We had a fantastic and unique experience with the Cuyabeno River Lodge 4d/3n tour. Our tour guide, Edwin, was amazing. He worked hard to make sure that we had the best experience possible. His knowledge about the birds and the amazon wildlife was impressive and he was able to spot and share many things that we would have never seen otherwise. He was always available and willing to help us with everything even right up until the very end when he helped us secure a bus ride back to Quito as the private bus had been cancelled.
If you are considering booking this tour a few things you should know are that this accommodation is very rustic and a bit run down. It is also far from any of the other lodges which has its pros and cons. It probably was a grand accommodation back in it's day but could use updating. The boardwalk is in need of replacing and we actually broke one of the boards in half just stepping on it. There are only cold showers. The room is open to the outdoors in many ways so expect to share with the bugs, the mosquito nets were in great condition and a comfort for sleeping. The food was basic, I'd give it a 2 or 3/5. The chef was great and always had the food ready and served on time. There was fresh fruit and juice included with most meals.
The beds were very comfortable and clean and the hammocks were great for lounging.
We had some very unique experiences including returning up the river in the dark for hours, although a bit hectic it was a fun adventure. We saw many birds, monkeys, frogs and caimans. We also went to a locals home to learn how to make yuca bread which was very interesting. We made a special stop on our canoe trip to go and stand on the equator which was pretty great.
Overall it was a great experience, largely due to Edwin. He is a fantastic guide and person, a 5/5 for him! I would recommend this tour, just know that it is pretty low budget which in ways added to our adventure.