INTRODUCTION - Geography

Andean chain - Pacific Coast - Galapagos - Amazon - Maps

The Amazon Basin or Orient

This rainforest has exuberant tropical vegetation. The region has great potential for tourism, plus a natural resource of petroleum and a tremendous production of cacao and coffee. The access roads are not all paved, but if you are willing to sacrifice a bit of comfort for a fantastic experience, this is the place.

Lago Agrio and Coca are important for the exploitation of oil. Puyo, Tena, Pastaza and Mera are the most colonised areas of the Oriente, in this region you can see the Agoyan Falls and the Pastaza River .

Further to the east, in the lower Amazon region, there is still a huge amount of untouched rain forest. Areas such as the Yasuni National Park , Cuyabeno or the Sangay National Park are true natural heritages for the world and its endangered habitats. In this area there are incredible lodges where bird watching, nature tours, and research take place. Down South you can visit the Shuar native communities known in the time of the colony for reducing their enemy's heads to the size of a fist.