The Amazon Rainforest is a living emerald, presenting the largest biodiversity in the world. Reserves and National Parks are home to more varieties of plants and animals than any other place on earth, welcoming their visitors in a pristine and untouched environment.

The Amazon, called Oriente, lies on the Eastern side of the country and occupies almost half of its territory. However, it is home to less than 5% of Ecuador’s population. The Ecuadorian rainforest is home to nine natural reserves, including the two largest protected areas, the Yasuni National Park and the Faustinica Cuyabeno Reserve. The climate is mainly hot and humid, with an average temperature of 25° Celsius, and visitors can expect sudden rainfalls any time of the day.

Although it looks like a giant green forest, the Amazon is filled with lagoons and waterfalls, home to a unique and rare wildlife such as the black caiman and the pink dolphin. Each tree is very different from the next, and for every one of them there are hundreds of other plant and animal species in constant interaction. However, the soil of the rain forest is not fertile. The nutrients that supply the ecosystem are the product of a constant interaction between the living and the dying organisms on the surface, and decomposition is vital to the dynamics of the forest.

Tourists can start their journey in Coca, the main city located within the Amazon, and sail down the Napo River where they’ll find eco-lodges hidden deep in the rainforest. During their journey, they might come into contact with local communities which will share their ancestral knowledge of the millenarian indigenous inhabitants passed from generation to generation.

Many activities await visitors looking for a thrilling adventure in the most remote places, such as rafting, canoeing and kayaking in pure and untamed waters. A journey within the rainforest is a cultural and learning experience, a way to understand the importance of respect for nature and protection of indigenous communities.