Loads of jungle trips from Baños are advertised, but not all guides are experienced.

Three- to seven-day jungle tours cost about around US$30 to around US$50 per person per day, depending on the destination (there is usually a three- or four-person minimum). Baños is always full of travellers and is a good town in which to organize a group if you are not already with one. Most trips now go through Quito. Check out Rainbow Expeditions (274 2957, 09-895 7786; rainbowexpeditions2005@hotmail.com; Alfaro at Martínez). Owned by Germán Shacay, a member of the Shuar indigenous community from the southern Oriente. It's an extremely well-run operation with interesting trips into several areas of the Oriente, including Shuar communities outside of Macas. Trips have an interesting cultural slant. Other recommended operators include Rainforestur (274 0743; www.rainforestur.com.ec; Ambato 800) and Vasco Tours (274 1017; www.vascotours.banios.com; Alfaro near Martínez), a professionally run outfit whose guide and owner, Juan Medina, knows the business very well.