Jungle

THE ECUADORIAN AMAZON

ECUADOR – Half of Ecuador is covered in tropical rainforests, which include several national parks, nature and animal reserves, and scientific research stations. The flora and fauna found in Ecuador alone contain 10% of the world's biodiversity. From north to south, most of Ecuador's terrain leads to the Amazon River and Rainforest.

THE AMAZON – The Ecuadorian Amazon is the home of several indigenous cultures, each with its own distinct languages, customs, and means of survival.

The Ecuadorian Amazon offers something for everyone, from those who want to escape the chaos of the city to those who are deeply interested in studying the biodiversity of the region or cultures who live there. Geotours offers tours to the Cuyabeno National Park anywhere from 3 to 15 days.

CUYABENO LAGOONS 4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

DAY 1: The tour leaves from Lago Agrio (flights from Quito to Lago Agrio depart at 10:30am on the same day or, if traveling by public bus, you must leave the night before). Depending on the number of passengers, either a private bus or a truck will drive you from Lago Agrio to the Cuyabeno River Bridge (3hrs). From here a motorized canoe will take you to the Lodge. During the journey you'll have the opportunity to observe several different bird and monkey species and appreciate the spectacular vegetation. Lunch will be served when we arrive at the Lodge and in the afternoon we'll take a short excursion around the area. There will be time for you to swim, rest, eat dinner, and get settled in.

DAY 2: After breakfast we will take a 3 to 4 hour hike through primary rainforest where the guide will point out the medicinal properties of many of the native plants as well as explain some jungle survival techniques. Lunch will be served. In the afternoon we will take an excursion in motorized canoe out on the Cuyabeno River to see the difference in biodiversity between the lagoon and the river. With any luck, we will have the chance to see pink dolphins, birds, and monkeys. After dinner we will go on another canoe excursion to see caimans (a smaller relative of the alligator).

DAY 3: There will be one hour of optional bird watching in the morning. After breakfast is served we will take a motorized canoe toward Port Bolivar to visit a SIONA-SECOYA indigenous village. While we are there we'll take a short 1 to 2 hour hike and the guide will explain the customs and traditions of the indigenous community. A boxed lunch will be served. There will be a short demonstration of a traditional Shaman ceremony. On the way back to the Lodge you will have the chance to fish for piranhas in the lagoon. Dinner will be served back at the Lodge.

DAY 4: Breakfast. In the morning we'll take a short hike through the jungle, and then you will have the option of paddling canoes out into the lagoon. Lunch will be served before we head back down the river to the Cuyabeno River Bridge. From there we will take the bus back to Lago Agrio (arriving at about 4:30pm). If you will be flying back to Quito, flights leave Lago Agrio at 5:30pm, Monday – Friday.

 

CUYABENO LAGOONS

DAY 1: The tour leaves from Lago Agrio (flights from Quito to Lago Agrio depart at 10:30am on the same day or, if traveling by public bus, you must leave the night before). Depending on the number of passengers, either a private bus or a truck will drive you from Lago Agrio to the Cuyabeno River Bridge (3hrs). From here a motorized canoe will take you to the Lodge. During the journey you'll have the opportunity to observe several different bird and monkey species and appreciate the spectacular vegetation.

Lunch will be served when we arrive at the Lodge and in the afternoon we'll take a short excursion around the area.

There will be time for you to swim, rest, eat dinner, and get settled in. After the sun goes down we will hike through the jungle in order to see some of the animals that come to life in the nighttime.

DAY 2: After breakfast we will take a 3 to 4 hour hike through primary rainforest where the guide will point out the medicinal properties of many of the native plants as well as explain some jungle survival techniques. Lunch will be served. In the afternoon we will take an excursion in motorized canoe out on the Cuyabeno River to see the difference in biodiversity between the lagoon and the river. With any luck, we will have the chance to see pink dolphins, birds, and monkeys. After dinner we will go on another canoe excursion to see caimans (a smaller relative of the alligator).

DAY 3: There will be one hour of optional bird watching in the morning. After breakfast is served we will take a motorized canoe toward Port Bolivar to visit a SIONA-SECOYA indigenous village. While we are there we'll take a short 1 to 2 hour hike and the guide will explain the customs and traditions of the indigenous community. A boxed lunch will be served. There will be a short demonstration of a traditional Shaman ceremony. Dinner will be served back at the Lodge.

DAY 4: Breakfast will be served. We will go out on the lagoon in paddle canoes and have the chance to visit other lagoons in this region of the jungle such as the freshwater swamp forest (IGAPO). Lunch will be served. In the afternoon you will have the chance to fish for piranhas in the lagoon. After dinner there will be an optional one hour hike through the forest to see the jungle nightlife.

DAY 5: Breakfast will be served. We will pack up our things and go to a different part of the Cuyabeno Park called El Paso del Tigre. Lunch will be served. You will have the option to take a short hike before we travel back down the river to the Cuyabeno River Bridge. From there we will take the bus back to Lago Agrio (arriving at about 4:30pm). If you will be flying back to Quito, flights leave Lago Agrio at 5:30pm, Monday – Friday.


The tour includes:

• River and land transport to and from the Lodge from Lago Agrio
• Three meals a day
• Bilingual Naturalist Guide
• Equipment: rubber boots, rain poncho
• Blankets, mosquito nets
• Your guide can help you reserve a hotel in Lago Agrio or schedule your return trip to Quito.

 

The tour does NOT include:

• Transportation to and from Lago Agrio
• Entrance fee to the Reserve ($2.00)
• Entrance fee to the Siona indigenous community ($4.00)
  

PUYUPUNGO (1 DAY)

DESCRIPTION: We leave from the Geotours office at 8:30am and drive to Puyo (1 ½ hours). During the trip you'll be able to admire several waterfalls that flow into the river between Baños and Río Verde (Green River).

We will stop at the Monkey Park where you can see and interact with several different monkey species that recuperate there and are later released back into the wild.

Then we will carry on to Puyupungo and stop at an Ecological Reserve called HOLA VIDA where there are several jungle cabins typical of the region.

From here you will take a hike through the jungle with a naturalist guide who will explain the different plants that can be found in the region and during the hike you'll also stop at a waterfall to jump in and cool off. A lunch will waiting for you back at the cabins. After eating you will travel down the river in a canoe and have the chance to visit a traditional indigenous family cabin. Here you will learn about their customs and culture and see various arts and crafts that they create from jungle plants. From there we return to Puyo and then on to Baños, arriving at about 8:00pm.

The tour includes: Transportation, lunch, equipment (rubber boots, rain poncho), bilingual guide, entrance fee for the reserve, and canoe

 

PUYUPUNGO (2 DAYS / 1 NIGHT)

There is a minimum of 3 people for this tour

DESCRIPTION: We leave from the Geotours office at 8:30am and drive to Puyo (1 ½ hours). During the trip you'll be able to admire several waterfalls that flow into the river between Baños and Río Verde (Green River). We will stop at the Monkey Park where you can see and interact with several different monkey species that recuperate there and are later released back into the wild.

Then we will carry on to Puyupungo and stop at an Ecological Reserve called HOLA VIDA where there are cabins surrounded by birds and native vegetation. Then you will visit a traditional indigenous community where you will learn about their customs and culture and see various arts and crafts that they create from jungle plants. Lunch will be served.
In the afternoon you will take a hike through the jungle with a naturalist guide who will explain the different plants that can be found in the region. During the hike you'll also be stopping at a waterfall so you can jump in and cool off.

DAY 2:

• Breakfast
• 2-3 hour hike through the jungle, the guide will point out medicinal plants, trees, insects, animals, and more
• Visit a lookout point, from which you'll have a great aerial view of the region and, if the weather's nice, of the Sangay Volcano
• Return to the cabins for lunch and then drive back to Baños, arriving at about 6:30pm.

 

The tour includes: Transportation, food, equipment (rubber boots, rain poncho), bilingual guide, entrance fee for the reserve, and canoe

PUYUPUNGO (3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS)

DESCRIPTION: We leave from the Geotours office at 8:30am and drive to Puyo (1 ½ hours). During the trip you'll be able to admire several waterfalls that flow into the river between Baños and Río Verde (Green River).

We will stop at the Monkey Park where you can see and interact with several different monkey species that recuperate there and are later released back into the wild.

Then we will carry on to Puyupungo and stop at an Ecological Reserve called HOLA VIDA where there are cabins surrounded by birds and native vegetation.

Then you will visit a traditional indigenous community where you will learn about their customs and culture and see various arts and crafts that they create from jungle plants. Lunch will be served.
In the afternoon you will take a hike through the jungle with a naturalist guide who will explain the different plants that can be found in the region. During the hike we'll also be stopping at a waterfall so you can jump in and cool off.

DAY 2:

• Breakfast
• Hike to the Hidden Waterfall, Lunch
• We will pack up our things and float down the river in canoe and visit some indigenous cabins in the jungle where we will be spending the night
• The guide will prepare dinner while you relax. Later we will take a nighttime excursion to Laguna de los Lagartos (Lizard Lake).

DAY 3:

• Beakfast
• 2-3 hour hike through the jungle, the guide will point out medicinal plants, trees, insects, animals, and more
• Visit a lookout point, from which you'll have a great aerial view of the region and, if the weather's nice, of the Sangay Volcano
• Return to the cabins for lunch and then drive back to Baños, arriving at about 6:30pm.

 

The tour includes: Transportation, food, equipment (rubber boots, rain poncho), bilingual guide, entrance fee for the reserve, and canoe.

 

Jungle Expedition

Embark on a great adventure into the jungles of Ecuador where you will enjoy the unique biodiversity of the region and have the opportunity to meet the local indigenous communities.

We start in Baños where we'll hop on a private bus that will take us into the jungle. The jungle tour can last anywhere from 5 to 12 days- enough time for you to really experience and explore the jungle. The tour will start out in the Pastaza province in a secondary tropical rainforest and as we move deeper into the jungle we will see primary rainforest as well.

It's important to be well prepared for a jungle expedition so you should be ready for adventure, hiking through the jungle, traveling down the river in rafts that we'll make ourselves, fishing for our own dinner, sleeping in tents, and once we reach our final destination we'll be taking a small plane back to the starting point.

Minimum of 4 people