Nicky Amazon Lodge

The jungles and winding rivers of the Amazon provide the luscious setting for your ecotourism getaway. The sounds of nature will help you to sleep and rise to greet the Sun. Listen to the chatter and rustle of monkeys in the trees. Listen to the songs of tropical birds, and spot them in all their magnificence on birdwatching tours. Nicky Amazon Lodge is the setting of all of your adventures, and whether you're trekking through the rainforest, or lounging in one of the many hammocks which overlooks the lake, you can be confident that your vacation is making a difference. Nicky Amazon Lodge harnesses solar electricity for lighting and recharging batteries, and your tourism dollars prove that the Amazon Rainforest is of both environmental and economic importance.

You'll be staying in one of seven (7) traditional huts, and each hut as two (2) rooms that can be configured as single, double or triple accommodations. Twin/single size or matrimonial (full/double) beds are equipped with mosquito nets, so you'll rest comfortably. All cabins have an outdoor area where you can sit and relax or enjoy one of the aforementioned hammocks. You'll enjoy delicious and healthy meals, and Nicky Amazon Lodge is prepared to meed the dietary needs of vegetarians. Thirsty? Purified water, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are available to you throughout the day. When you aren't enjoying the lodge's grounds, you'll be taking part in one of three (3) exciting tour itineraries...

Itinerary A: Cuyabeno Tour, 4 days/3 nights, Departures Fridays-Mondays-Tuesdays Itinerary B: Cuyabeno Tour, 5 days/4 nights, Departures Mondays-Thursdays-Fridays Itinerary C: Cuyabeno-Zancudococha Tour, 6 days/5 nights, Departures Fridays-Mondays-Tuesdays

Itinerary A : Cuyabeno Tour, 4 days/3 nights

DAY 1 - After you arrive via airplane or bus, your morning begins with a 09:30 a.m. adventure. It's time to make the 2 hour voyage to Tierras Orientales by bus/truck. Canoes await you! You'll make your way down the Aguarico River to the Cuyabeno River's edge of the lodge. This adventure lasts roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes. Since you've worked up an appetite, you'll be treated to dinner, and a lecture provided by a bilingual naturalist guide.

DAY 2 - Time to start the day with a calming, yet active, adventure. Greet the rainforest's residents while you enjoy a canoe excursion. Next stop? A hearty breakfast. Fill up, because your next activity is a hike through a primary forest; you will learn about the uses of the surrounding plants from native and naturalist guides, then it's time for another lunch break. After lunch, you'll either paddle or take motorized canoes in the hopes of spoting some of the resident wildlife. The day concludes with dinner, followed by a night hike to observe the forest's nocturnal creatures, such as amphibians and reptiles.

DAY 3 - An entire day exploring the Amazon. Surprise, surprise...your day begins with a fun and exciting early morning adventure! Head downstream to a salt lick that's a favorite of parakeets and parrots. After spending time with these vibrant birds, you'll return to the lodge for a delicious breakfast; then, it's time for another guide led tour. This time, in addition to learning about the practical and medicinal uses of the native flora, you will also learn about the importance and fragility of the rainforest. After your trek, it's time for lunch. Eat up, because you'll be heading down the Cuyabeno River again — hopefully, you'll spot pink and/or grey river dolphins! Next stop is the Kichwa Birdwatching Tower. Situated above the forest canopy, you'll not only have the opportunity to get a bird's-eye of tree dwelling birds, monkeys, and more; you'll also enjoy some incredible panoramic views. Time for dinner! AFter that you'll go on another night hike; this time, you're looking for birds (the nocturnal variety) and caimans (members of the alligator family).

DAY 4 - Let's begin the day with breakfast before we head off for our adventures, this time. After you eat, you'll cruise down the Cuyabeno River for a cultural exchange with a Kichwa Indian Community. A naturalist guide will help you along the way — explaining the community's traditions. Having the opprtunity to express gratitude to the native community is a great way to round out your time at Nicky Amazon Lodge. Your time at the Kichwa community ends with a canoe ride down the Cuyabeno River and Aguarico Rivers back to Tierras Orientales. Once again, a bus/truck will take you to Lago Agrio. You will arrive around 15:30 p.m. (3:00 p.m.) for your bus or flight back to Quito, Ecuador.

Itinerary B : Cuyabeno Tour, 5 days/4 nights

DAY 1 - After you arrive via airplane or bus, your morning begins with a 09:30 a.m. adventure. It's time to make the 2 hour voyage to Tierras Orientales by bus/truck. Canoes await you! You'll make your way down the Aguarico River to the Cuyabeno River's edge of the lodge. This adventure lasts roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes. Since you've worked up an appetite, you'll be treated to dinner, and a lecture provided by a bilingual naturalist guide.

DAY 2 - Time to start the day with a calming, yet active, adventure. Greet the rainforest's residents while you enjoy a canoe excursion. Next stop? A hearty breakfast. Fill up, because your next activity is a hike through a primary forest; you will learn about the uses of the surrounding plants from native and naturalist guides, then it's time for another lunch break. After lunch, you'll either paddle or take motorized canoes in the hopes of spoting some of the resident wildlife. The day concludes with dinner, followed by a night hike to observe the forest's nocturnal creatures, such as amphibians and reptiles.

DAY 3 - Today is the day you go on a birdwatching excursion. You have to be the early bird if you want to see the early bird, so greet the morning Sun during your quest to spot toucans, parrots, hoatzins, and more. This early morning trek is followed by a hearty breakfast. After your meal, you'll enjoy another guide-led hike through the rainforest. These hikes are fun, educational, and a great way to work up an appetite for the lunch that follows. You'll enjoy another leisurly canoe ride down the Cuyabeno River, following lunch. After dinner, there is an optional night hike.

DAY 4 - An entire day exploring the Amazon. Surprise, surprise...your day begins with a fun and exciting early morning adventure! Head downstream to a salt lick that's a favorite of parakeets and parrots. After spending time with these vibrant birds, you'll return to the lodge for a delicious breakfast; then, it's time for another guide led tour. This time, in addition to learning about the practical and medicinal uses of the native flora, you will also learn about the importance and fragility of the rainforest. After your trek, it's time for lunch. Eat up, because you'll be heading down the Cuyabeno River again — hopefully, you'll spot pink and/or grey river dolphins! Next stop is the Kichwa Birdwatching Tower. Situated above the forest canopy, you'll not only have the opportunity to get a bird's-eye of tree dwelling birds, monkeys, and more; you'll also enjoy some incredible panoramic views. Time for dinner! AFter that you'll go on another night hike; this time, you're looking for birds (the nocturnal variety) and caimans (members of the alligator family).

DAY 5 - Let's begin the day with breakfast before we head off for our adventures, this time. After you eat, you'll cruise down the Cuyabeno River for a cultural exchange with a Kichwa Indian Community. A naturalist guide will help you along the way — explaining the community's traditions. Having the opprtunity to express gratitude to the native community is a great way to round out your time at Nicky Amazon Lodge. Your time at the Kichwa community ends with a canoe ride down the Cuyabeno River and Aguarico Rivers back to Tierras Orientales. Once again, a bus/truck will take you to Lago Agrio. You will arrive around 16:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m.) for your bus or flight back to Quito, Ecuador.

Itinerary C : Cuyabeno-Zancudococha Tour, 6 days/5 nights

DAY 1 - After you arrive via airplane or bus, your morning begins with a 09:30 a.m. adventure. It's time to make the 2 hour voyage to Tierras Orientales by bus/truck. Canoes await you! You'll make your way down the Aguarico River to the Cuyabeno River's edge of the lodge. This adventure lasts roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes. Since you've worked up an appetite, you'll be treated to dinner, and a lecture provided by a bilingual naturalist guide. You'll the opportunity to work off dinner and put that lecture to use with a night hike where you'll search the insects and animals who only make themselves known as the Sun goes down.

DAY 2 - The morning begins with a motorized canoe ride down the Cuyabeno River; your early morning mission is to find river dolphins and monkeys. After this adventure, you'll head back to the lodge for a hearty breakfast, followed by a walk with a naturalist guide. Next, you'll make your way along the Aguarico River to the thick of the jungle where you'll find a second campsite — the Zancudococha Kichwa Community. You'll pitch tents, enjoy dinner, then go another night hike in search of nocturnal creatures.

DAY 3 - Time for an a.m. excursion through primary rainforest! With the native guide in tow, you'll learn the secrets of the forests plants, and how they have been used for medicinal and practical purposes for generations. Since you'll no doubt have worked up an appetite, this trek is followed by a delicious lunch. Next, you'll make your way through the forest in search of a variety of creatures; hopefully, you'll spot some of the region's pink and grey river dolphins — as special treat for ecotourists! If the hike is making you warm, cool off with a dip in Iripari Lake before making your way back for dinner. After dinner, it's time for a night hike where you'll search for for birds of the nocturnal variety and caimans (members of the alligator family).

DAY 4 - Your day begins with breakfast; that's because after you dine, your native and naturalist guides will take you to the ecosystem of the forest known as 'terre firma.' You'll learn what makes this different from the forest ecosystems you were previously exploring, then you'll make your way back to the campsite for lunch. After a bit of a rest, you'll spend the remainder of the afternoon piranha fishing at Iripari Lake. The day ends with a lovely dinner back at your campsite.

DAY 5 - A day of adventure simply must begin with a hearty breakfast. Especially when you have another informative hike to look forward to. You'll learn about more the practical and medicinal uses of the local plants from your native and naturalist guides. Then it's for lunch before you make your way back to the official lodge. Once your excursion is complete, it's time to get settled then enjoy a nice dinner. Tonight's evening concludes with paddling a dugout canoe around Ipari or Zancudo Lake.

DAY 6 - You've got to be the early bird to see the early bird! Wake up and make your way to Kichwa Birdwatching Tower. Situated above the forest canopy, you'll not only have the opportunity to get a bird's-eye of tree dwelling birds, monkeys, and more; you'll also enjoy some incredible panoramic views. This excursion is followed by breakfast, and a canoe ride down the Cuyabeno and Aguarico Rivers back to Tierras Orientales. Once again, it's time to board that bus/truck as you make your way to Lago Agrio at around 15:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m.) to return to Quito, Ecuador via airplane or bus.

Whichever itinerary you choose, you're in for an incredible adventure! To make sure that your journey through the Amazon goes as smoothly as possible, please adhere to the following advice:

• The lodge will provide life jackets, rubber boots, and raincoats.

• You must remember your passport when traveling into the Amazon region.

• The average temperate of the Amazon Rainforest is 77℉ - 82℉ (25℃ - 27℃) with evening lows of 59℉ (15℃).

• Visit your doctor prior to your departure to ensure that you have taken the proper precautions against malaria.

• Use mosquito nets and sleep with your tent closed.

• Bring an extra pair of contact lenses or eyeglasses, any prescriptions you may need, and a medical alert bracelet indicating any chronic or severe health issues you may have.

• The fee for the Kichwa Family visit is $2 USD and is paid upon your visit.

• Hikes can prove challenging for people of all ages, so please make an honest assessment of your preferred fitness and activity level before booking your stay at Nicky Amazon Lodge.