Sights in The Oriente
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Parque Omaere
Walk past the kids plunging from the bridge into Río Puyo (think twice about joining them, because of polluted water) to Parque Omaere, less than 1km north of the city center. The ethnobotanical park offers guided tours (free with admission) of rainforest plants and indigenous dwellings, by mostly indigenous guides. The park is run by Shuar plant expert Teresa Shiki and her husband, Chris Canaday, an American biologist, author of Common Birds of Amazonian Ecuador and a font of knowledge about everything from jungle plants to ecological dry toilets. Teresa helped found and plant the park and prepares natural medicine. Stomach troubles? Ask for a cure for parasites made fr…
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Parque Nacional Yasuní
Yasuní is Ecuador’s largest mainland park, a massive 9620-sq-km section of wetlands, marshes, swamps, lakes, rivers and tropical rainforest. Its staggering biodiversity led Unesco to declare it an international biosphere reserve and it was established as a national park shortly after, in 1979. Because this pocket of life was untouched by the last ice age, a diverse pool of species has thrived here throughout the ages, including more than 500 bird species, some previously unknown elsewhere. Resident animals include some hard-to-see jungle wildlife, such as jaguars, harpy eagles, pumas and tapirs.
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Parque Nacional Sangay
Most access to the park is from the north and west; access from the south and east is difficult. If starting from Macas, make your goal the alpine lakes, including the scenic Lagunas de Tinguichaca or the popular Sardina Yaca lagoons, which are teeming with wildlife. The volcano itself is inaccessible from here. Buses from Macas go to 9 de Octubre and San Vicente, a good starting point for most hikes. The small settlement of Purshi is the official entrance. It’s best to enter with a guide as trails are faint and require acute navigation and machete skills. Trips here are not for the uninitiated outdoors person.
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Cuevas de Jumandí
About 4km north of Archidona, you’ll find Cuevas de Jumandí. This cave system, the best known in the area, has three main branches that remain partly unexplored. Forgo the sketchy waterslides that dump into a river-water pool, and tread slowly (with a flashlight) to see stalactites, stalagmites and odd formations. Rubber boots and old clothes will serve you well. For thorough exploration, you’ll need a guide from Tena or on-site – ask guide companies in Tena for a customized day trip to include a trip to the caves.
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Reserva Producción Faunística Cuyabeno
This beautiful reserve is a unique flooded rainforest covering 6034 sq km around Río Cuyabeno. Seasonally inundated with water, the flooded forest provides a home to diverse aquatic species and birdlife. Macrolobium and ceiba treetops thrust out from the underwater forest, creating a stunning visual effect. The blackwater rivers, rich in tannins from decomposing foliage, form a maze of waterways that feed the lagoons.
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El Arca Rescue Center
Outside of the town of Cotundo, the El Arca Rescue Center houses a myriad rehabilitated animals in well-kept cages. Walk with a guide on the winding pathway to see hawks, parrots, anacondas, turtles, caiman and monkeys. For $1 more, swim in the tiny blue pool by the river. Travelers recommend El Arca over other animal-rescue centers in the area.
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Jardín Botáncio las Orquídeas
Visitors rave about the Jardín Botáncio las Orquídeas, located 15 minutes south from Puyo on the road to Macas. Enthusiastic owner Omar Taeyu guides visitors through hills of lush foliage and fishponds to see gorgeous plants and countless rare orchids. Call ahead.
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Butterfly Farm
Dazzling giant morphos flutter about the butterfly farm, a block off the plaza. It’s run by Pepe and Margarita of Ecoselva and offers a close look at the developing stages of rainforest butterflies.
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Parque Amazónico
Stroll over a small bridge to Parque Amazónico, a 27-hectare island with a self-guided trail passing labeled local plants and animal enclosures. Picnic areas, a swimming beach and a bathroom are available.
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Museo Etnográfico Huaorani
The new Museo Etnográfico Huaorani has a small exhibit and guided tour. Perhaps more engaging than the artifacts themselves is the Huaorani’s take of their culture and problems.
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Museo Etnoarqueológico
The Museo Etnoarqueológico has ceramics, artifacts and an excellent map showing distribution of native populations.
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Children’s Park
A few blocks northeast of the cultural center is a small children’s park.
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Paseo de los Monos
At Paseo de los Monos you can see a variety of rescued animals, including six kinds of monkeys, turtles and birds. Some animals are caged, while others run free. For an extra $2, guides lead four-hour walks into the surrounding jungle to see more of the center’s animals.
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