Itinerary 4 days / 3 nights: Price - $ 150
1.-Quito - Papallacta – Tena. After meeting up at the Secret garden hostel at 8:00am, we catch the bus at Terminal Terrestre at 8:50am. If you wish, we can stop in Papallacta to enjoy the hot springs and have a fresh trout for lunch. Depending on your choice, we arrive in Tena either by 3:00pm or around 6:00pm. Our local guide picks us up and drives us approx. 30min out of Tena, from where it is a walk of 30-40min to the cabañas. There we will have dinner, followed by a traditional dance performed by the guides’ children and a Shamanic spiritual ceremony.
1.-Quito - Papallacta – Tena. After meeting up at the Secret garden hostel at 8:00am, we catch the bus at Terminal Terrestre at 8:50am. If you wish, we can stop in Papallacta to enjoy the hot springs and have a fresh trout for lunch. Depending on your choice, we arrive in Tena either by 3:00pm or around 6:00pm. Our local guide picks us up and drives us approx. 30min out of Tena, from where it is a walk of 30-40min to the cabañas. There we will have dinner, followed by a traditional dance performed by the guides’ children and a Shamanic spiritual ceremony.
2.-Into the wild. After breakfast we start our hike deeper into the jungle. Make sure you bring enough drinking water and your headlight. All you don’t need for the second night in the jungle can be left behind and locked in the cabañas. Depending on the conditions, the trek will take 3 to 4 hours. We will stop regularly for explanations of the flora and fauna, as well as Kichwa traditions. After we arrive at our camping site around 2:00 to 3:00pm, you can take a shower in the nearby waterfall and relax until we have dinner. You will sleep in a cave, in hammocks or on sleeping mats, with nothing but a mosquito net between you and the nightly forest.
3.- Enjoy the jungle. We leave our camp after a hearty breakfast. The walk back to the cabañas is shorter and more level than the first hike. On our way, we can stop for fishing. Back at the cabañas, we have lunch and then some time to relax. The afternoon is spent with activities of your choice, like making handicrafts or chocolate, bathing in the river, or a guided tour of the various plants cultivated around the cabañas. Enjoy your last dinner and night in the jungle.
4.- Tena – Amazoonico – Quito. It’s a quick breakfast before packing up and trekking 30-40min back to the nearest road. A pickup takes us to the point at which we board the motorised canoe for the ride down the main river to “Amazoonico” animal refuge and rehabilitation center. A compulsory donation of $ 2.50 (to be paid there) includes a tour in English and helps support this excellent project. We will stop for a swim in the river, or floating down the river on tree trunks (wearing a life jacket is compulsory for this activity). After lunch on the riverside we will be back in Tena around 3:00pm. Catching a bus at the terminal at 3:30pm, we will arrive in Quito around 9:30pm.
Optional: White water rafting on Day 4
If you like, we can organise a white water rafting on the last day of your trip (instead of the visit to Amazoonico). Depending on the length and difficulty of the ride, the rafting is charged $ 30 to $ 40 extra.
After our hike back to the road, the rafting company picks us up and takes us to the starting point. Life jackets and helmets will be provided, and the guides give you security instructions before we start. Good sun protection and insect repellent are highly recommended for a day on the river. We will stop for lunch on a beach and be back in Tena around 3:30pm. Catching a bus at the terminal at 4:00pm, we will arrive in Quito around 10:00pm.
Optional: White water rafting on Day 4
If you like, we can organise a white water rafting on the last day of your trip (instead of the visit to Amazoonico). Depending on the length and difficulty of the ride, the rafting is charged $ 30 to $ 40 extra.
After our hike back to the road, the rafting company picks us up and takes us to the starting point. Life jackets and helmets will be provided, and the guides give you security instructions before we start. Good sun protection and insect repellent are highly recommended for a day on the river. We will stop for lunch on a beach and be back in Tena around 3:30pm. Catching a bus at the terminal at 4:00pm, we will arrive in Quito around 10:00pm.
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The Samona Lodge is nestled deep in the primary forest of the Amazon Jungle. For those looking for a wildlife adventure at a reasonable price than look no further. The people at Samona lodge deliver time and time again. With fully bilingual naturalist guides, activites ranging from: Piranha fishing, hikes in the rainforest, caiman spotting, night walks and heading out at dusk to watch the sunset against the backdrop of the Aguarico river makes your stay at this lodge one to remember.
Sample Itineraries
Itinerary 4 days / 3 nights: Price - $210
1.-Quito - Lago Agrio - El Puente . Flight 06:15 a.m. or bus journey (one day before - 8 hours) to Lago Agrio. Drive from Lago Agrio to el Puente. Canoe trip down on Cuyabeno river to Samona Lodge. Exciting night walk.
2.-Cuyabeno River. After breakfast we paddle by traditional dug-out canoe on the Caiman-cocha lake (Laguna del Caiman) where we will enjoy the nature uniqueness, lunch, hike in the primary forest including lessons in the use of plants for survival. Before we go back to our camp, we’ll have a relaxing time to swim and enjoy the sunset on the magnificent Laguna Grande.
3.- Cuyabeno river. In the morning, visit to the Kichwa Community, our naturalist guide will explain about the culture and traditions of the native people. Piranha fishing in the afternoon Back to our camp. Night canoe trip in search of caimans (alligators).
4.- El Puente-Lago Agrio-Quito. Early morning bird watching. After breakfast journey up Cuyabeno river to El Puente. Drive back to Lago Agrio at 16:00. Flight or bus journey back to Quito.
