Wouldn't it be amazing to go to the Ecuadorian Amazon at an affordable price? Waita Lodge is a cheap, new eco-lodge in the lower part of the Aguarico River, located in the Cuyabeno National Park. The lodge offers unique experiences apart from other tourists that visit the Amazon rivers. The best part is that you won't see other boats around, just you and the other guests at the lodge. Usually, when you go on excursions, there are plenty of different companies going to the same places, making it less unique. At Waita Lodge, privacy is something they don't take for granted and far away from other lodges. So if you ever plan on going to Ecuador, make sure you check out Cuyabeno wildlife reserve and especially Waita lodge, which I will be talking about in this article. I have also written an article about my trip to Ecuador here.

ABOUT CUYABENO WILDLIFE RESERVE

Cuyabeno wildlife reserve in Amazon is the second-largest reserve in Ecuador. Crossing three rivers such as Cuyabeno, Aguarico, and San Miguel, which flows through the reserve. When entering the last river at Waita Lodge, we can see the change of colors. It turns black! It's just a straight line from brown water to black water.

The concept that waters of different qualities may exist in Amazonia is supported by the existence of rivers and creeks with different water colours. This can be shown as local names like Rio Negro (black river), Rio Branco (white river), Rio Verde (green river), etc. The name whitewater is given because of the muddy water, rich in fine suspended inorganic solids of the Amazon itself. Clearwater is the designation given to all rivers with transparent greenish water. Blackwater is transparent but has a dark brownish or reddish colour.

There is something special about the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve. It lies on the foothills of the Andes. What is so special with Cuyabeno is that the park has narrow river branches, which means you are closer to wildlife onshore. Listening to the monkeys, all the different birds, such as toucan, hummingbirds, and harpy eagle, hoping to see the Amazon cat, snakes, piranha, and caimans. I heard over 240 different species of plants in one hectare, each with some medical use. There are over 500 other species of birds, 165 various mammals, and around 470 species of fishes that live in the Cuyabeno Reserve.

CUYABENO LODGES: WAITA LODGE

Waita Lodge opened their doors in November 2019. They have received 5 stars on trip advisor. Customers are always happy to be surrounded by the very talented guides at the lodge. The managers of Waita Lodge, Andres, and Diego, worked at that same lodge for years. The previous owners left the place to start somewhere else. They followed, but something was missing. It wasn't the same to guide at another location. It was more noise, more people and more boats. Andres and Diego went back, and their old lodge had seen better days for sure. Andres and Diego contacted their tourism provider: Ecuatraveling, and talked about ideas for the lodge. Ecuatraveling thought it was a good idea for Andres and Diego to start by themselves.

After some discussion, talking to the local communities and the jungle's chief, they came up with Waita Lodge. Waita is a word from Kichwa for canoe and also the connection with the deep jungle. It would become an eco-lodge, supporting the local jungle communities. They would use people from Amazon to make food, clean the rooms, and provide the best service in the jungle in exchange for a salary and support the communities.

The local communities get electricity, water, food, housing, and other necessities by supporting them. Andres said that they didn't open the lodge to become rich or make a lot of money, but they did it so the jungle can survive. They want to help local communities and biodiversity. That's what makes Waita Lodge special, you go there, and you know you support something good. The money you pay for an unforgettable experience won't only go to the owners' pockets but also for a good cause.

There are several guides at the lodge, and they provide the service you need. They make a lot of jokes and really connect with you, and make the full effort for you to have a fantastic stay. In fact, they won't just be your guides anymore but your long-time friends.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 forced them to close during the busiest season. Finally, they have opened again, welcoming tourists in a safe and clean environment, away from crowds. They take full safety measurements by taking your temperature 4 times a day. They clean the rooms every day, and there is sanitizer around the entire lodge. They also go with a maximum of 25 people at a time, so you can keep the 2-meter distance in two separate boats.

THE PROGRAMS

In collaboration with Ecuatraveling, Waita Lodge provide unique itineraries and tours.

Cuyabeno Sup 4 days and 5 days

You will be paddleboarding through the jungle and spot pink dolphins, howling monkeys, and birds. Paddleboarding practice your balance, and it is a good core workout, just for your information. Not only will you be paddling through the diverse jungle, but you will also get the chance to enjoy scenic canoe rides, day and night walks, and eat good local food at every meal. Read more

Stand up paddle board and enjoying a local beer.

As you can see, only one person is doing it right. Actually standing up. hehe.

Cuyabeno Tour 4 days and 5 days (most popular)

Enjoy the best of Amazon. This itinerary focuses on finding rare animals with a canoe, such as anacondas and jaguars. Keep in mind that it is tough to spot these animals, but it is possible, so bring your binoculars and patience. At night there will be another canoe ride for bird watching, and when the sun sets, you will be looking for caymans. If you are brave enough, you can even taste lemon ants and coconut larvas. Read more

Trying to get the coconut larvas out of its shell.

Zancudocha 6 days

Going to the jungle for 6 days allows you to spot more rare animals. You will be enjoying deep jungle walks. Canoe rides, and visit the communities. As for now, during the Covid-19 pandemic, there will be no visits to the local communities in the jungle. Read more

In the picture to the left above, you can see a hunting spider, and to the right, you can see something spectacular. It is a grasshopper that’s probably attacked by a fungus called (cordiceps) The fungus practically turns the insects into zombies.

Lagartococha 7 days

This is the one I would recommend. The jungle is a unique and relaxing place to be. I have been twice, and I never get enough of it. During the 7 days of jungle exploring, you will get the chance to relax, spot more animals that you would have done in only 4 or 5 days. The guides will take you to more places than what they would have time for shorter itineraries. They take you deeper into the jungle. In fact, close to the border of Peru. Read more

In the picture above, they are using something that is called jungle garlic. It is a vine type of liana, people use it for the flu, and the locals believe it could cure the coronavirus.

In the picture below is a burning sap from the Copal tree, a pretty amazing experience.

WHAT TO PACK FOR THE AMAZON:

Save this picture to your desktop and print it out to make sure you don’t forget anything.

This are the essentials you do need to pack, long sleeves, daypack, mask, hat, etc.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE AMAZON

In the Cuyabeno reserve, there is no malaria. But always take precautions, such as bug spray and layers. There is a mosquito-net in every room.

There are a lot of different bugs in Amazon, but nothing to fear. There is one kind of thick, which is called coloradilla. Coloradilla is not dangerous but very itchy. Always self examine your body after the jungle walks. I didn't get any bites or thicks the first time I visited, but I got plenty the second time. The best treatment is not to scratch and use hydrocortisone.

It is safe to swim in the river close to the shore. Just make sure there are always people around you. There are certain species in the water, such as piraña, cayman, river dolphins, and anacondas for instance. But don’t worry, they probably won’t show up when you take a swim.

There are poisonous animals in Amazon. That's why you always need rubber boots while doing the jungle walks. If something happens, they will assist with immediate help—nothing to worry about, though. There are more dangerous animals in Australia and the rest of the world. The risk of getting bitten by something poisonous is rare. It never happened to Andres and Diego, and they have been working in the jungle for over 15 years. The jungle is full of spiders, snakes, scorpions, and bullet aunts. But that is the whole point of going to the jungle in the first place.

The four pictures above are captured with a Huawei 30pro. Do you notice in picture number three that the frog is showing the middle finger?

This is a brown vine snake, Oxybelis aeneus.

The local communities are called Kichwa. The Kichwa indigenous community is the most populous ethnic group in the Ecuadorian Amazon region and the locals' primary ethnicity in the area around La Selva. According to Ecuatraveling, The Kichwa people in the Amazon are usually farmers and complement their daily food with traditional hunting practices and food purchased from outside markets. They use plants from the jungle for medical purposes. They harvest yucca (an ornamental plant), bananas, coffee, and cacao.

WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE CUYABENO RESERVE, AMAZON

Waita Lodge in Cuyabeno reserve is a cheaper option compared to the competitors. Not only will you save money, but you will have a better experience because of the location. It is easy to access, and contact with nature is purer, more privacy, and not a lot of tourism. Also, the support of oil companies is useful. They will provide assistance in case of an emergency. None of the other lodges has this benefit. The staff is down to earth and will bond with you as friends. The food is intense, so good you probably will never experience anything like it.

Another good thing is that there is no WIFI, just you and nature far away from civilization. Isolated from other lodges, which means more privacy. This opportunity will most likely be once in a lifetime experience, which is another reason to go.

They also go to a really old bird tower, built around a huge tree. From the top, you can see everything.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I will reply as soon as I can. Make sure you read my article about Ecuador, to get more information about the country itself.