DISCOVER WILDLIFE IN THE ECUADORIAN AMAZON

ECUADORIAN AMAZON JUNGLE

There is a tourist Amazon that can be easily reached, even by cruise ship. But there is another Amazon, the most unknown, which requires being prepared for adventure. It is the Ecuadorian east, the wildest area of the country, an immense region and one of the least altered on the planet. It occupies more than a third of the territory of Ecuador and very few human beings live there, almost all of them belonging to indigenous peoples under threat of extinction, such as the Achuar, the Secoya, the Shuar, the Siona, the Huaorani or the Zaparo, who they struggle to preserve their traditional way of life in the face of the temptations (and pressures) of modern life.

But the real wealth of the region is its overwhelming biodiversity. 50% of the country's mammals and 5% of the Earth's plant species live inside the jungle. Travelers can reach the remotest jungle hideaways, fish for piranhas in silent lakes, hear the menacing cry of howler monkeys, see the glowing eyes of alligators at night, admire colorful parrots feasting, and with luck, catch a glimpse of a large mammal such as the tapir or the jaguar. But this region is not only jungle: it also offers the best thermal baths in the country, the most spectacular waterfall, the most active volcanoes and formidable white waters. It is not easy to enter it, much less to know it in its entirety, but below we offer options to live a true Amazonian experience full of adventure.

YASUNI NATIONAL PARK

The Yasuní National Park, located between the Napo and Orellana provinces. It is the largest protected area in continental Ecuador. It stands out for having the greatest diversity of flora and fauna in Ecuador.

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CUYABENO RESERVE

Extensive wetland, the largest in the Ecuadorian Amazon, with lagoons, lakes and wild animals.

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WILDLIFE ACTIVITIES AND EXPLORATION

BIRDWATCHING

More than 610 species of birds inventoried in the Yasuní National Park, offer visitors the best experience in bird watching, an unforgettable adventure in the most biodiverse place on earth.

CANOE RIDES

Explore the black waters of Laguna Añangu and the streams of the Río Napo aboard a motorized canoe or paddle! In the river, streams and lakes of the Amazon jungle we can find hundreds of different aquatic animals such as fish, dolphins, anacondas, alligators, turtles, piranhas and giant otters.

OBSERVATION TOWER

Get an up-close view of the jungle and its diverse flora and fauna. In some lodges there are observation towers where you can get the best view of the Amazon jungle. Observe flocks of colorful birds flying and the magnificence of the trees, flowers and nature that the Amazon gives us.

FOREST TRAILS

There are great chances to see a wide variety of wildlife such as insects, birds, reptiles and mammals. Some of the typical animals that can be seen in the jungle are: anacondas and other species of snakes, spiders, giant armadillo, birds such as hoatzins, macaws, toucans, parakeets, parrots, as well as monkeys, tapirs, ocelots, etc.

PARROTS LICKERS

They are the most impressive natural spectacles that can be seen in the Amazon. They are natural banks that contain a large amount of minerals with which birds and different animals feed. This event begins early in the morning when hundreds of vibrantly colored birds visit the beds.

NIGHT EXCURSIONS

Hikes and canoe rides allow guests to enjoy the nightly choirs and sounds of the forest, as well as try to spot bats, night-beams, some insects, and possibly catch a glimpse of alligators hiding on the shores from the lake. Walking tours give us the opportunity to encounter nocturnal creatures such as tarantulas, whip scorpions, toads and frogs, and possibly snakes.

Another unique way to get to know the wonderful Ecuadorian Amazon Aboard a luxury cruise ship.

You can discover a new species in each step you take in the Amazon jungle.

When you enter the Ecuadorian Amazon, you are entering a world that few people have the opportunity to experience. The smells, sounds, and tastes are all different. Of course, so are the cultures that live within the communities.

Ecuador contains only 2% of the entire Amazon, but that relatively small area is one of the most diverse and pristine areas in South America, and possibly in the world. It is home to Yasuní National Park, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, designated by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve in 1989 due to the vast range of animal and plant species that inhabit it.

The park contains over 200 species of butterflies, 596 species of birds, 150 species of amphibians, 121 species of reptiles, and 200 species of mammals, numbers which are always on the rise. In fact, some naturalists claim that the level of biodiversity in the park is so high that every journey into the rainforest can result in the discovery of a new species..