Best of Ecuador’s Amazon

Papallacta Hot Springs [1]: Break up the long bus ride from Quito to the Oriente by stopping for a soak at the best hot springs in the country.

Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve [2]: The flooded rainforests and countless tributaries of Río Aguarico contain amazing aquatic wildlife, including pink dolphins, black and white caimans, and giant otters.

Yasuní National Park [3]: In 10,000 square kilometers of the most biodiverse terrain on the planet, watching flocks of parakeets and parrots drinking at clay licks is just one of the countless highlights.

Tena [4]: Ecuador’s white-water rafting capital is also the Oriente’s most pleasant town and a good base to organize community tours and rainforest hikes.

Kapawi Ecolodge [5]: Reachable only by float plane, Kapawi is Ecuador’s most remote—and luxurious—Amazon experience.