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How to plan a trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon

People birdwatch from a tower in the Amazon Rainforest.

In Lonely Plan-It, we take you step by step through how we put together some of the most complicated travel adventures – so you can recreate them yourself with ease. Here, Bailey Freeman shares the steps to planning an incredible adventure to the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Despite its small size, Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse places on the entire planet – and a visit to its Amazon region is the feather in the cap of any person who wants to see the natural world at its most astonishing.

I visited the Ecuadorian Amazon – also known in-country as the Oriente – for my work as a travel writer and was pleasantly surprised how accessible the region was for travelers. Still, there are still several things to keep in mind as you plan your trip. 

Here’s our guide to planning the perfect visit to the Ecuadorian Amazon, an incredible place of cultural and environmental beauty. 

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Plan what you want to do, whether it’s birdwatching in Coca or hitting the hot springs © Matthew Williams-Ellis/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Step 1: Decide what activity you want to do

Plan your route around what interests you the most. 

The Amazon is home to a wealth of adventure: white-water rafting, wildlife watching, forest walks and more. It’s best to decide on your main priorities prior to your arrival, as different access points offer different experiences. 

If you’d like to marvel at the biodiversity of Ecuador’s famous Parque Nacional Yasuní, the town of Coca will be your starting point. Want to go rafting on tributaries to the mighty Amazon River? Start in Tena or Macas instead. Visiting the hot springs at Baños and want to tack on some Amazon adventure? Puyo would be a good place to put on your radar.

Passengers in a traditional canoe along the rivers of the Amazon River Basin inside Yasuní National Park, Ecuador, South America
Jungle lodges sited throughout the Ecuadorian Amazon serve as launchpads for adventure © SL-Photography / Shutterstock

Step 2: Choose a home base 

Whether you choose a jungle lodge or a hostel, adventure awaits. 

Accessing the edge of the Amazon in Ecuador is pretty easy, as roads are well maintained and Amazon travel hub towns aren’t too far from Quito. But things get a bit more complicated once you start to head deeper into the forest. If you’re looking for convenience, we recommend choosing a jungle lodge that can serve as an all-in-one adventure coordinator. These atmospheric hotels offer transport to their location, meals and tours, often…

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