Jamu Lodge

Jamu Lodge 4 days/3 nights

Day 1

In the morning flight to Lago Agrio. Upon arrival in Lago Agrio, you will go by private bus to the entrance of Cuyabeno River (2 hours), where we will have a box lunch. At this point the visitors have to register in the Reserve’s office and pay the entrance fee. Our Naturalist Guide will give information about the Reserve, important recommendations and other tips to begin the two hours navigation on the Cuyabeno River to reach Jamu Lodge in the afternoon. At that time you will be shown to your rooms and you can relax a little. After a siesta, we will leave the camp for a swim in the lagoon and to watch a beautiful sunset in the middle of the Laguna Grande. You will then return to the camp for dinner. You will spend the night in bungalows with double beds and Mosquito nets.

Day 2
After breakfast we will take a trek in the primary forest for 3 to 4 hours, where your guide will explain how the complex tropical ecosystem works. You will be able to learn about medicinal plants and might be able to see some exotic birds or monkeys. We will then return to the camp for lunch and a siesta. In the afternoon, we will go piranha fishing, have a swim in the lagoon and watch the sunset. With a little luck you can observe the pink river dolphins or an anaconda sunbathing in a tree. You will return to the camp for dinner, and take a canoe night ride to look for caimans.

Day 3
After breakfast, we depart to head to the Siona Community of Puerto Bolivar, the largest ethnic group in the Reserve. During this tour you will learn their customs, traditions and way of life. You will be part of the elaboration of the Casabe; local dish made of yucca (carbohydrates are the principal food of the community). A visit to the Shaman is also included. He will explain some more about life in the jungle. The trip takes 1 hour navigation downstream to get there, on the way it will be possible to admire the existing fauna along the Rio Cuyabeno such as: birds, monkeys, snakes, pink dolphins, tortoises and many others. This is a full day excursion with Lunch in the Community. After that we return to the lodge to go for a nocturnal hike through the primary forest in search of insects, spiders, geckos or scorpions, and listen to the night sounds of the jungle. We will have dinner and spend the night in the lodge.

Day 4

Early in the morning before breakfast a bird-watching excursion is optional. Back at the lodge we have breakfast and you will start the journey back upstream on the Cuyabeno River. Lunch (lunch box) at the bridge. The bus will take you to Lago Agrio. Return to Quito.

In the 5 days 4 nights tour, a visit to the Laguna Canangüeno for bird-watching by native dugout canoe, called “quilla”, and another hike in the forest are the activities for the 4th day. While paddling you have a better opportunity to see more fauna and flora, and you can get a good idea of what a flooded forest looks like. You can observe a variety of different birds and monkeys. Because this activity is about 4 – 5 hours long, we take a box lunch with us.