Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

🇪🇨 Ecuador

🐒 Squirrel Monkey Lagoons
🌍 #2 Global · 5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #1 in South America #1 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

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey ★

Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saimiri macrodon

60–70% · Likely
Common Woolly Monkey ★
VU

Common Woolly Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lagothrix lagothricha

50–60% · Likely
Colombian Red Howler Monkey ★
LC

Colombian Red Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta seniculus

50–60% · Likely
Hoatzin ★
LC

Hoatzin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Opisthocomus hoazin

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Yellow-rumped Cacique
LC

Yellow-rumped Cacique

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cacicus cela

60–70% · Likely
Russet-backed Oropendola
LC

Russet-backed Oropendola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psarocolius angustifrons

60–70% · Likely
Greater Ani
LC

Greater Ani

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crotophaga major

50–60% · Likely
White-throated Toucan
LC

White-throated Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos tucanus

50–60% · Likely
White-winged Swallow
LC

White-winged Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta albiventer

50–60% · Likely
South American Common Toad
LC

South American Common Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Rhinella margaritifera

50–60% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

50–60% · Likely
Ringed Kingfisher
LC

Ringed Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Megaceryle torquata

50–60% · Likely
Ecuador Poison Frog
LC

Ecuador Poison Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ameerega bilinguis

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-tongued Anole
LC

Yellow-tongued Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis scypheus

50–60% · Likely
Cobalt-winged Parakeet
LC

Cobalt-winged Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Brotogeris cyanoptera

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey ★

Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saimiri macrodon

60–70% · Likely
Common Woolly Monkey ★
VU

Common Woolly Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lagothrix lagothricha

50–60% · Likely
Colombian Red Howler Monkey ★
LC

Colombian Red Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta seniculus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Proboscis Bat
LC

Proboscis Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rhynchonycteris naso

40–50% · Likely
Miller's Saki
VU

Miller's Saki

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Pithecia milleri

30–40% · Possible
Marañón white-fronted capuchin
NT

Marañón white-fronted capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus yuracus

30–40% · Possible
Brown-throated Sloth
LC Endemic

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

30–40% · Possible
Boto
EN

Boto

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Inia geoffrensis

30–40% · Possible
Western Pygmy Marmoset
VU

Western Pygmy Marmoset

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebuella pygmaea

30–40% · Possible
White-tailed Titi
LC

White-tailed Titi

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Plecturocebus discolor

30–40% · Possible
Black-mantled Tamarin
LC

Black-mantled Tamarin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Leontocebus nigricollis

30–40% · Possible
Giant Otter
EN

Giant Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Pteronura brasiliensis

20–30% · Possible
Golden-mantled Tamarin
NT

Golden-mantled Tamarin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Leontocebus tripartitus

20–30% · Possible
Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth
LC

Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Choloepus didactylus

20–30% · Possible
South American Tapir
VU

South American Tapir

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tapirus terrestris

20–30% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Hoatzin ★
LC

Hoatzin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Opisthocomus hoazin

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Yellow-rumped Cacique
LC

Yellow-rumped Cacique

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cacicus cela

60–70% · Likely
Russet-backed Oropendola
LC

Russet-backed Oropendola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psarocolius angustifrons

60–70% · Likely
Greater Ani
LC

Greater Ani

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crotophaga major

50–60% · Likely
White-throated Toucan
LC

White-throated Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos tucanus

50–60% · Likely
White-winged Swallow
LC

White-winged Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta albiventer

50–60% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

50–60% · Likely
Ringed Kingfisher
LC

Ringed Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Megaceryle torquata

50–60% · Likely
Cobalt-winged Parakeet
LC

Cobalt-winged Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Brotogeris cyanoptera

50–60% · Likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

40–50% · Likely
Greater Yellow-headed Vulture
LC

Greater Yellow-headed Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes melambrotus

40–50% · Likely
Fork-tailed Palm-Swift
LC

Fork-tailed Palm-Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachornis squamata

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Yellow-tongued Anole
LC

Yellow-tongued Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis scypheus

50–60% · Likely
Anaconda
LC

Anaconda

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Eunectes murinus

40–50% · Likely
Black Caiman
LC

Black Caiman

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Melanosuchus niger

40–50% · Likely
Southern Turnip-tailed Gecko
LC

Southern Turnip-tailed Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Thecadactylus solimoensis

40–50% · Likely
Brown-eared Anole
LC

Brown-eared Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis fuscoauratus

40–50% · Likely
Garden Tree Boa
LC

Garden Tree Boa

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Corallus hortulana

30–40% · Possible
Common Caiman
LC

Common Caiman

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Caiman crocodilus

30–40% · Possible
Yellow-headed Sideneck
VU

Yellow-headed Sideneck

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Podocnemis unifilis

30–40% · Possible
Broad-headed Woodlizard
LC

Broad-headed Woodlizard

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Enyalioides laticeps

30–40% · Possible
South American Yellowfoot Tortoise

South American Yellowfoot Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonoidis denticulatus

20–30% · Possible
Forest Whiptail
LC

Forest Whiptail

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Kentropyx pelviceps

20–30% · Possible
Blunthead Tree Snake
LC

Blunthead Tree Snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Imantodes cenchoa

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

South American Common Toad
LC

South American Common Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Rhinella margaritifera

50–60% · Likely
Ecuador Poison Frog
LC

Ecuador Poison Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ameerega bilinguis

50–60% · Likely
Smoky Jungle Frog
LC

Smoky Jungle Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus pentadactylus

30–40% · Possible
Common Big-headed Frog
LC

Common Big-headed Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Oreobates quixensis

30–40% · Possible
White-lined Leaf Frog
LC

White-lined Leaf Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Phyllomedusa vaillantii

30–40% · Possible
Giant Broad-headed Treefrog
LC

Giant Broad-headed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Osteocephalus taurinus

20–30% · Possible
Smooth-sided Toad
LC

Smooth-sided Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhaebo guttatus

20–30% · Possible
Painted Antnest Frog
LC

Painted Antnest Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Lithodytes lineatus

20–30% · Possible
Eastern Cane Toad
LC

Eastern Cane Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Rhinella marina

20–30% · Possible
Canelos Treefrog
LC

Canelos Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Boana appendiculata

20–30% · Possible
Painted Forest Toadlet
LC

Painted Forest Toadlet

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Engystomops petersi

20–30% · Possible
Rough-skinned Green Tree Frog
LC

Rough-skinned Green Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Boana cinerascens

10–20% · With luck

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
LC

Anaconda

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Eunectes murinus

40–50% · Likely
Black Caiman
LC

Black Caiman

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

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
LC

South American Common Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Rhinella margaritifera

50–60% · Likely
Ecuador Poison Frog
LC

Ecuador Poison Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

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.

Common Woolly Monkey
VU

Common Woolly Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lagothrix lagothricha

50–60% · Likely
Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey

Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saimiri macrodon

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
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
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
Common Woolly Monkey
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
Colombian Red Howler Monkey
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
Hoatzin
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
Greater Ani
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
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
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
20–30
Great Kiskadee
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

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
763
🐒 Mammals
297
🦎 Reptiles
186
🐸 Amphibians
168
1414 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 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 (407 species at ≥5% of 1414 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
29%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 2 mammal, 1 amphibian)
46% Global avg
54%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 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)
15 Global avg
50
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
34

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve?

The most likely sightings are Yellow-rumped Cacique (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Russet-backed Oropendola (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Hoatzin (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Greater Ani (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers) — among 1414 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve for wildlife?

November has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve?

Yes — about 61% of wildlife watchers report a Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey sighting in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, based on 287 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Common Woolly Monkey in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve?

Yes — about 56% of wildlife watchers report a Common Woolly Monkey sighting in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, based on 228 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Colombian Red Howler Monkey in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve?

Yes — about 52% of wildlife watchers report a Colombian Red Howler Monkey sighting in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, based on 195 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Hoatzin in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve?

Yes — about 62% of wildlife watchers report a Hoatzin sighting in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, based on 2,555 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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