Comfortable Amazon Lodge
Jamu is the most comfortable Amazon lodge in the Cuyabeno region of the Ecuadorian rainforest. Other lodges in the area are a bit run down and in need of renovation, but not Jamu. Get ready for a high-end experience at a budget price when you visit the Jamu Lodge.
The Jamu Lodge is a new lodge offering in the Cuyabeno region of the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador. It has recently added beautiful and spacious Suites to its accommodation options for more high end and demanding guests.
Its a great choice for venturing into the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest and is located in one of the best areas in the rainforest for wildlife spotting and activities.
Location and Eco-Friendliness
The lodge is privately owned and located in the incredible ecosystem of the Cuyabeno National Park. Here guests will enjoy different kinds of activities. The Jamu Lodge is located along the Cuyabeno River, 15 minutes downstream from the wonderful Laguna Grande. The lodge practices a policy of minimal environmental impact. It has no light connectors, but guests can use connectors in the social areas, where they can recharge all kinds of cameras, phones, tablets, etc. Solar panels are used as well to minimize the lodge’s footprint.
Jamu Lodge activities
There are tons of great activities you can take part in when you visit the Jamu Lodge:
- Walk in the jungle
- Birdwatching
- Alligator observations
- Paddling kayak/native canoes
- Visit the Siona community and Shaman
- Night Walk
Shaman Experience 
Forest Walks 
Canoe Paddling 
Community visit
Jamu Lodge Accommodation
- Double room (2 people) 2 single beds
- Matrimonial Room (2 people) 1 queen-size bed
- Triple rooms (3 people) 3 single beds
- Family room (4 people) 1 queen size bed + 2 single beds in bunk beds.
- Suites are spacious, have a bathtub and handpicked decor and amenities.
All cabins have a private bathroom and hot/cold water showers.
Standard Twin room 
Tasty Meals 
Spacious NEW Suites
Social Areas at the Jamu Lodge
Hammock lounge and bar
You can take a load off and relax with the beautiful surroundings at the well-equipped bar and hammock lounge. Nothing beats a cold beer or tasty cocktail in the jungle.
Dining room
The Jamu lodge prides itself on their ability to prepare and serve fresh tasty food to their guests in such an isolated place. Fresh ingredients such as bananas and yucca are used as a basis for their recipes. Meals at the Jamu lodge blend local and international cuisine.
Dining room 
Hammock Lounge
Jamu Lodge Information
Jamu Lodge Activities:
Forest Trails
There are big chances for you to see a great variety of wildlife such as insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals. Some typical animals you may spot are; anacondas, spiders, giant armadillos, birds such as hoatzins, macaws, toucans, parakeets, parrots as well as monkeys, tapirs, ocelots, etc.
Canoe Riding
Explore the rivers and lakes on board a motorized or paddle-canoe! In the river, creeks, and lakes of the Amazon Rainforest, you will find hundreds of different aquatic animals such as fish, caimans, turtles, piranhas, and Amazon dolphins.
Birding
A plethora of bird species can be found in the Cuyabeno National Park, giving you the best bird watching experience, and an unforgettable adventure.
Siona community
Visits to the Siona Community include a cooking class where you will learn to make Casave a local dish made from yucca. Visit to the Shaman is also included.
Hikes
Our programs include easy and medium intensity walks and hikes in order to observe the wildlife and nature of the area; more difficult hikes and longer programs can be arranged.
Swimming
Swimming can take place in the Laguna Grande (Big Lake) close to the lodge.
Jamu Lodge – 5 days/4 nights
*You have a choice of staying at the Jamu Lodge for 3,4 and 5 day-long itineraries. Below you can find the full 5-day program.
Day 1: Arrival to Lodge / Getting Settled in
Reception in Lago Agrio at 9:30 am for passengers arriving by land and 11:00 am (maximum time) for passengers arriving by air, from here you will take private transport to the entrance of Cuyabeno, where you will have a box lunch. At this point, visitors have to register at the booking office. Here our naturalist guide will give you information about your program, important recommendations, and other tips to start navigating for two hours on the Cuyabeno River en route to the Jamu Lodge. During the canoe ride, you get a first glimpse of the jungle and you will see different types of birds such as the caciques, Oropendolas and the prehistoric bird Hoatzin. You may also be able to see a variety of monkeys and other jungle animals, depending on weather conditions. You will arrive at Jamu Lodge at around 4:30 pm. At that time you will be shown to your rooms and you can relax a bit. After a short naptime, you will leave the lodge to swim in the lagoon and take in a beautiful sunset in the middle of the large lagoon. Then you will return to the camp for dinner, and you can finish your first day in the jungle, relax in a hammock or have a drink at the bar.
Day 2: Trek in the primary rainforest / Lagoon swim / Search for the Caiman at night
After breakfast, you will go for a trek to the primary rainforest for approximately 3 to 4 hours, where your guide will tell you all about the Rainforest and the medicinal plants that can be found within. You will also get to see giant trees like the Ceibo or small insects like ants. You will return to the camp for lunch and take a breather and in the afternoon you will go to observe beautiful butterflies and swim in the pristine lagoon. Here you will be able to observe the beautiful grazed dolphins and enjoy the impressive sunset. Then return to the camp for dinner. At night you will go for a night activity, focused on the search for caimans on the river banks.
Day 3: Community visit / Cooking class / Night trek
After breakfast, you will hop on a canoe and head downstream on a journey of about an hour to visit a family of the Tarapuy community. We will be able to learn how to prepare cassava, a traditional yucca bread, where you will be involved in the elaboration. You will learn to use the materials of the jungle to make bread, this activity takes all-day; Returning to the Lodge at about two o’clock in the afternoon. After lunch, you can partake in some relaxing activities at the lodge. At the end of the day, you will have a short walk through the primary forest, observing nocturnal insects, like spiders, geckos or scorpions and to listen to the jungle sounds of the night.
Day 4: “Keel” Native Canoe ride / Forest Trek
Today you will visit a surrounding area for birdwatching by means of a native canoe called “keel” and will be able to partake in another hike in the forest. Paddling gives you the best chance to spot more fauna and flora so you can get a good idea of what a flooded forest looks like. You can see a wide variety of different birds and monkeys. This activity takes approximately 4 – 5 hours, thus a box lunch will be served during this day-long activity.
Day 5: Early morning Birdwatching / Departure from the Lodge
Early in the morning before breakfast, a birdwatching excursion is optional. Returning to the lodge we have breakfast and then check out at 9:30 am. After check out, you will take a transfer to Lago Agrio to take your bus or return flight. The tour ends in the city of Lago Agrio at approximately 3:00 pm.
Jamu Lodge 2020 Rates
Rates Include:
- Accommodation in the selected room. Complete feeding (the tour starts and ends whit the lunch on the Bridge of the Reserve)
- SHARED TOUR: Excursions and activities according to the established itinerary and based on the number of nights booked. Certified bilingual guide (English, naturally Spanish)
- Raincoats, lifejackets, and rubber boots.
- Transportation “Bus and Canoe” Lago Agrio – Jamu Lodge (Cuyabeno Reserve)– Lago Agrio Transfer in @ 9:30 am for passengers arriving by land.
- Lago Agrio Transfer in @10:30 am for passengers arriving by air.
- Transfer out @ 9:30 am
- Any additional Transfer different to the regular schedule will have an extra cost.
Rates do not include:
- Transportation Quito-Lago Agrio-Quito Entrance fee to Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
- Community contribution $10 per person.
- Breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last day
- All kinds of additional drinks.
- Personal expenses
- Tips
Important Information:
-Children between 0 to 3 years 100% discount applies. -Children between 3 to 7 years 50% discount applies. -Single supplement 50% in addition to the double room price. -Tours start on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. -Tours start ALL DAYS with a minimum of 3 people. -The tour ends in Lago Agrio at 15:00 pm approx. -In groups of 15 persons applies one free for every 15 passengers. -Tour leader and driver 25% discount on groups of 1-8 people. Multiple Shared Room. -French, German translator service cost per day = $85.00 (4 days minimum) -Everything about the tour, prices, activities, land and river transport, guides, etc., is shared and based on groups of 12 or 13 people maximum. -In the case of requiring private tour services, these will have an additional cost per person or group
Disclaimer:
Itinerary: May be subject to changes due to weather conditions or National Park Directives. The guide may deviate from the published itinerary for any reason he/she deems advisable. Tipping: Tipping to the staff is at the discretion of our guests. Tips for the guide are usually given in person. Climate: In the Amazon region the climate is hot and humid with frequent rain showers. The drier months are from October to March. The temperature ranges from 19°C to 36°C throughout the year. Jamu Lodge is at 250 m above sea level. Health: Immunizations are presently not required to visit this area of the Amazon jungle – it is advisable however to consult your doctor or physician before your trip. We recommend precautions against malaria and yellow fever. Strong insect repellent should be acquired before your arrival in the jungle
Access to Lodge:
Recommendations for your trip from the city of Quito to Lago Agrio and return:
Option 1:
Travel by public bus: (the night before the tour) Departure: 23:30 pm from Terminal Quitumbe (Quito) The Transport Co. Name: TransEsmeraldas or Transportes Baños Arrival: 7:00 am Bus Terminal Lago Agrio Price: $ 13 USD per person (subject to changes)
Option 2:
Travel by public bus (the previous morning of the tour) You may leave Quito in the morning to get to Lago Agrio in the afternoon / evening, there you should overnight. Estimated journey time: 7 hours approximately For the return from Lago Agrio to Quito, there are buses that leave every hour, all day.
Option 3:
Travel by airplane: Airline: Tame Quito – Lago Agrio / Flight 201 / 10:00 am – 10:50 am Lago Agrio – Quito /Flight 201 / 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm The lodge recommends these flights since they are in line with their logistics and operation.
Jamu Lodge Packing List
Life in the jungle is very informal. You should bring along:
- Comfortable and lightweight clothes
- Long pants
- Cotton shorts
- Long-sleeved T-shirts
- Sneakers
- Sandals
- Hat/cap
- Sunglasses
- Rain gear
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Binoculars
- Reading material
- Digital camera, vintage camera or cellphone for your wonderful pics
- Notepad or sketchbook for diary keeping or sketching
- A great attitude to enjoy this amazing place!
