Nicky Amazon Lodge – Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

Early in the morning, your guide will pick you up from your hotel to journey to the eastern ridge. We start our day with a visit to the Cayambe-Coca National Park, exploring its high-altitude ecosystem. In the morning, we venture into the paramo ecosystem's edges, taking in the breathtaking views of the Andes while attempting to spot specialized highland avifauna and flora. Our quest may lead us to encounter Andean Condors, White-tailed Deer, Culpeo Foxes, and perhaps even the elusive Spectacled Bear. Continuing our journey, we head to the Termas de Papallacta for lunch and a moment of relaxation in its rejuvenating thermal pools. Descending further along the Cinnamon Route, we reach the cloud forests of Guango, where we can marvel at stunning hummingbirds such as the Sword-billed Hummingbird and the Collared Inca, along with a diverse array of orchids. In the afternoon, we descend further along various altitudinal gradients, following the Quijos River basin towards the city of Lago Agrio, where we will arrive by late afternoon. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at a standard hotel.

Early breakfast at your hotel, where the bus from the Lodge will wait for you for a 1h30 transfer to the entrance of the Cuyabeno wildlife reserve. After lunch and a short briefing by your guide, you will continue your adventure for two more hours in a motorized canoe, slowly descending the Cuyabeno River. There you will begin your first observations of typical black water species, among lowland Amazonian birds, primates, mammals or other typical riparian species such as the mythical Anaconda. During this first immersion in this Amazonian habitat we will focus in particular on looking for the Harpy Eagle, one of the rarest, most imposing and mythical birds of prey in the area. Installation in the lodge, followed by an introductory talk on the next days of the excursion. Night in Nicky Amazon Lodge

Sunrise is the best time to witness the awakening of the species that surround Laguna Grande. A canoe ride will allow us to make a silent incursion into this magical site. The morning light mixes here with the sounds of the awakening of the fauna, creating an extremely photogenic environment. A large number of birds associated with the aquatic environment such as the "archaic" Hoatzin, the elegant American Anhinga, several species of common kingfisher, as well as the graceful flight of Macaws and parakeets, will accompany us on this aquatic tour. We will also look for different species of primates, sloths and pink dolphins. The exhaustive exploration of this environment will allow us to understand the difference between Igapo, a term that refers to the Amazon flooded forests and Varzea, which are the semi-floodable areas of banks. At sunset we will sail again through Laguna Grande in search of caimans, boas and other reptiles.

After a good breakfast, we leave the lodge for a walk with our guide through a new ecosystem called Terra Firme. Here we will focus on trying to find tracks of large mammals such as Tapirs and Peccaries, but also locate the difficult understory birds, Tamandúas and colourful Dendrobatidae. We will also try to understand the traditions of the indigenous communities that live in this area of the Amazon Rainforest and learn more about the permanent pressures that these precious ecosystems receive. After lunch we can take a canoe ride through the flooded Macrolobium forest observing more primate species such as the Squirrel Monkey or Callitrichidae and more of the local avifauna, diurnal birds of prey, Pygmy Kingfisher, Sunbittern, Blue Heron... After dinner we can go out to look for amphibians, and in particular Hylidae and Strabomantiae. Overnight at the Lodge.

We will get up early to take advantage of the last fauna observation outing, this time it is usual to observe the Maroon-tailed parakeet, the Red-Crested Cardinal Corona, different species of herons, Common kingfisher and others.... After breakfast we will board our motorized boat to cross the Cuyabeno River back to the bridge and the entrance to the Park. Last observations along this black water river to say goodbye to this magical ecosystem. Arriving at the bridge of the Cuyabeno River, the private vehicle is ready to take us to Quito. Arrival in the capital in the evening.