AMAZON RAINFOREST
Eastern Ecuador is tropical lowlands the majority is lush green rainforest. This region, known as
the Ecuadorian Amazon or Oriente, covers approximately half of the country's total area. Though the Amazon River does not flow through
Ecuador, all the rivers flowing east of the Andes contribute to the mighty river. And making Ecuador known as the Headwaters of the Amazon.
The Ecuadorian Amazon is easily accessible, has good infrastructure, and is home to many indigenous
settlements, which welcome visitors. The relative closeness to the Andes makes the temperatures milder than in other Amazon regions. This
region is topical and humid the Ecuadorian Amazon hosts temperatures of 77º to 95º Fahrenheit and rainfall of 110 to 160 inches annually.
The constant moisture and heat produces an environment that sustains the principal attraction rainforest's abundance of life. It is home to
more species of plants and animals than in the rest of the world's ecosystems combined. The Ecuadorian
Amazon is considered one of the richest and most complex plant and animal habitats in the world. Over 100 species of trees per acre
live in some regions. The rainforest of Central America compares with only 40 species of trees per acre.
The jungle is a thick, layered mesh of life forms. The upper canopy's
trees reach 165 ft towards the sky, providing the structure for other
plants and animals to subsist. Beneath their broad evergreen leaves and
branches is a world of textures and smells. Trees, vines, orchids and
bromeliads intertwine becoming the hiding place for the birds and
animals that live in the area.
Travelers seeking animals, luck will improve with a good guide and sharp
eyes. Mammals of the rainforest include tapirs, monkeys, ocelots
and jaguars. Many tourists observe monkeys, bears, capybaras,
manatees and caimans while visiting the perimeter of the rainforest. There are more
birds in this region then any other vertebrate. Approximately 1000
species make their home in the forests, lagoons, and open areas of the
Ecuadorian Amazon. The variety of multicolored birds includes
parrots, toucans and macaws.
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AMAZON REGIONS
The primary tourist routes into the Ecuadorian Amazon are along the Rio
Napo, at 530 miles long it is the longest river in Ecuador and a major
tributary of the Amazon river. Tena, the capital of Napo Province
a 6-hour bus ride from Quito is the starting point for most journeys into
the heart of the Amazon. Tena is also the whitewater capital of Ecuador
with excellent class III, IV and IV runs.
Indigenous communities including the Quichua, Shuar, Achuar, Secoya,
Siona, Huaorani and Cofan whose ancestors escaped both Inca and Spanish rule
almost entirely make up the population that inhabits the Amazon region.
These communities have been deeded separate nations by the government of
Ecuador and they have become important activists in the protection of
their economical, political and cultural interest. In the Southern part
of the Ecuadorian Amazon lives the Shuar and the Achuar. The
Shuar widely recognized as most likely the most successful Indian
organization in all of South America.
Ecuador has established an extensive system of national parks and working with
scientific stations they protect and area covering 3,035,250 Ha of the
Ecuadorian Amazon. To protect this unique area there is the Yasuni
National Park and Biosphere, The Sumaco-Napo Galeras National Park, The
Limoncocha Biological Reserve, The Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve,
Fauna Reserve of Cuyabeno and Podocarpus National Park. The Yuturi,
Yasuni, Tiputini, Tivacuno and Cononaco are all surrounded by virgin
rainforest.
A visit to either the Napo or Aguarico basin offers numerous opportunities to
observe the complex ecosystem of the forest, marshes, flood plains, and
river and vast number of species that make the rainforest their home
including freshwater dolphins, piranhas, monkeys, caiman, river otters
and more than 400 species of birds.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Because of oil exploration, banana, coffee and cocoa plantations
travelers must now travel farther into the jungle to get a good look at
the animals and birds. At least five days in the rainforest is
recommended to get the most out of an Amazon experience.
**Anti-malaria tablets and yellow fever vaccination are recommended for all travelers
visiting the Amazon region.
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