Ecuadorian Amazon

The Amazon rainforest on the eastern slopes of the Andes, with eco-lodge trips in Yasuní and Cuyabeno and river adventures in the Napo basin as the main draws.

The Ecuadorian Amazon is the area officially called the Oriente, comprising six provinces: Sucumbíos, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe. It covers nearly half the country but has very few inhabitants. The north is where visitors concentrate: Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in Sucumbíos is known for its blackwater lagoons, pink river dolphins and sunsets over the water; Yasuní National Park in Orellana is one of the most biodiverse places in the world and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where you can stay in eco-lodges along the Napo River, climb canopy towers, watch parrots feeding at clay licks and go on night walks looking for frogs and insects. Tena and Misahuallí in Napo are bases for rafting and short rainforest experiences, and Puyo in Pastaza connects to the "Route of the Waterfalls" near Baños. In the south, Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe see fewer visitors and are the traditional territory of indigenous peoples such as the Shuar; Podocarpus National Park lies on the Zamora side. Deep-rainforest visits are generally lodge packages of 3–5 days: fly from Quito to Coca or Lago Agrio (Nueva Loja) in about half an hour, then continue by bus and motorized canoe. Tena and Puyo can be reached by road from Quito or Baños in a few hours. Get a yellow fever vaccination in advance, bring insect repellent, and choose licensed lodges that respect indigenous communities.

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