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6 Day itinerary in Ecuador, South America

6-Day Amazon Cuyabeno & Papallacta Adventure

This Amazon Cuyabeno Adventure program is designed for adventurous travelers who love to experience nature without being disturbed by cell phones or wifi. You will stay at a simple eco-lodge with freshwater, normal toilets, comfortable beds, and a common chill-out place. You will have three meals a ... Read More

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Juan CarlosMaggy

By Juan Carlos and Maggy

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Average
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Quito

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Rafting

Indigenous culture

Meet local people

Historic & cultural landmarks

Travel with Purpose

Outdoors & Nature

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Cuyabeno River - Enjoy a canoe trip down the Cuyabeno River and take your first look at the jungle

2

Laguna Grande - Visit the Laguna Grande to swim and enjoy the beautiful sunset at the Amazon

3

Amazon Rainforest - Explore the rainforest with the bilingual guide and spot a wide variety of fauna

4

Papallacta Hot Springs - Enjoy Papallacta's waters that will help you to gently exfoliate your skin

Itinerary

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Day 1

place ARRIVAL TO CUYABENO LODGE

Very early in the morning, around 3:00 AM, you will be picked up at your hotel in Quito to start your trip to the Cuyabeno. It will take around 8 hours to reach the reserve. Upon arrival at the Cuyabeno Bridge, your naturalist guide will share information about the reserve and important recommendations before navigating two hours down the Cuyabeno River, towards the lodge. During the canoe ride, you will have a first look at the jungle, and observe different types of birds. You may also be able to see a variety of monkeys and other jungle animals, depending on weather conditions. Once you reach the lodge, you can relax a bit. After the break, you will go swimming in Laguna Grande and witness a beautiful sunset. Then, you will then return to the camp for dinner.


  • Activity: Relaxing. Swimming. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport: Car. Canoe.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Adults: Jamu Lodge
Day 2

place JUNGLE EXPEDITION

After breakfast, you will walk for approximately 3 to 4 hours through the primary forest, where the guide will explain about the tropical forest and its medicinal plants. You will return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you will go out to see the beautiful butterflies and swim in the lagoon, where you will enjoy the impressive sunset. If you are lucky enough, you will have the chance to observe pink dolphins. After dinner at the lodge, you will carry out a nocturnal activity focused on the search for alligators on the banks of the river.


  • Activity: Exploring. Hiking. Swimming. Wildlife Watching.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Adults: Jamu Lodge
Day 3

place TARAPUY COMMUNITY

After breakfast, you will set off in a canoe, down the river for about an hour, to visit a family from the Tarapuy community. Here, you will learn how to prepare Casabe, a traditional Yuca bread, using materials from the jungle. You will then return to the lodge. After lunch, you will have time for some relaxation activities. At the end of the day, you will have a short walk through the primary forest focused on observing nocturnal animals, such as spiders, geckos, or scorpions, and listening to the noises and sounds of the night.


  • Activity: Exploring. Hiking. Sightseeing. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport: Canoe.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Adults: Jamu Lodge
Day 4

place QUILLA TRIP – FLOODED FOREST

Today you will participate in two activities. First, there will be an excursion to the surroundings of the lodge on a native special canoe called “Quilla” for bird watching. Then, you will have another hike where you will get a good idea of what a flooded forest looks like. While paddling, you will have a great opportunity to see even more fauna and flora, as you will observe a great variety of birds and monkeys from the canoe. The activities of this day take about 4 to 5 hours, so during the excursion, you will enjoy a box lunch.


  • Activity: Exploring, Hiking, Wildlife Watching
  • Transport: Canoe.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Adults: Jamu Lodge
Day 5

place CUYABENO – PAPALLACTA

Early in the morning, and before breakfast, you will have an optional bird-watching excursion. This activity will depend on weather conditions. After this, you will have breakfast. Then, you will be transferred back to the Cuyabeno Bridge. From there, you will head to Papallacta, where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful hot springs. These open-air thermal pools have various medicinal benefits. Due to their minerals, these waters will help gently exfoliate your skin and relax your body.


  • Activity: Bird Watching. Hiking. Relaxing.
  • Transport: Car.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Adults: Papallacta Hot Springs
Day 6

place PAPALLACTA - QUITO AIRPORT

On the last day of your Cuyabeno & Papallacta Adventure, you will go, by private transportation, from Papallacta to Quito’s Airport or back to your hotel in Quito.


  • Activity: Transfer out.
  • Transport: Car.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Jamu Lodge
  • Papallacta Hot Springs

Meals expand_less

  • Lunch (4)
  • Dinner (4)
  • Breakfast (5)

Transport expand_less

  • Transportation according to the itinerary.

Activities expand_less

  • All activities as described in the itinerary.

Extras expand_less

  • English speaking professional guide during tours.
  • Entrance fees as mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Rubber boots, rain coats and lifejackets.
  • 24/7 assistance in English, Dutch and Spanish.

Not Included expand_less

  • Extra food and drinks.
  • Extra activities.
  • Optional tips for guide.
  • Personal expenses.

About Juan Carlos

TEAM LEAD

+1 Local experts

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star_outline 4.9 (10 reviews)

Expertise: 

Cycling

Kayaking

Hiking

Snorkeling/Diving

Visit markets

Meet local people

Indigenous culture

Historic & cultural landmarks

Rafting

Travel with Purpose

Beach & Sea

Outdoors & Nature

I’m Juan Carlos. I was born and raised in Ecuador. Graduated in Administration and electromechanics. I am a born traveler, a seeker of new travel experiences. Passionate about tourism in Ecuador and Latin America.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$2,106.00 USD