COFAN LODGE & CUYABENO LOOP

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MOST INTERESTING AMAZON RAINFOREST LODGE

The Cofán are among the oldest surviving indigenous cultures in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Since time immoral, we have lived in the forests where the Amazon Basin meets Andes and its volcanoes. The Cofán territory  includes rainforest, beautiful winding rivers, extended swamp forests, and the richest biodiversity found on earth. Part of the traditional territory of the Cofans is protected in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, where we live in the village of Zabalo.

For many years, we provided ecotourism services to different tour operators, without having our own facilities. However, recently we decided that we should have our own lodge and our own programs to host you, our visitor, in our beautiful Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, so you can enjoy our paradisiacal jungle right from our own village. So we built our Amazon Rainforest Lodge Ecuador, the Cofan Lodge.

Nothing feels better, than taking a nice shower in a clean bathroom after an exiting excursion through the tropical jungle. Sounds irrelevant to you? Just wait and experience how good it feels after your shower, to stroll into in our tidy, well-cared-for restaurant after a day's outdoors in the tropical rainforest. You will love the accommodations at the Cofan Lodge.

Our prices include lodging, all meals, drinks, transportation and lodging, but wait... We even offer greater prices as we give discounts for combined bookings of Cuyabeno + Galapagos!

Amenities of our Amazon Rainforest Lodge

The homes in Zabalo Village are well-built so that we can live in decent and healthy conditions. Unlike most lodges at the Cuyabeno Lake, the Zabalo village has its own electricity plant, from which the Cofan Lodge draws its power. So you will be able to charge your electrical equipment.

Not too far from the villages is the highest canopy observation tower from where one can observe the canopy of the untouched jungle.

Food and drinks

The Cofan Lodge programs include all meals, and fruit juices served with the meals. Our restaurant serves a mix of international cuisine and occasionally  a sample meal of traditional Cofan dishes. Meals include coffee, tea and bottled water, while additional drinks and beverages can be bought.

For those with more time, longer stays in Cuyabeno are possible and highly recommended, as you can explore the park at a more relaxed pace and get to know the jungle and swamps much better. A very popular program is the Ecuador Amazon Expedition to Cuyabeno. Customized programs can be developed for special theme groups interested in birds as well as other Amazon Jungle Animals and/or Amazon Rainforest Plants. Check our Cofan Lodge rates.

As a final observation, to us, as co-custodians of the Cuyabeno jungle, it is essential that you have time the time of your life. We hope you fall in love with the tropical rainforest, which is our ancestral home. By visiting Cuyabeno, you help conserving the rain forest. Your visit generates income to the Cofan and Siona Indians and it strengthens the local economy. Without ecotourism, there would be far less incentive for the government of Ecuador to protect their natural areas. Our motto is "Nature, use it or lose it" 

5 DAYS' CUYABENO LOOP

CUYABENO RIVER TOUR: A 200 KM Cuyabeno odyssey takes you on Lake Cuyabeno and the Aguarico and Zabano Rivers, while sleeping in a Cofan village as well as the famous Cuyabeno Lodge.

The first 2,5 days are shared in the Cofan area of the Aguarico and Zábalo Rivers of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve.  On  the third day, the Cuyabeno Loop continues to the Cuyabeno Lake region of the park, while the standard program remains in the Zábalo region.

Day 1

Our transport meets you in Lagoagrio to take you in about 1 hour 30 minutes to the the canoe landing location Nuevo Unión, on the Aguarico River.

Upon arrival in Zábalo, you will be shown around in the village and taken to your cabins to freshen up and rest, as it has been a long day since your departure from Quito.

In the evening, you will be taken on a night excursion to discover the critters of the night.

Tree frogs are everywhere, but it is a bit difficult to spot them. The moment you think you finally have one in your camera, they leap away to never be found again . On a rare occasion, with lots of luck you may catch the green eyes of a wandering Ocelot Cat in the beam of your flash light.

Day 2

Early in the morning, we take on one of the few Ecuadorian black water rivers, where the clear water provides an ideal conditions for Giant Otters. Black water gets it color from decaying leaves fallen in the forested lowlands and swamps, while there are little or no sediments. There is also a vivid population of Scarlet Macaws as well as a great variety of tropical birds and monkeys.

Day 3

The day starts out with a discovery of the Cofan ways. You will be taught how to use a blowgun, and get to see the traditional Cofan dresses.

After breakfast, we take you to the mouth of the Cuyabeno River, where usually some river dolphins hang out. From there you will be taken to the Canopy tower, to have an impression of the natural canopy.

After the visit to the canopy tower, the programs split into:

• Cofan standard program and the

• Cuyabeno Loop

4 DAYS' STANDARD COFAN LODGE TOUR

The Cofan standard program will take you on a fabulous excursion into the Amazon jungle, after which it takes you back to the Cofan Lodge.

Day 4

On day four, the standard program takes you back on a ride on the Aguarico River, and from there back to Quito.

5 DAYS' CUYABENO LOOP CONTINUATION

The Cuyabeno loop continues its journey upstream to the Cuyabeno Lake, from where the program will be taken over by one of the lodges at the Cuyabeno Lake, of which the most famous is the Cuyabeno Lodge.

Upon arrival at the lodge, you can take a hot shower and rest up a bit and take a swim in the lake at sunset.

At night you can take an night excursion at the lake to look for the orange eyes of caymen and other nocturnal animals that hide in the Macrolobium swamps.

Day 4

After a well-deserved night's rest, you will explore the Cuyabeno Lake and its surrounding Macrolobium swamps.

Blue and Yellow Macaws fly noisily across the Cuyabeno Lake, while Hoatzins whisper their hoarse sounds as they scope the Macrolobium trees for food. You may also hear the mysterious swelling sound of the Howler Monkeys or see a troop of squirrel monkeys bouncing through the treetops. In fact, 10 species of monkeys have been recorded in the reserve.

Bird and wildlife watching

Day 5

On day five, you will experience the feel of so many of our visitors: "It all went by too quickly". Maybe you will become one of our frequent visitors that keep coming back for a special program of one or two weeks. Anyway, you will have to leave in the morning to get back on time to catch the plane or  bus in Lagoagrio. You will ride the canoe up the Cuyabeno River to the main entrance of the park, the "Cuyabeno Bridge", where your transport will be waiting for you to bring you to the airport or to the bus station to take you on your trip back to Quito.

2023 COFAN LODGE / CUYABENO LODGE / PARKS AND TRIBES PRICES

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers.

Individual bookings are WELCOME

AMAZON RAINFOREST LODGE, ECUADOR [COFAN LODGE]