Caiman Lodge — Hotel in Parroquia Palma Roja

We visited the Caiman Lodge for a 3D/2N tour. The lodge is well-maintained and comfortable with delicious meals, and has surprisingly few mosquitoes due to the acidity of the water. The activities are amazing - from day and night hikes to boat trips through the Cuyabeno river. We saw an abundance of plant and animal life - including sloths, pink river dolphins, caimans, monkeys, anacondas, tarantulas, boas, giant grasshoppers and more. The rooms are all open-air, with mosquito nets covering each bed and the window space so you can always hear the wildlife, which is pretty cool. The beds are comfotable and sheets were changed each day. Water and power are turned off during certain hours of the day, which is great to find in an eco-lodge.

Most of our experience was great (especially the hikes)- however, it became a bit awkward due to some disorganization around our tour length. The company advertises tours ranging from 3 days to 5 days. We were given an itinerary prior to registering that listed the activities that would take place each day (each full day includes three activities: one morning, one afternoon, and one evening); however upon arriving, we found out that if you do a 3D tour (which we selected because we weren't sold on the indigenous community visit based on other reviews), you essentially jump on the itinerary of the 4 or 5 day tour, doing the same activities as them (which in our case included the community visit), rather than what you were presented prior to paying.

The tour guide David pulled us aside and offered us an alternative itinerary to do on the day of the community visit. My partner and I chose to do an alternative flora/fauna walk in the morning to learn about the ecosystems in the Amazon, and did this with another group from a sister lodge while our original group visited the community. That hike was great, and we really enjoyed the other guide who taught us a lot about the rainforest. We got back to the Caiman lodge and had lunch, then waited in the hammocks until it was time for our afternoon activity (which according to our itinerary, was supposed to be another hike to look for animals). However, hours went by and nobody approached us about doing anything in the afternoon. Not wanting to sit in hammocks for hours while our original group was still visiting the community, we pressed the staff about when the next activity will happen. The staff tried to deny that anything was supposed to happen, so we had to show them the itinerary we were given so that they would give us something to do instead of sitting around all day. Honestly, it just seeemed like nobody set anything up for us to do as an afternoon activity but they did not want to be accountable. They finally pulled some strings (but made it seem as though we were being difficult for asking) and got us another guide, Venicio (again from a sister lodge) who was amazing, took us on a great hike, and had some fun stories to tell on our trek. When we got back to the lodge for dinner, we were hoping to eat with our group but our original guide David told us we were no longer in his group and that we had to eat with Venicio. That came off as being petty and left a bad taste in our mouths, as the table was large enough for all of us. It also made things very awkward with our original group as they didn't know why we weren't sitting with them anymore. David refused to take us for the evening "night walk", and Venicio had to convince another guide to take us.

The next morning with David was better and things went smoothly, but it's unfortunate that some disorganization and general pettiness led to our experience being made uncomfortable. You shouldn't have to press the staff of a reputable business to give you what you paid for, but it seems like a lot of this could've been avoided if they just told us about how the itineraries work based on the number of days you are staying. If you go, chances are you'll have a great experience here, so I wouldn't hesitate to book - it sounds like our experience was outside...

We spent 3 nights and 4 days at Caiman Lodge, located within the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, and I can say it was one of the most extraordinary and beautiful experiences of my life. The Ecuadorian Amazon has something indescribable: a blend of mystery, grandeur, and vitality that envelops you from the very first moment, as if the jungle itself welcomed you into its heart.

The journey begins in an epic way: after a bus ride, you enter the Amazon by boat for more than two hours. But it’s not just a transfer, it’s a gradual immersion into the amazement of the Amazon. The river becomes a corridor of life, where every turn reveals even more lush landscapes: monkeys jumping from branch to branch, birds with impossible colors, giant butterflies, and the solemn stillness of caimans hidden among the vegetation. The air is heavy with humidity and the fragrance of plants, while the sounds form an endless concert of birds, insects, and frogs. Even during this journey, you begin to understand that you are entering a different world, a world where nature rules. Caiman Lodge appears as a perfectly integrated refuge within this environment. Its location gives you the feeling of being almost alone in the jungle, surrounded by enormous trees and skies that constantly shift between blue, rainy gray, and golden sunset tones. Here, disconnection from the outside world is real: although Wi-Fi is available for a small fee, it is far wiser to simply surrender to the rhythm of the Amazon.

Our guides, Jonathan and David, were essential to exploring this universe. Their knowledge of flora and fauna seemed limitless: from explanations about medicinal plants to their patience in showing us tiny birds or pointing out distant monkeys. What impressed me most was their visual acuity, they could spot a camouflaged sloth high in a tree or distinguish a toucan in the dense foliage, while we barely managed to see a silhouette. They transformed every walk and boat ride into a masterclass in Amazonian ecology. The lodge staff were always attentive and warm. The food deserves special recognition: varied, fresh, and delicious. As vegetarian travelers, we were pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful and flavorful vegetarian options available at every meal, prepared with the same care and quality as the regular dishes. This dedication ensured that the culinary experience matched the overall excellence of the lodge. Additionally, coffee, tea, water, and hot chocolate are always available, and there is also a bar for those who want something different to drink.

The activity program is designed so that every day offers a unique adventure: jungle walks to learn about its secrets, wildlife spotting in lagoons and rivers, moments of contemplation amid serene landscapes, and the unforgettable ritual of swimming in the lagoon each afternoon as the sun slowly sets over the treetops. This combination of adventure, learning, and enjoyment makes time seem to stand still. Finally, an unexpected social highlight was the interaction with other travelers. The lodge becomes a meeting point for people who, like you, seek to uncover the secrets of the Amazon. The mix of cultures, stories, and laughter around the table reinforced the feeling of living something truly...

We really lucked out when other travel companions recommended Cayman Lodge! We travel mostly expecting to find the best information thru travel companions and it is usually spot on reliable. We booked last minute thru Gabi at Ecuador Family Tours right in old town Quito, she is also an incredible agent always there when you need her day or night! Anyway, our 4 days at Cayman (also known as Caiman spelling) was the best experience one could dream of in the Cuyabeno Reserve in the Amazon. Our guide, Neisha, with over 12 years experience in the Amazon tours is such an incredible man and guide! That was another reason we chose Cayman Lodge, when reading reviews their Guides rocked, but Neisha rocked the tour to high in the sky! His determination, knowledge, energy, dedication to making your trip a dream come true is just precious. Neisha has so much experience in the jungle and on the river it just blew us away! Be aware that visiting the amazon will help preserve the Amazon ecosystem because the tourism is important enough to keep the government from allowing more oil exploration and destruction of the rain forests. It also employs many local people and is very beneficial to the native tribes that are still living their lives there. Your tourism dollars will go beyond giving yourself an wonderful experience, it will have a huge impact to preserve the awesome ecosystem so it can survive for others to experience. Without your visits this may not happen! Another very important feature that I would like to mention is Cayman Lodge makes your travel back to Lago Agrio as stress free as possible and when you arrive back to Lago Agrio they can accommodate you in a separate shuttle if you like to travel back to Quito or wherever your destination, instead of taking the local bus, which for us was very important and we arrived in Quito without a lot of stops as a bus would. The driver of our shuttle was extremely careful and courteous which is HUGE on those windy roads and it was raining! I made a huge mistake and left my iPod on the shuttle, .....I called our agent that helped us book this tour, Gabi at Ecuador Family Tours to let her know so she could help and she called Cayman Lodge and one of the owners, Washington said they had it and would deliver it to us in Quito that night! How COOL IS THAT? Cayman Lodge has such an outstanding crew all around and the experience and knowledge they offer is just unbelievable and mostly unheard of these days. We are so Grateful to have had this experience and education about the precious Ecosystem the Amazon forest can give to those who love our Planet and can offer the support it will need from all of us for many years to come. Ama La Vida in Ecuador! Thank you so much Cayman (Caiman) Lodge and all the...