9-day Amazon Volunteer Trip
Support biodiversity in the Amazon!
Our Amazon Volunteer Trip to Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in the Amazon region of Ecuador offers a travel experience which is not only amazing but also supports biodiversity. While on the trip you will have the unique opportunity both to see the rich biodiversity of the Amazon and to play an active role in protecting it. Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is Ecuador’s second-largest protected area among its 56 national parks and reserves. The Reserve is both a living laboratory for flora and fauna. In addition, it is a meeting place for ancient cultures living in balance with nature
Established in 1979, the Cuyabeno reserve spans 5,900 square kilometers across the Sucumbíos and Orellana provinces. This biodiverse region is characterized by a network of periodically inundated forests, lakes, and creeks—a rare ecosystem near the Andes. As a result of the reserve’s slightly cooler and wetter climate, influenced by its proximity to the mountains, it fosters unique ecological conditions that support an array of Amazonian species. The reserve is a critical site for conservation and ecotourism.
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Conservation Activities on the Amazon Volunteer Trip
The activities on this adventure will not only help conserve the biodiversity in the Amazon but also support the local communities that coexist with the rainforest, strengthening the ecosystem.
Butterfly Research Support
Travelers on ConservationVIP’s Amazon Volunteer Trip will support a butterfly biodiversity study being conducted in the reserve. In collaboration with park rangers, we will both monitor butterflies and we will set traps and collect butterfly specimens.
Additionally, we expect to improve the butterfly collection trail by widening vegetation with selective pruning. Because many of the park’s interpretive sites are only accessible by boat, we may also work on improving landings for safer boat access and visitor transfers at steep dirt banks.
Community Support
On this journey we will travel to two different communities who live in the reserve, learning more about their lives in the Amazon rainforest as we assist them with community service projects.
Itinerary | Price | Trip Reviews | Trip Reports | Safety
Itinerary for the Amazon Volunteer Trip
Day 1: The Amazon Volunteer Trip begins in Quito, Ecuador
To begin the adventure, we have an orientation meeting at a hotel near Quito. During this orientation, you will meet the trip leader from ConservationVIP and the other travelers. Following the orientation meeting we will share our first dinner. (Dinner and hotel included)
Day 2: Journey to Cuyabeno Reserve!
Following breakfast at the hotel, the group will transfer to the airport to begin the journey to Cuyabeno. First, we take a short domestic flight to San Francisco de Coca Airport (OCC). Next, we will take a three-hour scenic bus ride from Coca, stopping along the way for lunch. Finally, we board boats for a 25-mile journey to the Macrolobium Lodge. Significantly, the Lodge where we will stay while we are in the Reserve, is owned by members of the native communities in the area. (meals and lodging included)
Days 3-7: Activities at Cuyabeno Reserve
Together with the park rangers we will set out after breakfast for our conservation projects. On the days devoted to butterfly research, we will set traps and collect butterfly specimens in the morning. In addition, we may survey the butterfly collection trail Alternatively, we may widen the trail with selective pruning of vegetation. Finally, we return to the lodge for a late lunch.
Later in the day, we expect to improve access to the trails while simultaneously surveying the park by boat.
Visit to Amazon communities
During our time in the reserve, we will travel to two different communities who live in the reserve, learning more about their lives in the rainforest as we assist them on community service projects. (meals and lodging included)
Day 8: Depart Cuyabeno after the morning’s project activities
In the morning the group will continue its service work at Cuyabeno. In the afternoon, the group will depart the reserve. First we travel by boat, then later transfer by van to a hotel in Tarapoa where we will spend the night. Prior to sharing a final dinner, there will be a project debriefing.
Day 9: Return to Quito where the trip ends
After breakfast at the hotel, we will fly to Quito where the trip ends. Trip participants can expect to be at Quito airport by noon. They can choose to stay in Ecuador for further exploration or fly home.
Price | Trip Reviews | Trip Reports | Safety
Price for the Amazon Volunteer Trip
US$ 2,495 for 9 days.
Note: Your trip expense may be tax-deductible. To explain, we refer you to our Frequently Asked Questions page and we recommend that you consult your tax adviser for details.
Items included in the Price:
- ConservationVIP trip leadership and support staff
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on the final day
- Hotel room in Quito and Tarapoa
- Lodge in Cuyabeno reserve, double occupancy.
- Bus, boat and plane transportation noted in itinerary.
- Gratuities for services provided to the group.
- Orientation and training
Items not included:
- airfare to/from Quito
- cost of medical immunizations
- insurance (emergency medical and evacuation insurance is mandatory for this trip)
- excess baggage charges
- airport taxes
- alcoholic beverages or soft drinks
- personal items
Deposit and Cancellation
A deposit of $500 per person is required at the time of signup; final payment is due within 30 days of signup. The payment and refund policy can be found here.
Group Size: 8 – 11 including trip leader
Amazon Volunteer Trip Reviews
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Imagine yourself deep in an amazing dream where you’re immersed in the Amazon jungle surrounded by all the sights and sounds of exotic flora and fauna, with beautiful animals nearby, with indigenous villages of gentle people living off the land as their ancestors had done for centuries. Well, instead of waking from this fantastic dream, you realize you are experiencing all this firsthand with Conservation VIP in Ecuador! It’s difficult to describe how all your senses become attuned to the Amazon and your inner healing process allows you to benefit from your surroundings. And yet it does in a magical mystical way. So many incredible moments: gently gliding along the rivers and lakes teeming with dozens of exotic birds passing by while enjoying panoramic sunrises and sunsets at the equator, enjoying an authentic local meal with villagers beaming with pride and friendliness, walking the jungle with families of monkeys overhead, including the rare elusive Pygmy Marmoset, the world’s smallest true monkey. Thanks to the efforts of Mark to establish this inaugural trip and lead it along with Millie whose ability to communicate fully with the Spanish speaking park rangers and lodge staff made it seamless and so rewarding. Thank You!
This was my first trip with Conservation Volunteer International. It was a last minute, spur of the moment decision for me to go, and it ended up being logistically easy, and pretty well coordinated. It was a small group of 10, along with the Cuyubena Lodge guide, Fabricio, and a local logistics coordinator, Katie, and 2 trip leaders Mark & Millie. Plus 4 park rangers whom we spent 2 days working with on 2 different trails and butterfly transects. It was the inaguaral trip for CVIP, which made it all the more interesting. We also spent 2 days at 2 villages along the river, and painted at 2 school houses, and were able to talk with some of the families and kids from the villages.
It was an adventure every day- the travel into the Lodge was a short flight to a bus to a boat. There are no roads, so every day was travel by boat and birding along the way. The guide, Fabricio, was pretty incredible at spotting birds, monkeys, sloths, and he was so knowledgable about the jungle plants and ecology. It was really amazing. I liked that we spent 6 nights at the lodge so there was time to settle in and relax too. And the meals were pretty great too!
I have been trying to learn to speak Spanish and had plenty of opportunity to make mistakes in communication, but MIllie is fluent and did a really nice job of introducing, and translating everything.
I had no idea what to expect, but went with an open mind. The entire experience was really awesome. Good trip all around.
🌿 Life-Changing Journey to the Ecuadorian Amazon with ConservationVIP 🌿 I just returned from what can only be described as a transformational experience deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon with Conservation VIP. This wasn’t just a trip—it was a beautifully coordinated blend of purposeful travel, wild beauty, and genuine human connection. From day one, everything was incredibly well-organized and stress-free thanks to the remarkable leadership of Mark and Millie. Their warmth, professionalism, and deep respect for the land and its people set the tone for the entire journey. They guided us not just through the logistics of the jungle, but into its very soul. Their passion was contagious. Each day was filled with unforgettable moments—from spotting colorful toucans and playful monkeys to listening to the night chorus of frogs and insects. We worked directly with the Cuyabeno Park Rangers on improving their trails for butterfly and wildlife watching. They were amazing and appreciated our work with them very much. We also performed two community activities at local schools and everybody, from teachers to parents and students, was incredibly grateful for what we did. We also shared time with a local Shaman and the experience was out of this world. The evening canoe trips were my favorite. Floating through the still black waters (looked like a mirror) of the lagoon as the sun melted into the horizon, surrounded by the sounds of nature, was nothing short of magical. We even took a refreshing swim in the lagoon.—working, watching wildlife and swimming in the Amazon is a memory I’ll cherish forever. This wasn’t just about sightseeing—it was about giving back, learning, and connecting. If you're looking for a meaningful adventure that feeds your soul and helps protect one of the most vital ecosystems on Earth, I wholeheartedly recommend this journey. We had a fantastic local guide (Fabricio) who had total command of the wildlife that inhabitates the jungle and its waters. His spoken English was very good as well. Thank you, Mark, Millie and CVIP. You made the jungle feel like home! I AM going back!!!
Our June 2025 Amazon Volunteer trip was ConservationVIP’s inaugural trip to Cuyabeno. As a consequence, we do not yet have many trip reviews. We look forward to reading what future travelers have to say about our upcoming trips.
Gear List for the Amazon Volunteer Trip
The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip like ConservationVIP’s Amazon Volunteer Trip is layering. While Quito is at high altitude and cooler, Cuyabeno Reserve will be hot and humid. Consequently, you need to prepare for both. For that reason, to get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection.
With this in mind, we prepared our Amazon gear list to help you pack. View the Gear List PDF.
For details about the prior trip, please click on the link below to read prior trip reports.
Safety is our Priority
ConservationVIP has always focused on our volunteers’ safety. Consequently, we know from experience that traveling with safety concerns requires some extra planning and flexibility both for trip leaders and trip participants!
Match Your Abilities with the Trip
First, to safely enjoy the trip, choose a trip which suits your abilities and conditioning. For example, for this Amazon Volunteer Trip, you should be able to walk in hot, humid conditions on muddy trails with uneven footing. Also, you should be able to paddle or ride in canoes for several hours.
Follow Trip Leader’s Instructions
In addition, to prevent injury or illness on the trip, travelers will need to follow the trip leader’s instructions. Site-specific procedures and other safety instructions will be provided on the trip.
Medical Advice
Importantly, please check with your doctor to see if any immunizations are recommended for you.
Comply with other Travel Restrictions
Finally, you will also have to comply with any restrictions imposed by Ecuador and your country of origin at the time of travel. While restrictions can change between now and the time of travel, we cannot predict what those changes will be.