Shrouded in rumors of shrunken heads, man-eating anacondas and blowgun darts with poison-tipped, the mere mention of the words “Amazon jungle”conjures up frightening images, even among the more adventurous travelers.
But beyond all the mystery and myth, the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle owns one of the most friendly for the traveler who wants to explore a miracle of nature sites: the Yasuni National Park.
Located in northeastern Ecuador, this protected reserve is just a short flight away (25 minutes) from the cosmopolitan Quito, Ecuador’s capital, or a very manageable route four hours by land.
Its large size, which exceeds in size to the Grand Canyon National Park and Yellowstone National Park in the US – It covers 9,820 square kilometers, with lush rainforest.
Forming a sort of alligator head with its huge open jaws, this park is bounded by two majestic rivers that feed the Amazon River legendary.
What you will discover in the Yasuni National Park
Extraordinary biodiversity: The Yasuni National Park is certainly one of the most biodiverse places on earth. There, the adventure-loving traveler will wake before dawn to a chorus of birds, guttural roars of howler monkeys and squirrel monkeys screeching, jumping from branch to branch.
By exploring the rainforest, or see the woods from the observation towers built in the lodges, abstract statistics about “mega-biodiversity” Yasuni come to life in front of the tourist. From there you will be able to discover for himself on the canopy of primary forest, nearly 600 species of birds in the reserve (a third of all who live in the Amazon region).
Similarly, while paddles his canoe through sewage streams and lakes, you will notice that the Yasuni National Park is home to about a third of the species of amphibians and reptiles of the Amazon. As if that were not enough, a famous mammal lives in this area: it is the pink dolphin, animal friendly and intelligent than love at first sight.
The pink dolphin is one of the stars in the Amazonian waters.
Rivers, lakes, streams and swamps of Yasuni Park are home to 250 types of amphibians and reptiles and 382 species of fish known. Also our aquatic friends live there warmblooded as giant otters (up to seven feet long!). You can explore amazing places in this authentic natural garden, whose wealth is due to the coexistence of different ecosystems, each with its flora and fauna characteristics.
Indigenous settlements: Wealth Jungle Yasuni National Park is expressed not only in its plant and animal life. The forest is filled with an incredible mix of different indigenous cultures, each with its own language, history, culture and worldview.
Numbered a few thousand, the Huaorani (WAO), whose name means “man” or “people” – are the masters of this wild universe. While many remain isolated from “civilization”, others have been in contact with the western world for decades and are perfectly integrated into it. A trip to the Yasuni Park offers the opportunity to meet and interact with them, to learn about their culture and formasde life in the Amazon jungle.
Make the adventure happen!
The trip: To reach the Yasuni National Park, it is essential to hire the services of tour operator specialized. This will organize your flight from Quito to the city of Francisco de Orellana (known locally as “Coca”), in the course of the Napo River. If staying in a jungle lodge or lodge will have to address a large covered motor canoe and take a trip by river. From there, guests must change to smaller gaps to paddle canoes sewage, or walk to your lodge (motorized transport is not allowed in these gaps, so as not to disturb the wildlife).
The trip will allow time for visitors to observe species such as river otters, owls, kingfishers, horned screamers, jacamars, hawks and monkeys.
Lodges / River Cruises: The Yasuni National Park travelers can experience a piece of the amazing biodiversity of this region, whether to stay in one of the
jungle lodges along the banks of the Napo River, or a trip aboard one of the luxury boats that ply the major tributaries of the Amazon. The lodges offer a range of accommodation with varying degrees of comfort and access to the main sites of wildlife. These accommodations generally have private cabanas, each with bath with hot water, electricity, ceiling fans, window screens and bed nets. They usually have the level of comfort and convenience that requires even the most discerning traveler.
Many of these lodges are owned by local indigenous communities and operated by them. Staying in one of these shelters, visitors help promote “community tourism”, as part of a practical approach to save the rainforest and support native Amazonian communities. This type of tourism has allowed communities ancestral tool to find a sustainable forest and prevent other forms of more aggressive exploitation.
Another alternative for those who wish to deeply explore the Amazon region, in comfort, cruises are full service aboard modern ships. There, guests can sleep with the freshness of the air conditioning and sunbathing on the deck of his ship.
The lodges in the Amazon are operated by local communities and offer all the amenities.
Activities
In the Yasuni National Park there are activities and options that fit the interests and physical capabilities of all types of travelers. Families with children or elderly people, people with special skills or simply those who prefer to relax the requirement for a walk hours: all have choices. These include jungle tours, bird watching, piranha fishing, photo safaris, cultural visits to indigenous communities, navigating the rivers, canoeing, rafting, kayaking or tubing. Those who prefer to relax after a day full of adventures in the Amazon rainforest of Yasuni Park may find a hammock and a good book in the lodge or in your boat, and the only energy absorbing rest that the forest has to offer.
Night in the Yasuni National Park has many unique experiences for this time of moon. A favorite of travelers are safaris with flashlights, looking for the most timid nocturnal forest dwellers: alligators, spiders, snakes and frogs, to name a few. It is also possible to look at the stars and enjoy the unique equatorial view of the southern and northern hemispheres, with millions of radiant stars, away from the lights of civilization.
The verdict?
So travel through the Amazon jungle in comfort and safety is really feasible? We assure you that yes. If you decide to do, you can testify that a trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon region can not only be achieved safely and affordably, but a raid Yasuni National Park is one of the most fascinating experiences of his life.
