Tapir Lodge

Overview

About Tapir Lodge

Tapir Lodge is located deep within the expansive Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Surrounded by pristine rainforest, the lodge offers an intimate nature experience with comfortable accommodation, rainforest activities and excellent opportunities for bird and wildlife observation.

Built in 1996 in partnership with the local Siona community, Tapir Lodge was created to provide comfortable lodging while minimizing its impact on the surrounding ecosystem. The lodge also shares access to and profits from its ecotourism activities with the local Siona community, supporting a low-impact and community-oriented approach to Amazon tourism.

Location & Wildlife

Tapir Lodge is located in the upper section of the Cuyabeno Reserve, an area renowned for its extraordinary diversity of wildlife. The region is home to approximately 15 species of monkeys and more than 500 bird species, making it an exceptional destination for wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers.

The lodge is situated in an area formed by 14 interconnected lagoons. Of these, Laguna Grande, approximately 2.5 km (1.5 miles) long, is the main lagoon accessible to visitors.

Accommodation

The lodge features three approximately 35-foot-high towers with double, triple and quadruple rooms. All rooms have private bathrooms with hot running water and water containers filled with purified drinking water brought from Lago Agrio.

Selected rooms include hammocks and balconies with spectacular jungle views. The Piranha Tower features four rooms that can be used as single or double accommodations. Each room is located on a different floor, providing additional privacy and beautiful views of bromeliads, orchids, birds and endemic monkey species.

Dining & Facilities

Tapir Lodge has a fully equipped kitchen serving fresh and healthy Ecuadorian and international cuisine. Meals feature a combination of local jungle produce, including fruits and vegetables, along with ingredients sourced from the nearest city. Vegetarian and special dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice.

After a day exploring the rainforest, guests can relax at the La Tarántula Bar, which serves tropical juices, beer, wines, cocktails and other beverages.

Amazon Activities

Activities at Tapir Lodge include birdwatching, canoeing, caiman watching, sport fishing, rainforest trekking, night hikes, cultural exchanges with indigenous communities and camping excursions, providing multiple ways to experience the biodiversity and culture of the Cuyabeno Amazon.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Quito / Lago Agrio / Cuyabeno Reserve

The meeting point is at the Entrance of the Cuyabeno Reserve between 11:00 and 11:30 am with one representative of the lodge. From there, take a canoe ride down the Cuyabeno River for approximately two hours to the lodge. Lunch is served around 2:00 pm.

At 4:00 pm, visit Laguna Grande to look for wildlife. Around 5:30 pm, swim in the lagoon and enjoy the sunset. At 6:00 pm, take an exciting night walk to observe insects, spiders and tarantulas and experience the sounds of the jungle at night.

Dinner is served at 8:00 pm. After dinner, the guide will provide a short briefing about the Cuyabeno Reserve and the itinerary for the following day.

Meals included: Lunch box, Dinner

Day 2 – Laguna Grande

After breakfast, trek into the primary rainforest to learn about medicinal plants and discover the area’s flora and fauna.

After lunch, relax by the river or enjoy a siesta in one of the hammocks. Afternoon activities include swimming in the lagoon and caiman spotting.

Conclude the evening with a beautiful sunset and a delicious meal.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 – Cuyabeno River & Indigenous Community

Hike in a different part of the forest, with opportunities to see some of the biggest trees in the Amazon rainforest and explore different ecosystems.

Visit an Indigenous community where your naturalist guide will explain the culture and traditions of the native people. Participate in preparing traditional food before enjoying lunch.

Conclude the day by enjoying the beautiful sunset at the lagoon and taking the opportunity to spot more wildlife before dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 – Ecological Canoe Adventure

Paddle an ecological canoe to experience jungle life at a slower pace. This program offers greater opportunities to enjoy the magic of the jungle and discover elusive wildlife not already spotted.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 – El Puente / Lago Agrio / Quito

Watch birds and animals in the tranquility of the early morning and enjoy the sunrise over the jungle canopies.

After breakfast, journey up the Cuyabeno River to El Puente, taking your last look at the jungle animals, flora and fauna.

You will arrive at the entrance of the reserve around 11:30 am, where the tour ends. From there, you can take the tourist bus to Quito or Lago Agrio.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 1 – Quito / Lago Agrio / Cuyabeno Reserve

The meeting point is at the Entrance of the Cuyabeno Reserve between 11:00 and 11:30 am with one representative of the lodge. From there, take a canoe ride down the Cuyabeno River for approximately two hours to the lodge. Lunch is served around 2:00 pm.

At 4:00 pm, visit Laguna Grande to look for wildlife. Around 5:30 pm, swim in the lagoon and enjoy the sunset. At 6:00 pm, take an exciting night walk to observe insects, spiders and tarantulas and experience the jungle at night.

Dinner is served at 8:00 pm. After dinner, the guide will provide a short briefing about the Cuyabeno Reserve and the itinerary for the following day.

Meals included: Lunch box, Dinner

Day 2 – Laguna Grande

After breakfast, trek into the primary rainforest to learn about medicinal plants and discover the biological flora and fauna.

After lunch, relax by the river or enjoy a siesta in one of the hammocks. Afternoon activities include swimming in the lagoon and caiman spotting.

Conclude the evening with a beautiful sunset and a delicious meal.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 – Cuyabeno River & Indigenous Community

Hike in a different part of the forest, with opportunities to see some of the biggest trees in the Amazon rainforest and explore different ecosystems.

Visit an Indigenous community where your naturalist guide will explain the culture and traditions of the native people. Participate in preparing traditional food before enjoying lunch.

Conclude the day with a beautiful sunset at the lagoon and take the opportunity to spot more wildlife before dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 – El Puente / Lago Agrio / Quito

Watch birds and animals in the tranquility of the early morning and enjoy the sunrise over the jungle canopies.

After breakfast, journey up the Cuyabeno River to El Puente, taking your last look at the jungle animals, flora and fauna.

You will arrive at the entrance of the reserve around 11:30 am, where the tour ends. From there, you can take the tourist bus to Quito or Lago Agrio.

Meals included: Breakfast

What to Bring

👕 Clothing 2 long-sleeved cotton T-shirts, 2 long trousers, 2 shorts, 2 T-shirts, and a windbreaker jacket.

🧦 Socks & Underwear 2 pairs of socks and 4 pairs of underwear.

🥾 Footwear Sport shoes and sandals or flip-flops.

🦟 Sun & Insect Protection Insect repellent and sun block.

🔦 Flashlight Torch (flashlight) with extra batteries.

💧 Water & Waterproofing Plastic water bottle and zip-lock bags to keep clothes and equipment dry.

🧴 Toiletries Shampoo and soap.

🧢 Personal Items Hat or cap, bathing suit, and sunglasses.

🔭 Binoculars Optional, but useful for wildlife watching.

📷 Photography Professional camera.

🩹 First Aid First aid kit.

🪪 Documents & Backpack Passport copy and a small backpack.

Prices & Details

Tour	Price	Flights UIO-OCC	Tourist Bus
4 Days	$490 USD	$300 USD	$80 round trip
5 Days	$590 USD	$300 USD	$80 USD

4 Days

Price: $490 USD

Flights UIO-OCC: $300 USD

Tourist Bus: $80 round trip

5 Days

Price: $590 USD

Flights UIO-OCC: $300 USD

Tourist Bus: $80 USD

✓ Included

Canoe rides
Meals as mentioned in the program
Water, coffee and tea
Daily excursion program
Bilingual naturalist guide (English or German)
Rubber boots (up to size 44) and raincoats for the tour

✕ Not Included

Tips and personal expenses
Anything not included in the program
Tourist bus Quito – Entrance Reserve – Quito: $100 USD
Indigenous village and shaman visit: $20 USD

Route

How to Get to Cuyabeno

Option 1

Flight: Quito → Lago Agrio

✕

Flights to Lago Agrio are not available.

Flights from Quito operate only to Coca.

Bus Ride Quito – Entrance Reserve Cuyabeno

There are several options to travel to the meeting point. You can take a bus from Quito to Lago Agrio and continue to the entrance of the Cuyabeno Reserve. The journey takes approximately 10 hours.

Option 2

Tourist Bus: Quito → Cuyabeno Reserve

Recommended

We book the tickets for the shared bus ride included in the package.

Quito → Entrance Reserve Cuyabeno

Departure Days Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday

Departure Time 10:00 PM

Meeting Point Guayunga Hostel in Quito

Address Antepara and Los Ríos St. Quito

Price $40 USD one way

Entrance Reserve Cuyabeno → Quito

Departure Days Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday

Departure Time 11:00 AM

Meeting Point Entrance Reserve Cuyabeno

Price $40 USD one way

Baños ↔ Lago Agrio

If you are in Baños, you can take the public bus. The journey takes approximately 8 hours.

Departure 10:45 PM from the bus station in Baños

Price $17 USD one way

Option 3

Public Bus: Quito → Lago Agrio

We can recommend the Baños bus company. Buses depart from Carcelén in the north or Quitumbe in the south, almost every hour. Tickets can be purchased directly at either bus station.

Departure Stations Carcelén or Quitumbe

Frequency Almost every hour

Ticket Purchase At Carcelén or Quitumbe bus station

Meeting Point Entrance Reserve Cuyabeno

Meeting Time 11:00 AM