2010 guests will lodge in Siona Lodge which is located in the same area. This is a newer and improved facility offering the same activities.
Ecuador is tiny yet diverse country. It is best known in the diving community for the Galapagos Islands but there is much, much more to see. Ecuador is comprised of 4 regions, the coast, the Sierra, Galapagos and the Amazon or Oriente as it is know in Ecuador. All of these regions are worth visiting on a dive vacation to Galapagos. In a mere 2 weeks you can dive with hammerheads and whale sharks and see the countryside as well.
The Oriente region or Amazonas is unlike any of the other regions. I was fortunate enough to visit this region last week and stay in the Amazonian jungle. Paradise Huts is located in the Cuyabeno Fauna Production Reserve, one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Cuyabeno was created in 1979 and is located in the extreme northeastern Ecuadorian Amazon region.
The tour begins in Lago Agrio, in the province of S. There are 2 ways to get to Lago Agrio: a 35 minute flight from Quito or a 7-8 hour bus ride from Quito. Being one to embrace the culture of other countries I took the bus during the day. Taking the bus in Ecuador is a fantastic cultural experience. Despite the blaring salsa music and the lack of a functioning bathroom it was a very enjoyable ride. We stopped for bathroom breaks and at a little restaurant for lunch. For $7.50 it was a pretty interesting experience. The scenery was diverse and spectacular. I would not recommend taking the bus at night as there are many twists and turns in the road, making sleep difficult. Hotels in Lago Agrio are inexpensive. We paid $12 for an air-conditioned double room with hot water.
The next morning we boarded a chartered bus to Cuyabeno National Park for a 2 hour ride. This was followed by lunch then a 2 hour motorized canoe ride down the river to your lodge. The river ride was my favorite part of the trip. The scenery is breathtaking with huge trees rising on either side of the river and a variety of flora and fauna. It was much like being in the center of a documentary from the Discovery channel. On our journey we saw a huge group of monkeys and many types of birds. There are 14 lodges in total in the area but all very remote and well separated.
We arrived at the camp mid afternoon and settled into the cabins. All cabins have private baths and comfortable beds with mosquito nets. A couple hours of relaxing in the hammocks and we were off again. Swimming in the lagoon was the next option. The water was warm and inviting after the humidity of the Amazon. Then it was time for the sunset. The sunsets in this region are beautiful. A pair of pink dolphins enhanced the experience. It was only a glimpse of these unique creatures but enough to say that we saw them.
Dinner was local fare, wonderful for the meager cooking facilities there. Later we took a guided walk in the jungle by flashlight. Rubber boots and rain ponchos are provided to protect you from the elements. I was glad we had them as we saw a number of tarantulas and other spiders on both the ground and the trees.
Sleeping in the tranquility of the jungle is heavenly. The rain on the thatched roof lulled us to sleep and the temperature dropped just enough to make it a long, comfortable sleep.
Breakfast was local fare again then we were off to the jungle for a 3 hour walk in our boots again. Our guide provided us with a great deal of information about the flora and fauna and medicinal properties found in many. We saw more spiders, various types of ants including the largest species of ant in the world and several species of frogs, the most interesting and most beautiful being the tiny colorful poison dart frog.
Next was lunch, another lounging time in the hammocks then off for fishing. We fished for piranha for over an hour, catching many of these little creatures with big teeth. We searched fruitlessly for anaconda, watched another stunning sunset then searched for caimans (like alligators). We were fortunate to see a number of them, eyes glowing red with the reflection of the flashlights. One group was a family with juvenile caiman only about 1.5 ft long.
Dinner was another wonderful creation and the second night’s sleep was as good as the first.
The third day was filled with another hike and a visit to the local indigenous community. There we watched as local crafts were produced and had an interesting visit to the home of the local shaman.
Our last night was spent conversing with the other guests and guides. Day four was another 2 hour canoe ride, 2 hr bus ride to Lago Agrio and the short 35 minute flight to Quito (after a 2 hr rain delay of course). It was a fantastic trip and one I will definitely be repeating.
If you are considering diving in Galapagos and adding on time in mainland Ecuador I would definitely recommend adding on time in the Amazon. Of all the regions of Ecuador I have visited it is the most beautiful and unique.
Jennifer Cumming
