CUYABENO
Cuyabeno Lodge is located on an island in the Cuyabeno fauna production reserve. Because of the Reserve’s biophysical, geographic and cultural characteristics, it is one of the most important protected areas in Ecuador. This protected area includes hilly regions of “terra firma” forest, flooded forest and marshy plains. Cuyabeno has the world’s greatest diversity of trees per hectare (473 species). Up to the present time the fauna registered in this Reserve includes 493 species of birds, 165 species of mammals, 91 species of reptiles, 96 species of amphibians and 475 species of fish.

Day One
The guests arrive in Quito and spend the night in a three-star hotel in Quito.

Day Two
The guests have the opportunity to go on a city tour of Quito in the morning, before the “Quito to Marañon and Amazon Rivers” Tour starts.· We begin our adventure with a flight at 14:00 (approx. 45 minutes) from the city of Quito to the small town of Macas in the south east of Ecuador. During the flight we can see how the scenery changes: from the spectacularly beautiful Andean snow capped volcanoes to the immense green carpet of the Amazon ecosystem.

· In the afternoon, we take another flight into the interior of the Amazon jungle, to Puerto Morona situated on the River Morona. (Depending on the weather conditions, this part of the trip is done by car).

* We enjoy an evening meal close to the banks of the River Morona.
* Night: camping in tents

  Day Three

· After breakfast, we start our journey by boat, following the course of the River Morona on the way to the Marañon River, picnicking along the way on the banks of the river.

· The journey during this second day allows our guests a magnificent close up view of the tropical forest and the native inhabitants who have made the river banks their home. We pass through five military checkpoints: one Ecuadorian and four Peruvian. The group is now in Peru. The guide will relate the background to the war between the two countries, and discuss the changes which have taken place since the peace agreement was signed.

· We will pass indigenous communities, e.g. Huambisa and Aguaruma.

· We have dinner on another beach of outstanding beauty where two contrasting ecosystems can be clearly observed.

· Overnight in tents halfway between Puerto Morona and the Marañon river, close to Fortaleza, in the banks of the Morona river.

  Day Four

· After breakfast, we go down the river to Puerto America and then turn west in the mouth of the Marañon river, arriving in the late afternoon at the Saramiriza village, where we will spend the night in cabins.

Day Five
· Dawn breaks over the Amazon as we continue our journey. We see the spectacular sunrise and hear the early morning bird calls, the cries of the jungle creatures and the sounds of the rainforest, and close by, we can see the unique natural phenomenon, the Pongo (or narrows) of Manseriche in the River Marañon. Overnight in Saramiriza in cabins.

  Day Six

· After breakfast, our journey along the Marañon river takes us to the Community of Maipuco.
· Our group is now part of the jungle, we are growing familiar with its sights and sounds, its beauty - and yet, there are still a thousand new sounds to hear, more species of birds to observe. We will pass the mouth of the Huallaga river, one of the biggest tributaries of the Marañon.

· Picnic on the banks of the River Marañon.
· Overnight in cabins in Maipuco.

Day Seven
· We start early in the morning along the Marañon river.
· At about midday, we arrive at the mouth of the Samiria river where we can enjoy watching the pink river dolphins.
· We move deeper into the Samiria black water river. There are no people living in and around the spots we will be visiting today, only the Reserves rangers and a vast variety of flora and fauna. Sunrises and sunsets are particularly active times for the inhabitants here. Several species of monkeys and sloths will be seen and bird watching is as its best. The waters have a wide variety of fish, caiman as well as the giant “river lobo”. In the evening, catch a few fish for the dinner table (Peacock Bass, Arawana, Dorado and Piranhas).
· Overnight close to Guard Station No. 2.

  Day Eight

· After breakfast we will have a walk in the jungle and the guide will explain about medicinal plants.
· We start our return journey to the Marañon river.
· Overnight in tents in the banks of the Marañon river.

Day Nine
· After breakfast we continue our journey along the Marañon river. We pass the mouth of the Ucayali river and we are now in the biggest river of the world, the Amazon.
· Later in the afternoon, we arrive in Iquitos where we the tourists will be accommodated in three-four star hotels.
· End of the tour.

In our nine-day journey we have travelled 500 miles (800 km) along piranha invested waters, through dense almost impenetrable primary forest where long ago early explorers came to conquer an unknown, inhospitable land in the search for El Dorado. This is a journey to test the fortitude and stamina of the visitor, but it is a journey which affords a never to be forgotten glimpse of a world filled with sights and sounds which awake the primeval instincts in us and deprive the word “civilization” of its meaning.

The price and booking conditions for the “Quito to Marañon and Amazon Rivers”:
- From $ 1199 We only operate this tour with a minimum of six person.
- Minimum age 15 years.

The price includes:
· one night’s accommodation in a three-star hotel in Quito
· air travel Quito/Macas/Puerto Morona (inside Ecuador)
· camping along the Morona River (two nights) and accommodation in cabins along the Marañon River.
· meals and drinking water, vegetarian food is available
· bilingual (Spanish and English) naturalist guide
· hiking and canoe tours in the Pacara Samiria Reserve
· one night’s accommodation in a 3-4-star hotel in Iquitos.

Recommended Packing List:

· binoculars (worth having in the rainforest - it's worth spending a bit of extra money to get a good pair: 8 x 40 are excellent for poor light conditions under the forest canopy)
· flashlight
· insect repellent (with DEET)
· lightweight quick drying clothes:
· swimming suit
· long-sleeved shirt
· loose-fitting, fast drying pants (no jeans);
· a light sweater (it gets surprisingly chilly in the rainforest, especially on boat trips).
· Teva-like sandals or sneakers for around camp and in the canoe
· zip lock bags

General Information

PRICES INCLUDE:
Return transportation Lago Agrio-Hot Spots Camp.
English Speaking Naturalist Guide (Cetur Licensed & Experience).
All camping equipment, tents, Bedding, mosquito nets, rubber boots (up to size 46), raincoats and lifejackets.
Three meals per day (included purified bottled water).
Catering for vegetarians.
Showers in the camp.

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:
Cuyabeno Park Entrance Fee (USD $ 20 Dollars).
Additional Beverages.
Transportation Quito- Lago Agrio - Quito.
Extra meals before and after trip.
Tips. If traveling by bus you must leave Quito - Lago Agrio a day in advance, travel time is 8 hours or flight at 10:30, travel time 30 minutes.

WHAT TO BRING :
Original passport - Sun Block - Sun glasses - Flash light - Light - Shoes and sandals - T shirts Small backpack - Shorts - Insect repellent - Hats - Light cotton trousers - Towel - Swimwear - Binoculars (optional) -Plenty of camara film - Malaria Medication

LUGGAGE:
ONE BAG UP TO 30 POUNDS (15 KG), PLUS A CARRY ON. GUEST MAY LEAVE ADDITIONAL LUGGAGE AT THEIR HOTELS IN QUITO.

CLOTHING: INFORMAL,
COMFORTABLE, LIGHT-WEIGHT COTTON CLOTHING. SHORT AND LONG SLEEVED BLOUSES AND T-SHIRTS, SHORTS AND PANTS (NOT JEANS), BATHING SUIT, LIGHT JACKET OR SWEATER (NIGHTS SOMETIMES GET COOL). SNEAKERS OR SANDALS ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE CAMPSITES, BUT BRING GOOD WALKING SHOES FOR EXCURSIONS. RUBBER BOOTS AND RAIN COATS ARE PROVIDED ON SITE AT NO COST.

MONEY MATTERS: ENTRANCE FEE TO CUYABENO WILDLIFE RESERVE AND HUAORANI RESERVE (US $ 20 ), SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. WE ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS (VISA, MASTERCARD, DINNERS CLUB. US DOLLARS, AND TRAVELLER’S CHECKS, PERSONAL CHECKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.