Amazon Rain Forest

The Amazon River Basin, or El Oriente to Ecuadorians, is the biggest region in Ecuador. Ecuador has 2% of the Amazon Rainforest and makes for a convenient jump from major cities. Tourist infrastructure is well developed, and most destinations are less than a day’s journey from Quito.

More life hums, buzzes, chatters and bubbles in the Amazon Rainforest than anywhere else on the planet. One Amazonian tree can host more ant species than all of the British Isles put together, one hectare of forest boasts about as many frog species as all of North America and the great expanse of the jungle contains more than twenty percent of the earth’s vascular plant species. Here you can find a monkey small enough to sit on your fingertip, and eight pound toad, a spider that eats birds and the world’s largest snake, the 30-foot anaconda.

The Amazon is home to thousands of indigenous inhabitants, who make up nearly 200 distinct nations, including the Siona, Secoya, Cofan, Shuar, Zparo, Huaorani and Quichua. Having lived there for more than 10.000 years, they know its trees, its animals and its rhythms better than anyone.

Oil companies are a serious threat to the rainforest today. Even at lodges deep in the jungle plumes of smoke coming from oil refineries smudge the otherwise untouched horizon day and night. You can learn more about indigenous forest peoples and the rainforest itself joining one of the many community-based ecotourism programs offered in the Ecuadorian Amazon or by becoming a volunteer with one of the may nonprofits working in the region.

Interesting options

Aqua Expedition Embark on the voyage of a lifetime, sailing the earth’s mightiest river — the Amazon. The first luxury vessel in the region. VIEW MORE DETAILS	Napo Wildlife Center The Napo Wildlife Center, NWC Amazon Lodge, is the greatest and ultimate alternative luxury ecohotel in Amazonian. VIEW MORE DETAILS
Sacha Lodge The lodge is located in a beautiful area surrounded by primary forest. The program consists of a combination of jungle tours. VIEW MORE DETAILS	Manatee Explorer You will visit Monkey Island,  Yasuni National Park and Biosphere Reserve, walk jungle trails and explore virgin rain forest. VIEW MORE DETAILS
Casa del Suizo We are now ready to explore the nearest community of the Quichua Indians, to see how they live and work the plantations. VIEW MORE DETAILS	Siona Lodge The Siona Lodge is privileged located in one of the last unspoiled native jungles in the Amazon Rain Forest. VIEW MORE DETAILS