Caiman Ecolodge
Caiman Lodge is located in one of the best spots of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, situated around Laguna Grande, accessible by canoe year-round, regardless of the season. Caiman Lodge was designed and built by two of the most experienced guides and managers in Cuyabeno. It can accommodate 40 people, offering triple, quadruple, quintuple, and double rooms, each with its own private bathroom and hot water.
We also have a relaxation area, hammocks, and an impressive birdwatching tower with a great view from the seventh floor over the lagoon and the jungle. All our guests receive assistance from a certified naturalist guide, a licensed canoe driver, and the Caiman Lodge Crew.
Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrive in Lago Agrio
We will meet at El Puente Cuyabeno between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. (Reserve the private bus from Quito to Lago Cuyabeno).
At this point, visitors will need to register at the Reserve office, where we will have a brief talk with our naturalist guide who will provide information about the Cuyabeno Reserve, important recommendations, and other tips to start the journey with a two-hour canoe ride down the Cuyabeno River to Caiman Lodge.
During the canoe trip, you can enjoy the wonderful flora and fauna found in the jungle. You may also see some of the 10 species of monkeys, birds, and other jungle animals, depending on the time and weather conditions.
We will arrive at Caiman Lodge around 1:30 PM.
We will have lunch. At that time, your rooms will be assigned, and you can relax for a few minutes.
At 4:30 PM, we will set out in a motorized canoe and paddles to explore the flooded jungle, where we will have the opportunity to see a variety of flora and fauna, including sloths and pink dolphins, among others.
We will take a tour around Laguna Grande. Next, we will go to the middle of the lagoon to watch the wonderful sunset and swim.
After that, we will return to camp for dinner. We will have a welcome cocktail.
We will go out in search of caimans, snakes, and nocturnal birds from the motorized canoe.
End of your first day in the jungle.
DAY 2
Eco Paddling Breakfast 7:00 AM
Breakfast 7:00 AM
At 8:00 AM, we will take our paddled canoes and head to our Caimancocha trail, where we will have a hike in the primary forest for approximately 3 hours.
On this trail, our guide will explain the ecology of the Amazon jungle, medicinal plants, a variety of animals, and the interactions of the ecosystems with the highest biodiversity on Earth.
At 1:30 PM, we will return to our Lodge.
Lunch.
We will take a break in the hammocks or rooms.
At 4:30 PM, we will take a tour on our Catamaran, allowing us to relax and observe a variety of animals, including pink dolphins and monkeys.
We will swim and watch the fantastic sunset.
At 7:30 PM, dinner.
Then, we will have a night walk for about an hour to spot arachnids, amphibians, and, hopefully, nocturnal reptiles.
DAY 3
Visit Siona Community Puerto Bolivar
6:00 AM We will meet at our Caimán Meeting Point.
We will head to our Great Caiman Bird Tower to see a variety of birds and the beautiful sunrise, accompanied by delicious coffee.
8:00 AM: Breakfast.
9:00 AM: We will head downriver to the Siona Community of Puerto Bolívar, a journey of approximately 1:30 minutes, where we will be received by one of the native women who will take us to the cassava plantation to harvest cassava and, with our help, show us how to prepare one of their traditional foods, casabe (flat cassava bread). Immediately after this, the guide will introduce us to one of the last four shamans of the Siona tribe in Ecuador, and one of them will explain their worldview directly related to the Ayahuasca drink. An energetic cleansing ritual will take place with their songs, which come from an ancient oral tradition from shaman to apprentice.
We will take a brief tour around this place in search of snakes and more animals we can find.
Additionally, we will find one of the largest trees in Ecuador, the Ceibo, where we can take photos and hug this tree to gain positive energy.
Lunch
We will return to the lodge in the afternoon.
At 4:00 p.m., we will take our last tour of Laguna Grande, where we will see dolphins and other animals that the jungle has to offer.
Sunset
We will return to the lodge and relax in a hammock or have a beer at the bar.
7:30 p.m. Special dinner with our guide, where we will share our experiences in the jungle over a farewell cocktail.
DAY 4
Birdwatching
5:30 AM: We will take a tour to observe the sunrise and a variety of birds.
8:00 AM: We will have breakfast at the hotel and prepare for the return at 9:30 to the Cuyabeno Bridge, where we will have a Box Lunch.
(Reserve the private bus Quito – Lake – Cuyabeno round trip so that you can return).
