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Wildlife of Cuyabeno
A Wildlife-Rich Corner of the Amazon
The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve protects 603,380 hectares of Amazon rainforest, rivers and flooded lagoon forest, and it shelters one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Every tour from Green Forest Ecolodge is built around real chances to see this wildlife in its own habitat, guided by naturalist guides who track it daily.
Amazon Pink River Dolphins
Laguna Grande is home to pink and gray river dolphins (bufeos), one of the most requested sightings on our tours. Late afternoon, when the lagoon is calm and the light turns golden, is when they surface most often to feed and breathe — the same moment we schedule our sunset canoe rides.
Sloths, Howler and Squirrel Monkeys
Three-toed sloths move slowly through the canopy near the lodge, often spotted during our daytime jungle walks. Troops of howler monkeys announce themselves at dawn with calls that carry for kilometers through the forest, while squirrel monkeys move fast in noisy groups along the riverbanks — both are common sightings on our canoe rides upstream.
Black Caimans and Night Wildlife
After dark, we go out by canoe with flashlights to find black caimans resting near the shoreline, along with tree frogs, insects and other nocturnal wildlife that only comes out once the jungle sounds change at night. It is one of the most memorable activities included in every tour.
Birds of Cuyabeno
Cuyabeno is one of the best birdwatching destinations in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The hoatzin, a prehistoric-looking bird found along the flooded forest edges, is one of the most photographed species in the reserve. Scarlet and blue-and-yellow macaws, several species of toucans, and aracaris are commonly seen from the canoe during our daily excursions.
See It for Yourself
Wildlife sightings depend on the season, the weather and a bit of luck — but every one of our tours is designed to give you the best possible chance to see Cuyabeno's dolphins, monkeys, caimans and birds with a naturalist guide who knows exactly where to look.
Discover the pink river dolphins, monkeys, caimans and birds you can see on every Green Forest Ecolodge tour in the Cuyabeno Reserve.
Green Forest Ecolodge | Cuyabeno Ecuador
