This amazing paddle tour takes you on an adventure exploring the deep, pristine Amazon Rain Forest, all by paddling canoes.
During this Amazon tour, you will visit the upper part and the lower area of the Cuyabeno River. You will spend your first two nights in basic accommodation with private facilities, two nights camping at the river’s shore, and finally, your last night at the lodge.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to experience the fantastic culture of the Siona, Kichwa, and Secoya Indigenous people.
Meeting point in Quito
Meeting point in Quito
The night before the tour starts in Cuyabeno
Your paddle tour starts the night before departing from Quito. You will take a midnight bus to the Cuyabeno Bridge.
The ride takes around 10 hours.
Start your Amazon Rainforest adventure by departing the shore of the Cuyabeno River (El Puente).
From there, paddle downstream on the serene Blackwater River for an exciting journey that provides exceptional opportunities to view wildlife such as monkeys, parrots, and macaws.
After four hours of canoeing, you’ll reach the first Lodge near the stunning Cocha Grande Lagoon. Unload the boats, settle into the cabins with private bathrooms, and enjoy a complimentary welcome drink.
In the evening, before dinner, embark on a thrilling wildlife expedition to spot Caymans (alligators).
The day’s adventure includes lunch and dinner, covering a paddling distance of 15 km (9 miles).
We will wake up to the soothing sounds of singing birds in the lush rainforest and glide through the canopies of Macrolobium trees in the vast Cocha Grande Lagoon, the largest among 14 lakes in the forest.
We may even have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of pink dolphins and take a stroll through the primary forest before lunch.
After loading the boats, we will paddle downstream for four hours to Lodge 2, where we will retreat to our cozy cabins featuring private bathrooms.
Upon arrival, we will unwind and take a brief night walk to observe the giant insects, spiders, and snakes.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included, and the paddling distance is approximately 15 kilometers or 9 miles.
After having breakfast, we’ll paddle for a short while before embarking on a 2 km hike to the Siona Indigenous Community.
Once there, we’ll be taught the art of making Casabe bread, which we’ll later enjoy for lunch.
In addition, we’ll have the opportunity to visit a Shaman and learn about their customs and traditions.
Following our visit, we’ll head back to the Lodge for lunch before setting out on a 3.5-hour paddling expedition to our campsite.
We’ll provide either single or double tents for accommodation purposes, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.
The total distance traveled by paddling is 14 km.
After breakfast, we’ll hike near the camp, observe wildlife, and learn about the Amazon Rainforest’s ecosystem.
We’ll visit a small cacao plantation before breaking camp and paddling for 5 hours to the Puerto Montufar campsite.
We’ll explore an area with minimal human activity and have a picnic lunch en route. In the late afternoon, we’ll swim in the river.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included. The paddling distance is 22 km (13.6 miles).
After breakfast, we will pack up the camp, load our motorized canoe, and begin our journey downstream Cuyabeno River to reach the comfortable Aguas Negras River Lodge.
Along the way, we will have excellent opportunities to observe wildlife. We will stop for lunch at the Lodge and relax for a while.
In the afternoon, we can try our luck at fishing for Piranhas. Later, we will take a second hike, where we might see giant insects, spiders, and snakes and enjoy the fantastic sounds of the Amazonian nightlife.
Finally, we will return to the Lodge, drink farewell, and enjoy dinner.
The tour includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The navigation distance is 28 Km (17.5 miles).
OPTIONAL: If you wish to exercise and enjoy a longer journey, you can paddle from Puerto Montufar Campsite to Aguas Negras River Lodge, which takes about 6 hours.
We’ll set off early to “Saladero,” where parrots gather for minerals.
After breakfast, we’ll navigate downstream Cuyabeno River, watching wildlife, including dolphins.
Then, we’ll travel upstream on the Aguarico River, a tributary of the Napo River and the Amazon River in Peru.
We’ll have a picnic lunch in the Secoya Native territory, take a short canoe trip to Tierras Orientales village, and drive back to Lago Agrio City, where you will catch the bus back to Quito.
Shared (max 10 people)
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We’ll explore the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, a biodiverse area where wildlife thrives
While observing wildlife in their natural habitat depends on various factors, including weather and luck, we’ll look for species like Macaws, Parrots, Toucans, Monkeys, Freshwater dolphins, Caimans, and Anacondas daily.
Expect heavy rain as the Amazon Rainforest receives about 12 feet of rain each year.
Our canoes are comfortable and designed for an exceptional experience on the water.
We’ll visit the most remote areas of the Reserve, covering a distance of around 200 km between motorized and paddling canoes.
