The Ecuadorian Amazon

The Ecuadorian Amazon, known as the Oriente, is one of the most biodiverse places on earth, a vast tract of pristine rainforest in the country's east where the Andes descend into the great river basin. Home to a staggering wealth of wildlife, indigenous communities, and reserves like Yasuni National Park, it is explored from riverside jungle lodges by dugout canoe and on guided walks, offering the chance to spot monkeys, macaws, pink river dolphins, caimans and, from canopy towers, an astonishing array of birds.

What you actually see

• The rainforest wildlife - the monkeys, macaws, dolphins and caimans.
• A jungle lodge stay - the riverside lodges and canoe trips.
• The canopy towers - the platforms for spotting birds and monkeys.
• The clay licks - the gatherings of colourful parrots and macaws.

When to go

Year-round, as it is a rainforest, so rain falls in every season; the drier months, roughly December to March, mean easier trails, while higher water opens up more of the flooded forest to canoes. It is hot and humid throughout.

Honest expectations

It is remote, reached by a flight and then hours by motorised canoe to a lodge, so it takes time and money, usually as a multi-day package. Wildlife is genuinely hard to spot in the dense forest, so a good guide and patience matter, and it is not a safari with animals everywhere. It is hot, humid and buggy, but a genuine, pristine rainforest experience.

Nearby

Coca and Tena are the gateway towns; the Andes and Banos are to the west.