Quito To Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Ecuador Amazon Rainforest)

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Looking for the best ways to get from Quito to Cuyabeno? You’re in the right place! The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is one of the main areas to experience the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador, and starting in the capital city of Quito is a common route for most backpackers!

This post outlines everything you need to know about getting from Quito to Cuyabeno, from safety concerns, journey times, prices, drop-off points and more.

And of course, I’m here to get you excited about your bucket list trip to the Amazon Rainforest!

So, let’s start and discuss all the possible ways to travel from Quito to Cuyabeno!

Still got a question about the journey from Quito to Cuyabeno? Let me know over on Instagram or shoot me an email at jennie(@)jenniewanders.com!

🇪🇨 Other Ecuador posts:

• Amazon Tours Ecuador: BEST Cuyabeno Trip From Quito
• What To Wear In The Amazon Rainforest (That Isn’t Ugly)
• Ecuador Itinerary 3 Weeks: FULL Route + Guide
• Quito To Banos: FULL Guide + Route
• Frog Concert Mindo: Just WHAT Is It? FULL Guide
• Quito To Mindo: BEST And Easiest Routes

Quito To Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve: A Summary

The journey between Quito and Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is roughly 250 miles (403 km). It will take around 12-13 hours to drive directly between the two locations, depending on traffic, road conditions and mode of transport. 

The most popular way to travel between Quito and Cuyabeno is by tourist bus. This will be booked and organised for you by your tour company (ie Community Hostel).

The Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador is, of course, remote. It takes a long time to travel from Quito to the area you’ll be staying in, so be sure to include this in your trip time!

Even when you reach the final destination on the bus (the Cuyabeno Bridge), you’ll have another 2-3 hour boat ride to reach your lodge. It’s a mammoth journey, but it’s worth it.

It’s important to note that you cannot visit this part of the Amazon without a guided tour. You need to ‘check in’ with your tour guide, and then board a motorboat down the river to your lodge. This would simply be impossible without a tour!

If you’re unsure about what tour to book or what it’s actually like to visit the Amazon Rainforest, be sure to check out my full Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve guide.

1. Quito to Cuyabeno by bus (+ guided tour)

The most popular way to travel from Quito to Cuyabeno is by bus. Most backpackers will book an Amazon tour (like the one we did with Community Hostel), along with transportation to and from Quito.

The bus arrives in Quito around 11.30 pm – 12 am every night. It’s more of a coach than a bus (with wifi and comfortable seats), and will make multiple stops across the city to pick everyone up from their accommodation.

After about 45 minutes of pick-ups, you’ll start your journey to Cuyabeno from Quito. On average, it’s around a 12-13 hour drive, including stops. You’ll eventually (and it will feel like a lifetime, especially if you’re excited for the Amazon trip like we were) arrive at the Cuyabeno Bridge.

The Cuyabeno Bridge is already a few hours into Cuyabeno and is where you’ll transfer over to a canoe to make the remainder of your journey. Most lodges (including the Dolphin Lodge, where we stayed) are around a 2-hour canoe from the Cuyabeno Bridge.

The bus journey is fine. It feels quite long and can be a little twisty at points, but we all managed to get a few hours of sleep in. If you suffer badly from travel sickness, I recommend taking some tablets.

There are no toilets on the bus, but you make regular stops. If you need the loo before a stop, don’t be afraid to ask the driver.

On the journey to Cuyabeno from Quito, you do not stop for lunch or meal times (due to it being overnight). But on the way back from Cuyabeno to Quito, you’ll have a traditional roadside Ecuadorian lunch (with limited veggie options).

If you stay at the Dolphin Lodge, they actually give you a packed lunch for the journey home (which was a lifesaver for someone like me who doesn’t eat meat!)

❗️Remember; you need to have a guided tour to travel into the Amazon Rainforest. You cannot enter independently, and need a lodge to stay in! Not sure who to book with? Check out my post with all the information you’ll ever need; Amazon Tours Ecuador: BEST Cuyabeno Trip From Quito.

How to organise and book a trip to the Amazon Rainforest from Quito

Firstly, I recommend doing an Amazon tour from Quito with Community Hostel and Community Adventures.

For your first night in Quito, stay at Community Hostel. The hostel can then book the Amazon tour for you (or you can pre-book to ensure a space on the tour during peak times). You will then leave for the trip from Community Hostel.

You can also leave your big bag and expensive belongings at Community. They have a locked storage room (which is totally safe) so you can pack a small day bag to take with you to the Amazon.

The bus also picks you up and drops you directly back at Community Hostel. It makes your life a lot easier by staying there!

❗️HOW WE DID IT: We booked a night at Community Hostel on Wednesday, travelled to Cuyabeno on Thursday, and returned to the hostel on a Monday night (where we stayed again).

➡ Book your Community Hostel stay now!

For further details on how to book the Amazon tour, check out my post: Amazon Tours Ecuador: BEST Cuyabeno Trip From Quito.

2. Quito to Cuyabeno by plane (+ guided tour)

A rarer (and more expensive) option to get from Quito to Cuyabeno is by plane. Note that this option still involves around 1-2 hours of driving from Lago Agrio.

If you’d like to fly to Cuyabeno from Quito, you will need to board a plane to Lago Agrio. At this moment in time, there are only two flights per day, operated by the company TAME (not available on Skyscanner).

From Lago Agrio, you will meet your tour guide, and be taken to your Cuyabeno lodge. Expect at least 2 hours in a private transfer, and 2 hours on a motorboat to your accommodation.

If your flight lands in the evening, you may not be able to travel to your reservation in the Amazon on the same day. If this is the case, you will need to book accommodation to wait for your tour to begin. Your tour guide will be able to explain this to you upon booking.

Where to stay in Quito for an Amazon tour

If you are doing an Amazon tour from Quito, stay at Community Hostel. The hostel can then book the Amazon tour for you.

You can view the hostel and their Amazon tours here.

What to pack for Ecuador

Packing for Ecuador is similar to most Central/South American countries, although you need to pack some warmer clothes for locations like Quito.

Luckily for you, I’ve written an entire, lengthy blog post about what to pack for Ecuador; from daily clothes to gadgets and tech, the right kind of backpack and things you may have forgotten. You can check out my full Ecuador packing list here!

Related post: What to wear in the Amazon Rainforest

Quito to Cuyabeno: FAQS

1) How do you get from Quito to Cuyabeno?

You can either get a bus or a plane from Quito to Cuyabeno. Most tourists and backpackers take the 12-13 hour nightly bus from Quito to Cuyabeno. From here, you will board a motorboat for 2-3 hours to your Amazon Rainforest Lodge.

2) How do I get to Cuyabeno Lodge?

All of the lodges require the journey to the Cuyabeno Bridge. From the bridge, you will board a motorboat to your lodge. Depending on where your lodge is, the journey from the Cuyabeno Bridge to your accommodation will take 2-3 hours.

Need help packing for the Amazon Rainforest? Check out my post: What To Wear In The Amazon Rainforest (That Isn’t Ugly)

3) Where is the best place to visit the Amazon in Ecuador?

The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is the best place to visit the Amazon in Ecuador. With more than 604,000 hectares of rainforest, the Cuyabeno Reserve is full of lagoons, rivers, wildlife and stunning nature.

If you’re visiting for the first time, I recommend booking an organised Amazon tour with Community Hostel. They take care of everything – from transport to rooms, activities to wellie boots – it’s a trip anyone and everyone can take to one of the most special places on the planet.

Don’t forget travel insurance for South America!

If you’re visiting South America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in South America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for South America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Quito To Cuyabeno: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the ways to get from Quito to Cuyabeno! If you need more information about the Amazon tour, be sure to check out my full Cuyabeno guide.

 When you’re planning a trip to Ecuador, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at real-life travellers wanting authentic and down-to-earth information. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Ecuador content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

🇪🇨 Other Ecuador posts:

• Quito to Mindo: Full Travel Route
• Frog Concert Mindo: WHAT Is It?!
• Quito to Banos: Full Travel Route + Guide
• What To Wear In The Amazon Rainforest (That Isn’t Ugly)