Exceptional Birdwatching in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
5-Days / 4-Nights
$820 per person
Quito – Cuyabeno – Quito
Experience Ecuador’s second largest nature reserve accompanied by a professional birding guide while staying in comfort at the Cuyabeno Kichwa Lodge. This tour is designed for avid birdwatchers looking to see as many birds as possible. Even better, it includes your flight from Quito to Coca (Francisco Orellana).
This Cuyabeno Birdwatching Tour can be altered to accommodate photographers, birdwatchers, and/or naturalists who prefer a more relaxed approach to birdwatching. Let us know when requesting reservation information below!


Cuyabeno Birdwatching Opportunities with the Kichwa Lodge
During your 5-day / 4-night visit, we will tour a wide-variety of habitats including:
- Our major tributaries the Rio Cuyabeno and the Rio Aguarico
- Seasonal lakes with their ever-adjusting muddy shores
- Quiet black water streams, and
- Unique wetland and forest habitat not found in other Amazonian destinations.
If you would like even more time birdwatching, we suggest requesting our Complete Cuyabeno package and request a birdwatching focus.
…and more Cuyabeno Birdwatching
In addition to birdwatching from our canoe, we will also:
- Climb a 35-meter high tower where a Harpy Eagle often comes to perch
- Meander a loop trail around our lodge where secondary forest gives way to the jungle,
- Observe parrots and macaws at a local clay lick.
- Hike a long trail that will allow us to compare the Cuyabeno pantano (swamp and wetlands) with the reserve’s higher terrain.
Naturally, if a full-day hike in warm climes is not to your liking, alternate plans include a full-day canoe tour to the Zabalo River. Alternatively, do even more by requesting an additional day or two to your trip!

Along the Shore
During our travels to and from the Cuyabeno Kichwa Lodge, we will find ourselves on the Rio Aguarico. When traveling by motorized canoe, it is possible to spot many different species of birds in trees alongside the river, on stumps sticking out of the water, and on muddy shores and sandbars. Some species we hope to see are: Hoatzin, Long-tailed Potoo , Great Potoo, Sand-colored Nighthawk, Pied Lapwing, and more.

Kichwa Lodge and Trails
Around the lodge and on our loop trail, we have secondary forest that gives way to primary jungle. Within the immediate area, we will many birds that often include: Blue-throated Piping Guan, Solitary Black Cacique, Salvins Curassow, Marbled Wood-quail, Great tinamou, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Scarlet Macaw, White-lored Antpitta, Gilded Barbet, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, and Great Antshrike.
Additionally, in the early morning hours just before dawn, it is very common to observe owls including the striking Crested Owl.

Kichwa Birdwatching Tower
Approximately 35 meters tall with several viewing platforms at differing heights, the Kichwa Birdwatching Tower grants us views into and above the tree canopy.
Therefore, we can spot raptors like Harpy Eagle that hunt for monkeys and sloths, high-soaring Swallow-tailed Kite, and Oropendula clinging to their hanging nests. Likewise, we will observe mixed flocks of fruit eaters that can include Plum-throated Cotinga, Blue-crowned Trogon, Amazonian Trogon, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Blue-backed Manakin, Masked Crimson Tanager, as well as barbets, toucans, and more.

Backwaters
The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is a giant wetlands with multiple types of habitats including seasonal lakes and black water steams where we can observe Amazonian Kingfisher, Sunbittern, Drab Water Tyrant, Agami heron, Rufescent Tiger-heron, and Sungrebe, to name a few. Of course, we might see some of these birds on the wider rivers. However, heading into the quieter backwaters without a motor makes them easier to observe and photograph.

Clay Licks
Clay licks are most often found near the river’s edge and contain high deposits of minerals necessary to the diet of several species of birds. A good day at the clay lick means seeing Dusky-headed Parakeet, Yellow-crowned Parrot, Orange-cheeked Parrot, Mealy Parrot, and Blue-headed Parrot. With luck, we might also view Macaws which also take advantage of the clay lick.
Birdwatching requires flexibility. Therefore, we offer a general idea of the places we will visit on your tour without a schedule or detailed itinerary. We know that new sightings of highly desirable birds take precedence!
With your help, we hope to expand our list of sightings and include links to new eBird lists in the future.
For now, we are one of Cuyabeno birdwatching’s best kept secrets in the Amazon.
This Itinerary Includes
- Flight to and from Quito
- Land and river transport from/to Francisco Orellana International Airport in Coca to our lodge.
- Tour Guide who speaks English, Spanish, and Kichwa (if you require another language, we can hire another guide at additional cost)
- Professional Birding Guide with experience in the Amazon
- Lodging & Meals, including purified water and hot beverages
- Rain ponchos and rubber boots for your stay.
Not Included
- Tips for guides, drivers, and staff
- Travel insurance
Reservation Request for Exceptional Cuyabeno Birdwatching
Would you like to make a reservation? Please fill out this form. If this is an urgent request, please contact us directly via WhatsApp at +593 96 073 6216.
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