The Amazon rainforest
No cities, but two worlds: the upper Amazon at the foot of the Andes and the lower Amazon with the great national parks.
Upper or lower?
The lower Amazon has the finest lodges, almost all in the Yasuní and Cuyabeno parks. You fly from Quito to Coca or Lago Agrio and then travel a few hours by motor canoe. A few luxury river cruises also sail the Río Napo: you sleep and eat on board and make excursions into the forest.
The upper Amazon is easy to reach by car. It is less interesting for nature lovers but better suited to families. The area around Tena, Archidona and Misahuallí has fine lodges.
Upper Amazon
Reachable by car from Quito or Baños. Lodges with pools, rafting and canyoning. Ideal for families and as a loop Quito, Papallacta, Tena, Puyo, Baños.
Lower Amazon
A short flight to Coca or Lago Agrio, then a few hours by boat. This is where the Yasuní and Cuyabeno parks lie: a paradise for nature lovers.
Lodges in the national parks
Yasuní and the Río Napo
The largest park in Ecuador and one of the most biodiverse places on earth. Departure from Coca.
Cuyabeno
Flooded forest and lagoons with pink river dolphins. Departure from Lago Agrio.
River cruises and Pastaza
Sailing the Río Napo, or far off the beaten track with the Achuar in the south.
Lodges reachable by car
Tena, Misahuallí and Puyo
Rafting on the Jatunyacu, canyoning, waterfalls and Kichwa communities. Four hours from Quito.
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