Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

🇪🇨 Ecuador

🐒 Squirrel Monkey Lagoons

🧭 Guide required ⏱ 4–5 days 🥾 Easy trails

🌍 #7 Global · 4.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #2 in South America #2 in Tropical Forest

Amazon, Ecuador 1414 spp. recorded

Cuyabeno is a flooded forest built around fourteen lagoons, and it is seen from a canoe. Squirrel monkeys cross the canopy over the water on most visits, woolly monkeys and red howlers feed in the same trees, and hoatzins — the strangest bird in the Amazon — sit in the lakeside branches barely bothering to move.

-0.322° S 75.783° W

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey

Saimiri macrodon

60–70% · Likely

Lagothrix lagotricha

Lagothrix lagothricha

50–60% · Likely

Colombian Red Howler Monkey

Alouatta seniculus

50–60% · Likely

Hoatzin

Opisthocomus hoazin

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Cacicus cela

60–70% · Likely

Russet-backed Oropendola

Psarocolius angustifrons

60–70% · Likely

Greater Ani

Crotophaga major

50–60% · Likely

White-throated Toucan

Ramphastos tucanus

50–60% · Likely

South American Common Toad

Rhinella margaritifera

50–60% · Likely

White-winged Swallow

Tachycineta albiventer

50–60% · Likely

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

50–60% · Likely

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

50–60% · Likely

Ecuador Poison Frog

Ameerega bilinguis

50–60% · Likely

Yellow-tongued Anole

Anolis scypheus

50–60% · Likely

Cobalt-winged Parakeet

Brotogeris cyanoptera

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey

Saimiri macrodon

60–70% · Likely

Lagothrix lagotricha

Lagothrix lagothricha

50–60% · Likely

Colombian Red Howler Monkey

Alouatta seniculus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Proboscis Bat

Rhynchonycteris naso

40–50% · Likely

Miller's Saki

Pithecia milleri

30–40% · Possible

Marañón white-fronted capuchin

Cebus yuracus

30–40% · Possible

Brown-throated Sloth

Bradypus variegatus

30–40% · Possible

Boto

Inia geoffrensis

30–40% · Possible

Western Pygmy Marmoset

Cebuella pygmaea

30–40% · Possible

White-tailed Titi

Plecturocebus discolor

30–40% · Possible

Black-mantled Tamarin

Leontocebus nigricollis

30–40% · Possible

Giant Otter

Pteronura brasiliensis

30–40% · Possible

Golden-mantled Tamarin

Leontocebus tripartitus

30–40% · Possible

Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus didactylus

30–40% · Possible

South American Tapir

Tapirus terrestris

20–30% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Hoatzin

Opisthocomus hoazin

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Cacicus cela

60–70% · Likely

Russet-backed Oropendola

Psarocolius angustifrons

60–70% · Likely

Greater Ani

Crotophaga major

50–60% · Likely

White-throated Toucan

Ramphastos tucanus

50–60% · Likely

White-winged Swallow

Tachycineta albiventer

50–60% · Likely

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

50–60% · Likely

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

50–60% · Likely

Cobalt-winged Parakeet

Brotogeris cyanoptera

50–60% · Likely

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

40–50% · Likely

Greater Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes melambrotus

40–50% · Likely

Fork-tailed Palm-Swift

Tachornis squamata

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Yellow-tongued Anole

Anolis scypheus

50–60% · Likely

Anaconda

Eunectes murinus

40–50% · Likely

Black Caiman

Melanosuchus niger

40–50% · Likely

Southern Turnip-tailed Gecko

Thecadactylus solimoensis

40–50% · Likely

Brown-eared Anole

Anolis fuscoauratus

40–50% · Likely

Corallus hortulanus

Corallus hortulana

40–50% · Likely

Common Caiman

Caiman crocodilus

40–50% · Possible

Yellow-headed Sideneck

Podocnemis unifilis

30–40% · Possible

Broad-headed Woodlizard

Enyalioides laticeps

30–40% · Possible

South American Yellowfoot Tortoise

Chelonoidis denticulatus

30–40% · Possible

Forest Whiptail

Kentropyx pelviceps

30–40% · Possible

Blunthead Tree Snake

Imantodes cenchoa

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

South American Common Toad

Rhinella margaritifera

50–60% · Likely

Ecuador Poison Frog

Ameerega bilinguis

50–60% · Likely

Smoky Jungle Frog

Leptodactylus pentadactylus

30–40% · Possible

Common Big-headed Frog

Oreobates quixensis

30–40% · Possible

White-lined Leaf Frog

Phyllomedusa vaillantii

30–40% · Possible

Giant Broad-headed Treefrog

Osteocephalus taurinus

30–40% · Possible

Smooth-sided Toad

Rhaebo guttatus

30–40% · Possible

Painted Antnest Frog

Lithodytes lineatus

30–40% · Possible

Eastern Cane Toad

Rhinella marina

30–40% · Possible

Canelos Treefrog

Boana appendiculata

20–30% · Possible

Painted Forest Toadlet

Engystomops petersi

20–30% · Possible

Rough-skinned Green Tree Frog

Boana cinerascens

20–30% · Possible

Animal Events

🐍

Anacondas and Black Caimans

AprMayJunJulAug

Green anacondas are found on the banks and black caimans hold the lagoon edges, both at their most reported of the year.

Anaconda

Eunectes murinus

40–50% · Likely

Black Caiman

Melanosuchus niger

40–50% · Likely

🐸

Frog Chorus in the Flooded Forest

JanFebMarAprMay

Rainforest toads and poison frogs breed as the water rises, calling from the flooded understorey after dark.

South American Common Toad

Rhinella margaritifera

50–60% · Likely

Ecuador Poison Frog

Ameerega bilinguis

50–60% · Likely

🐒

Monkey Troops over the Lagoons

OctNovDecJan

Squirrel monkeys and woolly monkeys work the canopy along the water, when they are seen on around three of every four trips.

Lagothrix lagotricha

Lagothrix lagothricha

50–60% · Likely

Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey

Saimiri macrodon

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey

50–60

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

Lagothrix lagotricha

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

50–60

Colombian Red Howler Monkey

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

50–60

40–50

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

Yellow-rumped Cacique

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

Russet-backed Oropendola

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

40–50

40–50

60–70

60–70

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

White-throated Toucan

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

South American Common Toad

50–60

40–50

30–40

30–40

70–80

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

30–40

White-winged Swallow

50–60

40–50

50–60

60–70

40–50

40–50

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

60–70

40–50

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

30–40

30–40

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

Tropical Kingbird

40–50

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

Ringed Kingfisher

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

Ecuador Poison Frog

50–60

60–70

40–50

30–40

60–70

50–60

30–40

30–40

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

Yellow-tongued Anole

40–50

60–70

40–50

30–40

60–70

40–50

50–60

40–50

60–70

50–60

50–60

40–50

Cobalt-winged Parakeet

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

Animal Events

🐍 Anacondas and Black Caimans

🐸 Frog Chorus in the Flooded Forest

🐒 Monkey Troops over the Lagoons

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class

🐒 Squirrel Monkey Lagoons

🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

763

🐒 Mammals

297

🦎 Reptiles

186

🐸 Amphibians

168

1414 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

36 Threatened 41 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

58%

📊

Coverage (435 species at ≥5% of 1414 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

31%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 2 mammal, 1 amphibian)

47% Global avg

54%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

248

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

53

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

35

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