Ecuadorian Amazon
The Amazon Jungle makes up roughly 50% of the world’s rainforests and features an incredible diversity of flora and fauna – including such rare and exotic creatures as jaguars, puma, sloths, anacondas and capybaras, not to mention the incredible bird life. It is currently recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The Amazon river starts in Peru and ends at the Atlantic Ocean. It is the second longest river after the Nile, winding through Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Guyana and Ecuador. In the Ecuadorian Amazon, visitors can experience a combination of jungle trails rich with bird and animal life, indigenous settlements where shamanism is still an integral part of the tribal culture, and jungle eco-lodges that give guests the opportunity to get up close and personal with the natural environment and its inhabitants.
The Yasuní National Park and Biosphere Reserve is the best-known of Ecuador’s National Parks in the Amazon Region. In addition to Yasuní, other National Parks such as Sumaco Napo-Galeras, Cayambe-Coca and Llanganates all protect parts of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Together, these protected areas ensure that Ecuador’s wildlife will continue to thrive for future generations.
Wildlife
The Amazon Basin, and the Ecuadorian Amazon in particular, is home to remarkable biodiversity: the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve is believed by many to be home to the most diverse set of species on the Earth. In the Ecuadorian Amazon, you will find:
- 800 species of fish, including three types of piranhas
- 350 species of reptiles, including anacondas and iguanas
- More than 300 species of mammals, including monkeys and jaguars
- Thousands of species of plants and trees
- Thousands of species of insects: one acre of rainforest may be home to 70,000 species of insect
It is also a birdwatchers paradise. In the country of Ecuador, there are an estimated 1,600 species of birds: more than double the number of all of North America. Many of these bird species are found in the Amazon Region, including toucans, macaws and tanagers.
During your time in the Amazon, your eco-lodge will keep you busy, offering exploration by foot, canoe, boat, Kichwa community visits, and more. Note that this is a rainforest, so expect rain, humidity, and warm temperatures.
Our favorite accommodations in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Other areas to explore
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