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 THE ECUADORIAN AMAZON JUNGLE
A DENSE PLETHORA OF LIFE
The Amazon Region and its five provinces can be geographically divided into two sub regions: the High Amazon and the Amazon Lowlands. The Highlands is comprised of the Andean foothills which slowly descend towards the Amazon River Basin. Here, you'll find the Napo, Galeras, Cutucú, and Cóndor ranges. The most impressive elevated regions of this area are in the north and include Volcano Sumaco. The Lowlands, found further to east, are home to some of the nation's most beautiful and important rivers: the Putumayo, the Napo, and the Pastaza.
Parks and Reserves:
The 655,781 ha Cuyabeno Fauna Production Reserve, located in northeastern Sucumbíos, is one of the Amazon Rain Forest's most biologically rich areas. Located between the San Miguel and Aguarico river basins, Cuyabeno's endless stretches of lakes, rivers, and tropical forests are home to countless species of mammals, insects, reptiles, aquatic life, and rare and endangered species birds. Cuyabeno is also a caiman reserve. The Reserve is generally reached by navigating down the Aguarico or Cuyabeno rivers. Tours of the Reserve can be arranged with local guides in nearby Nueva Loja (more commonly known as Lago Agrio) or in a variety of other towns and cities: Quito, Baños, Missahuallí, etc.
Another protected area worthy of noting in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rain Forest is the Limoncocha Biological Reserve. Among Limoncocha's principal attractions are Limoncocha Lake, the Reserve's primary and secondary forests, and the area's spectacular wildlife, which includes 350 unique species of birds and countless reptile and mammal species. The Reserve is perhaps best known for its large black caiman population. The Reserve can easily be accessed from the province's capital city of Nueva Loja (Lago Agrio).
 In the province of Napo, along Ecuador's eastern border with Peru, you'll find the 982,000 ha. Yasuní National Park. This extensive park is home to a variety of vegetation types (dense tropical forest, swamplands, rolling hills, etc.) and a plethora of wildlife (jaguars, harpy eagles, and caimans, to name a few). The hot and humid region is traversed principally by water and is a popular destination for scientists and adventurers from all over the world.
One of the southern Ecuadorian Amazon's principal attractions is Condor National Park, in the province of Morona Santiago. Rich in biological diversity, the Park is home to 127 mammal species and countless species of flora. The park is situated to the west of the eastern range of the Andes and to the east of the Huaracayo Range. Due to the geological origins of the Condor Range, there are extensive hydrographic systems present that form the basins of the Zamora, Santiago, Coangos and Namangoza Rivers. In Zamora Chinchipe, Podocarpus National Park arises imposingly, giving way to cloud forests, rivers, and numerous species of birds. Covering over 146,200 ha., the park is located on the border of the provinces of Loja and Zamora. Its altitude varies from one to three thousand meters, with its temperatures oscillating between 8 and 20 degrees centigrade. The territory is home to over 100 lakes. There are also waterfalls, canyons, and various kinds of mammals and plants. This reserve was established with the mission of protecting the Podocarpus trees that grow in the park. Among the main activities available, to better experience the area's natural setting, are walks and treks during which one can admire the spectacular scenery filled with orchids and multi-colored birds.
Text : Ministry of Tourism Ecuador
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