Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge
Ecuador Amazon Tours

 
 
 
 
  EXCELLENT  
  
 Based on 355 reviews 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Lauren M 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Experiência inesquecível
Foi uma experiência incrível e inesquecível. Foram 4 dias conectadas com a natureza e com pessoas incríveis, sem dúvidas vou lembrar para sempre. Toda estrutura do Lodge é ótima, confortável, limpo, comida maravilhosa! Todos os funcionários da recepção, cozinha, guias foram muito legais, estavam realmente preocupados em termos bons momentos. Não possui um roteiro específico para as atividades e eu achei isso ótimo, pois dependendo do tempo fazemos o mais adequado para a situação, também adorei o fato de não ter planos e ser capaz de ver a natureza acontecendo como ela realmente é: autêntica.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 claudio 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Top Lodge with
Hola Gabriel! 😊 We just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU for the incredible time we had with you in Cuyabeno! 🌿🦜🐒 You truly made our Amazon adventure unforgettable. Your passion, knowledge, enthusiasm and especially your incredible ability to spot wildlife were absolutely outstanding. We saw so many animals thanks to you — even animals that we would have walked straight past without ever noticing! 😄 What impressed us most was not only how knowledgeable you are, but how much you genuinely love the Amazon and sharing it with your guests. You were always patient, positive and full of energy, and you made every excursion exciting and special. We felt very lucky to have you as our guide. For us, you are a real asset to the lodge and someone who represents the Cuyabeno experience incredibly well. We will definitely mention you by name when we leave our review, because you truly deserve the recognition. ⭐️ Thank you again for everything, Gabriel! We had an amazing time with you and will remember this adventure for a very long time. We sincerely hope our paths cross again one day! 🙌🌴❤️ All the best, Claudio & Jasmin
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 not_a_plain_jain 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Authentic Amazon experience, but very basic accommodations.
If you’re looking for a no-frills, close-to-nature experience in the Cuyabeno rainforest, this is a good way to experience the Amazon. We stayed for 3 nights/4 days, with pre-planned excursions at different times of day and enough downtime between outings to relax. The wildlife was the highlight. Our guide Anita, who is from the Siona community, was an excellent animal spotter and helped us see 4 types of monkeys, including mono diablo and chucurongo, a baby anaconda, multiple birds and turtles. Our other guide Miguel has a biology degree and a particular interest in insects - he took us for visiting the Siona community, and multiple nature walks. One night we spotted the eyes of two caimans reflecting in the torchlight. We visited the Siona community deep in the rainforest and saw their way of life, including their pet capybara, Peppa. We baked a cassava bread with them and also visited the community shaman. Dolphin sightings were difficult during our visit because it was summer and the water levels were low. We did spot a couple dolphins in front of the lodge one day. The accommodations are quite basic. Our private room for two was part of a larger hut divided into four rooms, but there was no ceiling between the rooms. This meant you could hear conversations, showers and lights from neighboring rooms. One morning, someone started showering at 5:15 a.m. and I could hear everything, even though our scheduled wake-up was 5:45 a.m. The doors also had gaps underneath, windows weren’t well sealed, and there were no locks on the bedroom doors, so you need to be comfortable trusting other guests with your belongings and also with insects having an easy path to come in. The bathroom also had no ceiling, so sounds and smells carried directly into the bedroom. You are genuinely very close to nature here, which means bugs are part of the experience. We saw several insects and I unfortunately encountered a cockroach in the bathroom, which freaked me out. Thankfully, mosquito nets are provided over the beds - else I wouldn’t have been able to sleep. Thick ponchos and rubber boots were also provided, which were very useful for walking through marshy areas and dealing with heavy rain. Service was generally helpful. When our curtain rod fell on the first day, staff fixed it quickly. However, on one morning we were told to meet at 6 a.m., came out at 5:58 a.m., and found that the guide had already left for wildlife spotting, which was frustrating. Water also ran out on 2 of our 3 nights. The staff worked to restore it and it eventually came back, although the owner seemed less concerned about the issue at the time. There is no regular Wi-Fi; Starlink was available for $2/hour. Food was decent and healthy, with vegetarian options available. We had meals such as spaghetti bolognese, rice with curry, plantains, soup and various sides. Lunch included soup and juice, while breakfast included fruit, coffee and tea. There was no fresh milk, only powdered milk. Drinking water was plentiful, and drinking water was provided separately for brushing teeth, while shower/toilet water was pumped directly from the Cuyabeno River. They also baked a cake for a guest’s birthday, which was a thoughtful touch. Getting there is a commitment: it was about a 10-hour bus ride from Quito to the Cuyabeno ranger station, including a breakfast stop. The lodge helped us arrange the $75 bus ticket. From the ranger station, it’s another roughly 1.5–2.5 hours by boat depending on wildlife stops. The return bus included a lunch stop. Overall, I liked the structure of the experience and how much time we spent actually exploring the rainforest. This is best suited to travelers who prioritize wildlife and being immersed in nature over comfort and modern amenities. Families who want an Amazon experience could probably manage here, although the open-air room setup, muddy paths and long transportation time are worth keeping in mind.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Sophie C 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Amazing Experience with great guides!!
Amazing experience!!! The most attentive guides who are incredibly talented at spotting the animals and very knowledgable. Such a fun experience from start to finish, cannot recommend Dolphin Lodge enough. They also kindly catered to my very complicated dietary requirements. Stay for as long as possible! We did 4 days and wish we could stay longer.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Nicole S 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Just like Mowgli in The Jungle Book!!
The stay at the Dolphin Lodge was fantastic! Ana was a perfect guide, she spotted all the animals we had hoped for! Sloth, caiman, monkeys, pink dolphins, boa, anaconda, tarantula, beautiful birds and much more! Unfortunately no jaguar😉! The visit to their village was very exciting! Many thanks to Ana and the whole team!!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 R o 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Amazing expérience
A wonderful stay in Cuyabeno with Ana, who is a fantastic guide. I recommend her.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Eduarda M 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Amazon Experience
Ana was an amazing guide! Love so much the experience!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 HagarLapidot 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Highly recommend!
​Highly recommended! We had an amazing 4-day, 3-night stay at Dolphin Lodge. We had hot showers, and we were super lucky with the weather. Our guide, William, made the experience incredible- he’s funny, highly professional, and his love for what he does is truly contagious. The day we went paddling in the canoe was the day we saw the most wildlife! The lodge provided us with rubber boots and rain ponchos for the jungle walks. We recommend bringing bug spray, light clothes for the lodge, hiking gear, a book, a swimsuit, and a towel for the lagoon. Great food and a warm, welcoming staff. We highly recommend it!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 s H 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Cuyabeno
The nature reserve is splendid, very wild, and it is home to a quantity of wild animals (birds, monkeys, caimans, snakes, insects, dolphins, etc.). The organization was perfect, the schedule was clear with a good balance of activities and rest. The meals were good, always with vegetables and varied. Our guide was very nice, knew the animals perfectly, she created a great atmosphere in the group, and we loved traveling with her! Thank you very much and I recommend this experience.