A Concise Guide to the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador

The Amazon rainforest is a vast and vital ecosystem that covers much of South America, spanning across nine countries. It’s a critical habitat for countless species of plants and animals, also home to numerous indigenous communities. If you want to discover the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, you’ll find all the info in this post: whether it’s worth visiting, where to stay, what to do, and how to get there. We also want to discuss the issue of deforestation and what we can do to help stop it.

Jump to:
Is it safe?  |  Best areas to visit  |  Things to do  |  Getting there  |  Where to stay  |  When to go  |  Packing list  |  Vaccination  |  Deforestation

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Is it worth visiting the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador?

Absolutely. Visiting the rainforest is a great way to get closer to the pulsating heart of our planet, and understand why protecting the environment is so important. It’s a dive into the unknown that will make you question your place and role in life. We highly recommend it.

In Ecuador, the Amazon region is also known as the “oriente“. The Yasuní National Park, located in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon, is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. It’s estimated that it contains more than 600 bird species, 150 species of amphibians and reptiles, and countless plants and insects.

You can explore this incredible flora and fauna on jungle tours and on cruises along the Napo River. Furthermore, some community-based tours allow you to visit traditional indigenous communities in the area. Find more activities in the ‘Things to do’ section.

Is it safe to visit the rainforest?

Spending a few days in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador is generally safe. To immerse in the forest, it is recommended to book guided tours or stays at reputable eco-lodges, as these companies will have safety protocols in place.

It’s very important to take basic precautions: wear insect repellent and protective clothing (to protect yourself from malaria and yellow fever, both caused by mosquitos) and stay hydrated.

Are self-guided hikes an option?

There are short hikes starting from eco-lodges that you can do self-guided (like the trail to San Jacinto Waterfall, from the Hakuna Matata Amazon Lodge). But avoid wandering off alone deep into the jungle without a clear route. Avoid especially the borders with Colombia and Brazil, where there’s a chance of meeting drug traffickers.

Be inspired by our experience in the Amazon rainforest in Peru.

The best areas to visit in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest

As we already mentioned, the Yasuní National Park is a top destination for visitors to the Ecuadorian Amazon basin. It’s located in the northeast corner of the country, along Río Napo, and covers an area of more than 9,800 square km. The closest town to Parque Nacional Yasuní is Coca (aka. Puerto Francisco de Orellana).

Another popular area to visit is the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, which lies on the other side of the Napo River. Activities and lodges are slightly cheaper here compared to Yasuní, so it’s a good option if your budget is tight. The best town to visit Cuyabeno from is Nueva Loja.

Discover more National Parks in Ecuador

Things to do in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest

The best way to visit the Amazon is to stay in an eco-lodge and explore the area as part of a guided tour. There are endless activities and jungle tours to do in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, depending on your interests. Guided tours can include:

• bird watching
• wildlife spotting
• visiting indigenous communities in their village, attending their cultural performances
• jungle trekking
• canoeing, kayaking
• boat tours

As part of your tour, you’ll learn about the local flora and fauna and the role the Amazon rainforest plays in regulating the global climate. In addition to all that, some eco-lodges offer yoga classes, spa treatments, and cooking classes.

Eco-lodges often offer a full package with activities included. Here are the best Amazon jungle packages in Ecuador, on Viator:

Keep exploring: check out our full Ecuador backpacking guide

How to get there

By plane

One way to reach the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador is to fly into Quito, the capital city, and then take a 40-min domestic flight to the town of Coca, which is situated on the shore of the Napo River.

From there, you can take a riverboat or a four-wheel drive vehicle to reach the Yasuní National Park or the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve. Some eco-lodges also offer airport pick-up and drop-off services.

It’s worth spending a few days in Quito (especially if you’re into culture)

By bus

Several bus companies operate daily routes from Quito to any of the three gateway towns: Coca, Nueva Loja and Tena. Travel time to Coca is 5-6 hours, to Nueva Loja it’s 7 hours, and to Tena just over 3 hours; times depend on traffic and road conditions.

Coca is the best tour-starting point to the Yasuní National Park, Nueva Loja is best for Cuyabeno. Tena is more popular with backpackers, and usually, tours don’t go so deep in the rainforest, so it’s the most budget-friendly.

Travel further with our 2 to 3 weeks Ecuador itinerary

Where to stay

Many eco-lodges are reachable from Coca, Nueva Loja or Tena, and offer visitors an immersive and sustainable experience. These lodges are often located at the border of Yasuní or Cuyabeno, in remote areas, and are designed to minimize their impact on the environment.

They offer comfortable accommodations, great food, and guided tours. Some popular options include the La Selva Ecolodge & Retreat, Selina Amazon Tena, Napo Wildlife Center, and Sacha Lodge.

When to go

The climate in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest is typically hot and humid year-round, with temperatures averaging 26-28°C (79-82°F). There are two distinct seasons: the dry season from June to November, and the rainy season from December to May. The rainforest can be visited year-round and the two seasons will provide a different experience.

Having said that, we think the best time to visit the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador is during the dry season, when the weather is less humid and there are fewer mosquitos. Expect occasional rain showers even during the dry season.

In the rainy season, the forest is lush and green and beautiful. However, the increased vegetation makes wildlife-spotting more difficult, and mosquitos are more numerous and aggressive. Do not underestimate the pesky Amazonian mosquitos!

Rainforest packing list essentials

When preparing for such an otherworldly adventure as visiting the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, make sure you pack appropriately. Here’s what we think are absolute essentials:

• comfortable and lightweight clothing
• sturdy hiking boots or shoes
• insect repellent
• sunscreen
• hat
• rain jacket or poncho
• first-aid kit and any necessary medications
• reusable water bottles to fill from reliable sources (the keyword here is ‘reliable’)

Vaccination requirements

There’s no compulsory vaccination to travel to Ecuador as of 2023. However, it’s highly recommended that you receive certain vaccinations before visiting the Amazon rainforest.

A jab against the Yellow fever is recommended, as the disease is present in the area. Other recommendations are against typhoid, and hepatitis A and B. Malaria is also present, and since there’s no vaccine, you should take prevention (aka protect yourself against those damn mosquitos) and carry malaria pills.

Deforestation in the Amazon

If you’ve stumbled upon Green Mochila before, you already know how much we love the Amazon, the lungs of our planet. Its importance to the world’s biodiversity and its role in regulating the global climate cannot be overstated.

Unfortunately, it’s suffering from significant destruction, for both agricultural and commercial purposes. This is a great concern in Ecuador too, where deforestation has increased in recent years due to the expansion of agriculture and oil exploration.

Deforestation not only destroys habitats for countless species of plants and animals, but it also contributes to climate change by releasing carbon into the atmosphere.

Read more info about the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador on Amazon Frontlines

What can you do to help stop deforestation?

The most direct way to help is by supporting eco-friendly and sustainable tourism practices. This includes staying at eco-lodges that have sustainability initiatives in place, e.g. using renewable energy sources and minimizing waste.

During your visit, you can also support local conservation organizations and even volunteer with them. We believe it’s important to be mindful of the impact of our travels and to educate others about the importance of protecting the rainforest.

Another way of action is to donate to organizations which fight deforestation, such as Amazon Frontlines.

Read our sustainable travel tips in South America, that we collected during our 1-year trip

Further learning

Thank you for making it this far! If you’re interested in learning more about the Amazon rainforest, there are many books and movies that offer valuable insights.

Some recommended books include “The Lost City of Z” by David Grann (there’s also a film based on the book); “The River of Doubt” by Candice Millard; and “The Unconquered” by Scott Wallace. Movies such as “Embrace of the Serpent” and “Fitzcarraldo” offer a visual depiction of life in the Amazon rainforest.

“Fitzcarraldo” is on our list of must-watch movies set in South America

Don’t miss any of our nature travel guides!