan community to meet a local shaman, who shares his healing knowledge and offers a ceremony demonstration after lunch. At about 3:00 pm, we learn how the Siona people make cassava bread. We return to Tapir Lodge by 5:00 pm and may enjoy a sunset canoe ride on Laguna Grande in a traditional killa de remo canoe. If weather allows, we finish with a night walk to see frogs, owls, and other animals before dinner at 8:30 pm.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
We will spend a long and good morning traveling by motorized boat to the beautiful Canagueno Lake. There, we will enjoy exploring the lake on board traditional killa de remo paddle canoes. It is a real pleasure to see this magical place, with grasslands where birds like Jacanas feed on insects. We will also spot groups of hoatzins, egrets, greater Anis, and many orchids like Cattleya and Epidendrum. This activity lasts all morning, and we return to Tapir Lodge for lunch around 2:00 pm. In the afternoon, guests can relax and enjoy the last sunset over the lake. After dinner, we will have a farewell Passion Fruit cocktail and take time to introduce the hardworking staff who make the excellent service at Tapir Lodge possible.
Meals: Breakfast.
We will have breakfast at 7:30 AM. After breakfast, we will help get everything ready for your departure from Tapir Lodge. We usually leave around 9:30 AM, depending on the weather and river level. Our staff will take care of your bags and make sure they are safely loaded onto the canoe. Then we will travel back to El Puente Cuyabeno, where our Amazon Adventure ends. End of our services Please take all itineraries as a guide only. All itineraries and programs are subject to change without prior notice due to national park regulations, weather conditions, natural events, seasonal changes or for safety reasons. Flexibility is the key to the success of every trip. The safety of our passengers is our top priority. Safe Travels!

Included

  • 4 nights of accommodation in a cozy Amazon lodge
  • Meals will be provided as per the itinerary.
  • Purified water, coffee, and tea.
  • Naturalist Bilingual speaking guides.
  • All river transportation.
  • Rubber boots, raincoats, and a lifesaver.
  • Activities are detailed in the itinerary.
  • Your reservation supports our Conservation Project.

Not Included

  • International flights.
  • Roundtrip Transportation (Quito - Meeting Point Restaurant - Quito)
  • Contribution to the local Kichwa Community (USD 10 per Person)
  • Meals that are not detailed in the itinerary.
  • Alcoholic beverages.
  • Activities not included in the itinerary.
  • Tips and gratuities for your guide.
  • Travel health insurance.

Important Information

To confirm the agreed travel contract, a non-refundable pre-payment of 30% of the costs per person must be paid. The remaining balance must be paid no later than 60 days before departure of the tour for all mainland tours in Ecuador and 90 days before departure for all travel to the Galápagos Islands and mainland tours in a South American destination except Ecuador.

If the client concludes his travel arrangements with RT less than 60 days before the departure date for mainland travel in Ecuador, or 90 days for the Galápagos Islands or a mainland tour in any South American destination except Ecuador, the tour must be paid in full immediately.

If a client fails to pay for his/her tour in full before the agreed final payment dates (60 days before departure for mainland travel in Ecuador and 90 days before departure for Galápagos Island or a mainland travel in South America except Ecuador) the client risks losing his/her tour. Equally, by failing to make the full payment before the due date, the client will lose his/her deposits for all travelers included in the reservation.

If the tour fee has not been paid in full before the arranged travel starts, RT will be released from its service obligations and may require the customer to pay any appropriate resignation costs.

Requeriments

For this journey, it is essential to be in good physical condition and health to fully appreciate the walks and excursions. Generally, this trip is not suitable for individuals with limited mobility.

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