Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge-Amazon Rainforest

Duration: From 3 Days

Depeartures:

Category:

Description

Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge – Rainforest Experience

Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge is an eco-friendly lodge located in the heart of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, one of the most biodiverse areas of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Nestled on the banks of the Cuyabeno River, the lodge provides year-round access and a unique vantage point to observe the natural pink dolphin pool, a rare and captivating wildlife encounter.

The lodge offers immersive jungle experiences designed for nature lovers, adventure travelers, and wildlife enthusiasts. Guests can explore the rainforest through:

Guided canoe excursions along winding rivers and oxbow lakes, perfect for spotting monkeys, sloths, caimans, and colorful Amazonian birds.
Jungle hikes with bilingual naturalist guides, who share insights on biodiversity, medicinal plants, and local ecology.
Night excursions to discover nocturnal wildlife, including caimans, frogs, insects, and other hidden forest creatures.

Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge emphasizes cultural immersion. Visitors have the opportunity to meet local Siona and Kichwa communities, learn about traditional Amazonian lifestyles, ancestral medicine, and participate in craft demonstrations or cultural activities.

The lodge offers comfortable eco-cabins with private bathrooms, solar-powered lighting, and open air designs that blend seamlessly with the jungle environment.

Meals are prepared with fresh, local ingredients, allowing guests to enjoy authentic Amazonian cuisine.

Wildlife highlights include pink dolphins, anacondas, boas, caimans, toucans, piranhas, guacamayos, tapirs, hoatzins, manatees, harpy eagles, and over 10 species of monkeys.

The rainforest features legendary trees such as Ceibo and bamboo, reaching up to 10 meters in height.

Whether seeking a short 3-day adventure or a longer multi-day expedition, Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge provides a safe, educational, and unforgettable experience, connecting guests with the pristine beauty and vibrant wildlife of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Learn more about the Cuyabeno Reserve to plan your adventure.

Highlights

Eco friendly lodge set in prime Amazon rainforest habitat.
Spot pink river dolphins right from the riverfront.
Wildlife viewing including monkeys, birds, reptiles, and more.
Bilingual naturalist guides (English & Spanish).
Authentic jungle experiences: canoeing, hikes, night excursions.
Local indigenous community interactions

Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge-Amazon Rainforest 2026 Itineraries

Price per person: $240

Availability:

Day 1 – Arrival, canoe on Cuyabeno River, Laguna Grande, sunset swim, night canoe safari
Day 2 – Paddle to Caimancocha Trail, rainforest hike, catamaran lagoon ride, sunset & night forest walk
Day 3 – Early birdwatching, breakfast, return canoe to Cuyabeno Bridge

Price per person: $240

Availability:

Day 1 – Arrival at Cuyabeno / Canoe on Cuyabeno River to lodge / Lunch & rest / Laguna Grande exploration / Sunset swim / Night wildlife search by canoe

Day 2 – Breakfast / Canoe to rainforest trail / Guided primary jungle hike / Lunch / Rest & dolphin watching / Afternoon canoe wildlife spotting / Night walk around lodge

Day 3 – Breakfast / Canoe deeper into rainforest to local community / Casabe preparation and tasting / Visit shaman & cultural exchange / Return to lodge / Laguna Grande visit

Day 4 – Early morning birdwatching / Breakfast / Canoe back to El Puente de Cuyabeno / Farewell and departure

Price per person: $240

Availability:

Day 1 – Arrival at Cuyabeno / Canoe on Cuyabeno River to lodge / Lunch & rest / Laguna Grande swim & sunset / Night river wildlife search

Day 2 – Breakfast / Canoe to rainforest trail / Guided hike & wildlife spotting / Afternoon dolphin watching / Night jungle walk

Day 3 – Breakfast / Deep rainforest canoe to community / Casabe preparation & tasting / Shaman visit / Laguna Grande visit

Day 4 – Breakfast / Canoe paddle activity upriver / Wildlife exploration & photos / Laguna Grande sunset

Day 5 – Early morning birdwatching / Breakfast / Return canoe to El Puente de Cuyabeno / Farewell & departure

Included

✅ Canoe transportation: El Puente – Dolphin Lodge – El Puente.

✅ Bilingual naturalist guide.

✅ Accommodation in double or triple rooms with mosquito nets and private bathroom.

✅ All meals during the tour (breakfast, lunch, dinner); purified water, coffee, tea

✅ Excursion gear: raincoat, rubber boots, camping tents, life jackets.

✅ All planned excursions.

Not Included

❌ Transportation from Quito – El Puente – Quito (public or private; assistance provided for booking buses).

❌ $10 community contribution.

❌ Meals before the tour starts and after it ends (breakfast first day, dinner last day).

❌ Tips / gratuities.

❌ All other personal expenses not specified in the tour.

From

240

/ person

*Restrictions apply, prices are subject to change.

Amazon Rainforest Overnight

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      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 519 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Sonja R 
 
 
 
 Verified The perfect day
I spent a glorious day with the dream team: Jimmy, the alert, cautious, and responsible driver, and Andres, the super kind, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic tour guide. The day exceeded my expectations: I saw and experienced everything I had heard about Cotopaxi and Banos - and then some. I learned a lot and felt extremely well taken care of. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to see these two famous places in Ecuador in just one day. And if you’re lucky enough, you’ll be driven by Jimmy and guided by Andres.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Voyager212497 
 
 
 
 Verified Ecuador with Andres and Jimmy!!!!
Andres and Jimmy were awesome guides!!!! First time to Ecuador and loved every minute. Andres and Jimmy made the most of our day and introduced us to many local places. Just what we were looking for!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Angela C 
 
 
 
 Verified Perfect Equador Tour!!
Our guide, Miriam was absolutely amazing!! She shared all of the unbelievable information about her country and let us decide what we wanted to do on the tour.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Stefano P 
 
 
 
 Verified Wonderful experience en la Sierra
Esperienza indimenticabile. La nostra guida Ayrton è sempre stato disponibile, attento sia alle nostre necessità che alla nostra sicurezza. Sin dal momento del pick up ci ha dato innumerevoli informazioni sui luoghi che stavamo visitato, facendoci immergere completamente nella cultura Ecuadoriana. Prezzo del tour non economico, ma ne vale la pena.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   sv 
 
 
 
 Verified parfait
camping parfait rien a dire sauf l'accès compliqué a la plage
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Jacki R 
 
 
 
 Verified Cotapaxi tour
Andres was a wonderful, engaging, knowledgeable and very friendly tour guide. Both he and the driver, Diego, provided us with a highly memorable tour. This was our favorite tour out of our 4 days in Quito. A large part of it was due to Andres. We highly recommend Andres and Diego!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Victoria K 
 
 
 
 Verified Great experience and company!
This tour was absolutely wonderful from the adventure to the company of Ayrton. This walk was intense but totally worth it, i will do the summit next year. I’m very happy with the tour, from the pick up until the drop off! Ayrton is very friendly, knowledgeable, and he knows how to take the best photos that’ll last a lifetime ☺️ I’m very pleased, thank you so much for a great experience!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Tani Davis 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing views
Andrés was an excellent tour guide. His knowledge of the zone, the fun facts, the trivia questions and the cool attitude made this experience one of a kind! Ciro was an excellent driver and got us back and forth safe. Thank you! The tour was just enough to get good photos from both places, grab lunch and head back. If you want to take a longer experience on either place, probably book a full day per location.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   L C 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing experience
I did a tour/hike of Cotopaxi with guide Andres and driver Jimmy. The scenery was gorgeous! The hike was challenging just due to the altitude but worth it for the views and seeing the Refugio. Guide Andres had so much great information about the history, people, geography and animals in the area. He was friendly and helpful and answered any questions I had about the area. Highly recommend this tour.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Maddy C 
 
 
 
 Verified Book it – you won't regret it!
Absolutely incredible experience – 10/10! I cannot recommend this tour enough! I booked a private day trip from Quito to Chimborazo, and it was truly one of the highlights of my nearly two months exploring Ecuador. I honestly can't believe more tourists don't visit Chimborazo — it is absolutely breathtaking, and such an amazing place to experience. I was picked up directly from my apartment, we stopped for breakfast, and then headed out toward Chimborazo. Irene was an absolutely FABULOUS guide — incredibly knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely passionate about Ecuador. I learned SO much from her throughout the day, and that is saying something, as I've already spent nearly two months exploring Ecuador! She shared so much fascinating information about the landscape, history, culture, and the area around Chimborazo. Jimmy was our driver and was equally wonderful. He has such a great sense of humor and was an excellent, very safe driver. He also came along on the hike with us, which was such a nice surprise! He also recommended a delicious restaurant for lunch. Irene and Jimmy were both so kind and made the entire day feel easy, fun, and comfortable. As a 22-year-old woman traveling alone, I also want to emphasize how truly safe and secure I felt the entire time. I was completely comfortable with both Irene and Jimmy, and they took such great care of me throughout the day. I never once felt worried or uncomfortable traveling so far from Quito on my own. And, the PHOTOS! Irene and Jimmy took FABULOUS pictures of me — genuinely better than anything I could have taken myself. They knew exactly where to stop and how to capture the scenery, and I came away with so many incredible photos and memories from the day. The hike itself was also amazing. I personally found it less difficult than hiking Cotopaxi, although the altitude is definitely challenging and should not be underestimated! The landscape is absolutely surreal, and being up there surrounded by that incredible scenery is an experience I will never forget. If you're considering doing this tour, book it! Especially if you're traveling alone, I could not recommend Irene and Jimmy more highly. They were knowledgeable, funny, kind, professional, and made the entire experience unforgettable. This was one of the best days I've had in Ecuador, and I am so grateful to them both! It's so worth it.