Kichwa Lodge — Hotel in Parroquia Cuyabeno

I spent ages researching the different lodges and experiences in Yasuni, Cuyabeno and Napo. Cuyabeno seemed to meet our needs in terms of wildlife experience and cost.|I chose Kichwa Lodge as they were a community based project and were based more remotely from other lodges (the last thing I wanted was to see hoards of tourists each day). Kichwa Lodge also included the flights from Quito and the transfers in their price and that really appealed to us as the transfer element seemed complicated. Decision made.||Prior to our trip we received excellent communication with Edgar (in English via email and WhatsApp +593960736216) and we asked to have a 4 night trip rather than 3, this was arranged without any fuss. The hardest thing was actually paying the deposit, but that seemed usual in Ecuador. We ended up using Western Union for the deposit and paid the rest in cash ($US in small notes) when we arrived at Coca Airport.||We joined up with a family of 4 from the USA who were doing a longer, more remote trip than us and we were off. The transfer to the lodge was turned into a fantastic experience, stopping at a restaurant for lunch and then being shown around their garden and learning about the foods that they grow. Then it was on to our first canoe ride, exciting :)||The lodge had just been moved to a new area and currently had 2 buildings, one with 3 bedrooms (with ensuites) and 1 housing the kitchen/dining/relaxing area. With electricity (currently a generator but hopefully soon, solar powered) available for just a couple of hours a day (enough to charge cameras), no air-con, it really was getting "back to basics" and a genuine experience. After the American family departed, we (my husband and I) were left with a team of 4 men looking after us, a chef (who cooked us the best meals we've had on a tour, let alone in the middle of the rainforest), English speaking guide, local guide and a driver. We couldn't have been taken care of any better and even with our really poor Spanish we managed to communicate.||We didn't want to have a specialised tour and so we just left the itinerary up to our guide, Edwin. We did a wide variety of activities - local walks in the jungle (boots provided by the lodge), fishing, canoe trips (day and night), turtle conservation, tower view over the jungle canopy. Our local guide, Ramon, told us of the medicinal uses of lots of the plants, absolutely fascinating. We saw lots of monkeys, pink dolphins, birds, turtles, caiman. I think the only slight disappointment was the clay lick, apparently the birds don't like visiting after the rain but we had rain every day, so..... I think I just had to remind myself that it wasn't a TV documentary where they might have spent 50 days waiting to film a 30 second clip! ||I really could have done with an extra couple of nights as all too soon, just as I was beginning to get the hang of the early starts, we were departing. I thought I'd been generous by opting for 4 nights when I booked it, but I was wrong, 6 would have been perfect in retrospect. I went expecting the wildlife to be the star of the show and whilst the wildlife was amazing, it was the people hat made the trip so special for me - their kindness, love of the area and desire to show us the best of it - they were fabulous. I hope this review prompts you to book with Kichwa Lodge as they are, as stated in the beginning, a community venture, you could be helping make a real difference to local people...

Kichwa Lodge is the only eco-tour option in the Cuyabeno region owned and operated by a local indigenous community. It is based about 2.5 hours in a motorized fiberglass canoe down the Aguarico river from the launch point near Shushifindi which, in turn, is about a two hour car ride from Coca. Thus, it’s quite distant from any major population center and from other eco-lodges which, almost uniformly, are owned and operated by more upscale, Quito-based concerns.

The above holds definite advantages for the visitor who appreciates a more rustic (e.g. no internet) experience and who has a genuine interest in directly supporting a local indigenous community that has extremely limited employment opportunities and faces significant hardship. Compared with regional alternatives, I suspect the flora and fauna and degree of personalization are also significantly enhanced with Kichwa Lodge.

Edgar Noteno, a local Kichwa, established and manages the lodge. He employs on a part-time basis about 20 individuals from his community of about 1,600 who live in nearby Playas de Cuyabeno. Edgar speaks passable English and is directly involved in making all arrangements with and on behalf of potential visitors. This includes arranging air transfers to Coca (usually from Quito), transportation to and from the lodge, and overnight accommodations in Coca, if needed. In other words, to the extent possible, he provides “full service.“

Activities are varied (and can be tailored). Examples include canoe trips to identify exotic avian species, daytime and nighttime walks through the forest to see and learn about an amazing variety of Amazonian plants and animals, and visits to the Kichwa and Cofan communities. Those who have more time can even plan camping trips to the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border. Edgar is often the guide, but others may assist. They share information from a local indigenous perspective so that there are opportunities not only to experience nature, but to get a sense of the Kichwa culture and how it is changing. (I experienced an unfortunate but mild and brief intestinal contratemp which, interpreted as a “bad spirit,” two of my guides extracted by waving healing plants over me in the forest… I felt completely better later that evening.)

Kichwa Lodge is a genuine, once-in-a-lifetime adventure for those willing to go further afield. The staff work very hard to make your experience comfortable and rewarding. It is best to make arrangements directly through Edgar (at the time of this writing, working through a travel agent or third party was not possible). If you are unable to reach Edgar through WhatsApp, communicate with him by email. He will step you through...

We dreamed of an authentic Amazon experience and Kichwa Lodge made our dream come true and beyond. This indigenous owned lodge makes a difference within the local Amazon communities. The variety of tours available allow for every kind of adventure and our 7 days along the rivers in the Cuyabeno Reserve were unforgettable. Just the two of us along with the outstanding tour guide, personal cook extraordinaire and the beloved and unstoppable captain of the canoe, we set off down the river to camp, connect with the local communities and feel nature in the best secret locations with untouched lakes. The wildlife is everywhere and a thrill to spot and admire peacefully while alone. The Kichwa Lodge is one of the most breathtaking locations we saw, set back on a subsidiary river to preserve the natural environment of sounds and sights. Arriving after masterful organization by owner, Edgar, it was like a postcard to see the lodge appear in the midst of green. Edgar handled every important detail, communication was superb and everything that we hoped for exceeded our expectations. This is a very special place and exactly where to go for the most in-depth and unique experience in one of the most important places on the planet, the Amazon. The team of experts as our personal crew, are spectacular with sharing their knowledge of the environment, animals, birds, plants, culture while giving us the opportunity to learn and have fun. We will always think about our time in the Cuyabeno reserve and how fortunate we were to really live the authentic experience thanks to Kichwa Lodge, Edgar and his wonderful crew Byron, Jacob...