Pink Dolphin Trail Adventure — 7 Days / 6 Nights
$1,340
per person · minimum 2 people
Duration
7 Days / 6 Nights
Departures
Any day · min. 2 travelers
Level
Easy – active (camping)
Altitude
177–326 m
Temperature
23–29 °C
Language
English, Spanish
Group
Minimum 2 people
About This Cuyabeno Tour
AGUARICO RIVER, IRIPARI (ZANCUDO) LAGOON & LAGARTO COCHA RIVER FLOODED FOREST SYSTEM. FOR NATURE LOVERS ONLY – DEEP IN THE JUNGLE WITH 5 NIGHTS OF COMFORTABLE CAMPING AND 1 NIGHT AT THE LODGE.
This tour is of an easy active rating designed for everyone who loves camping in the middle of nature. This great Amazon adventure starts from the cities of Lago Agrio at the North East of the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest. You will navigate on the Aguarico River and will end visiting the Eastern part of the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest. Your whole journey will be around 500 km in total, navigating on the Aguarico and Lagarto Cocha River, in the most remote corner of the reserve. During this fantastic tour you have the opportunity to visit Iripari Lake (Zancudo Cocha), the largest black water lake in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and to admire the biggest flooded forest in our Ecuadorian Amazon, where you will easily observe the legendary pink freshwater dolphin (Inia geoffrensis).
About Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is a protected area located in the north-east of Ecuador, deep in the Amazon. Cuyabeno was established in 1979 and currently has an area of about 6000 square kilometers of pristine Amazonian rainforest. This stunning rainforest contains an incredible variety of species of plants and animals, thus becoming one of the most biologically rich areas on Earth. It also has a breathtaking landscape that includes forest, rivers and lagoons.
There have been identified 473 species of plants in a single hectare. In Cuyabeno exist approximately 3000–4000 species of identified plants, 165 species of mammals including the legendary pink river dolphin, 81 species of amphibians, 54 species of reptiles, 500 species of birds and 200 to 300 species of fish. The reserve is also home to 5 indigenous nationalities spread over 7 communities: Kichwua, Shuar, Siona, Secoya and Cofán.
Important facts about your trip
We will explore a pristine rainforest area visited by few tourists, so chances of watching wildlife are great: every day, by canoe and on foot, we search for macaws, parrots, toucans, monkeys, freshwater dolphins, caimans and anacondas. Observing wildlife in its natural environment depends on weather conditions and some luck.
You will be walking slowly in primary forest on trails opened by the natives, which in some areas implies crossing flooded and muddy areas; in general the terrain is flat and does not demand much effort (maximum walking time about 3 hours at a time). Expect heavy rain at any time — our canoes do not have a roof, but they are comfortable, with seats and cushions for two people and life jackets, and your luggage travels covered and protected. During navigation you always have access to cold drinks.
Our campsites are located on the margin of the river, so we do not need to carry the equipment long distances, but you will need to transport your own luggage short distances, and we ask everyone to assist in setting up the campsites. To reach our furthest destination we travel by motorized canoe around 500 km in the 7-day return trip.
What's Included
Not Included
What to Bring
Big 7 Sighting Chances
How likely you are to spot each of the Big 7 on this program, rated by our guides. The jungle always has the final word.
Itinerary
Your journey starts in the morning with a 2-hour drive from Lago Agrio to “Tierras Orientales” village on the shore of the Aguarico River. We start our Amazon experience navigating a motorized canoe downstream along this beautiful white water river until the mouth of the Cuyabeno River, a small, breathtaking black water tributary — here, with some luck, our first sighting of the legendary pink freshwater dolphin (Inia geoffrensis).
We stop for a delicious picnic lunch and, if you wish, a refreshing swim, then continue downstream until we reach the Zancudo Kichwua Native Territory, navigating east into the deep Amazon rainforest. Tonight we sleep in comfortable tents at the shore of the river or, if the river level permits, next to the beautiful Zancudo Lake. Welcome cocktail and dinner.
Level: Low
Altitude: 177–326 m
Temperature: 23–29 °C
Activities: Canoeing, swimming, photography
Time: 5 hours navigating (from Tierras Orientales)
What to bring: Long sleeves, long pants, cap, sunblock, binoculars, mosquito repellent
Early in the morning we navigate slowly for a bird watching trip, enjoying the sounds of the rainforest. After breakfast, a hike in the marvelous primary Amazon rainforest: our guide explains the plants that are important for the natives’ survival, with luck spotting impressive wildlife.
After lunch and a relaxing break we explore by motorized canoe the beautiful Zancudo (Iripari) lake and its stunning landscape — also a good place for a refreshing swim. Once the sun has set over the lake, we return to camp. At night, before dinner, a short hike to see giant insects, spiders and snakes and enjoy the sounds of the Amazon night.
Level: Medium-high
Altitude: 177–326 m
Temperature: 23–29 °C
Activities: Bird watching, hiking, canoeing, swimming, photography, night walk
Time: 3 hours navigating
What to bring: Long sleeves, long pants, cap, sunblock, binoculars, mosquito repellent
In the morning we pack up our equipment and navigate downstream on the Aguarico towards Lagarto Cocha River — “the river of the caimans” in the native language. We continue upstream deep into the rainforest to explore this spectacular system of rivers and lakes, arriving at Delfin Cocha, “the lake of dolphins”, with the best chances of seeing the Amazonian pink and grey river dolphins — and why not swim with them too?
Picnic lunch. In the afternoon we set up camp, then navigate slowly up the Lagarto River looking for wildlife until sunset. At night, from the motorized canoe, we search for night birds, snakes, bats, caimans and frogs on the way back to camp. Dinner. Night in tents at the shore of Lagarto Cocha River.
Level: Medium-high
Altitude: 177–326 m
Temperature: 23–29 °C
Activities: Canoeing, swimming, photography
What to bring: Long sleeves, long pants, cap, sunblock, binoculars, mosquito repellent
Early morning bird watching by canoe. After breakfast we continue navigating upriver, deep in the rainforest, with excellent chances of spotting parrots and macaws, herons, egrets, toucans and, with some luck, some of the 10 species of monkeys that live in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve.
This journey takes us to a remote Secoya indigenous community, ancestral people with great knowledge of their environment. We take part in the making of Casabe (manioc) bread, from the extraction of the roots to the final product, and our picnic lunch includes Casabe bread. After lunch, a jungle walk accompanied by a Secoya native guide who tells us about their traditional way of life. Return to the campsite. Dinner.
Level: Medium-high
Altitude: 177–326 m
Temperature: 23–29 °C
Activities: Secoya community visit, canoeing, photography
Time: 2 hours navigating, deep in the rainforest
What to bring: Long sleeves, long pants, cap, sunblock, mosquito repellent
After breakfast we visit the stunning flooded forest and its lagoons, with great chances of watching wildlife including the legendary pink dolphin. After lunch, time to relax at the campsite. Later in the afternoon we try our luck fishing for piranhas and, with some luck, enjoy a beautiful sunset. At night, before dinner, a second exciting hike. Farewell dinner.
Level: Medium-high
Altitude: 177–326 m
Temperature: 23–29 °C
Activities: Canoeing, hiking, photography
Time: 4 hours navigating
What to bring: Long sleeves, long pants, cap, sunblock, binoculars, mosquito repellent
After breakfast at 6:00 a.m. we begin the journey back: we paddle through the winding Iripari stream, observing the contrasts between flooded and dry forest. We then head upriver on the Aguarico River toward Cofán territory, where we briefly explore the remote Zábalo River, rich in distinct flora and fauna. After a field lunch we continue to the lodge. In the afternoon we visit our Bird Observation Tower, with panoramic views over the canopy and the jungle below. We end the day with a short night walk before a well-deserved dinner.
Early morning bird watching. Breakfast. We navigate the Cuyabeno River back to El Puente and transfer to Lago Agrio, where the tour ends.