Salto
de San Rafael
On the road
to Lago
Agrio,
about two
hours out
of Baeza,
a path
leads down
to the 145m
[483
ft]
San Rafael
Falls, the
highest falls
in Ecuador.
Bus drivers
will know
where to stop
if you ask
for “Las Cascadas”.
The bird watching
here is as
almost as
impressive
as the mighty
falls themselves.
There's a
good chance
of spotting
the brilliant
Andean cock-of-the-rock.
Look out for
a cross in
memory of
a Canadian
photographer
who fell to
his death
in the area
in 1988. It
might deter
you from a
risky climb
to the foot
of the falls
that is steep,
slippery and
treacherous.
A
bit further
east on the
other side
of the main
road is the
hard-to-find
head of the
trail to Volcan
Reventador,
a relatively
small mountain
by Ecuadorian
standards
[3,562 m
or 11,872 ft],
but nevertheless
a two- to
four-day hike
to the peak.
Take a guide
if you plan
to climb this
recently active
volcano because
it's easy
to get lost.
Cuyabeno Reserve
These 665,000
hectares of
flooded forest
are characterised
by the incredible
biological diversity
of the reserve.
Pink
dolphins,
the Amazonian
manati
and four species
of
caymen
[alligator],
plus a multitude
of birds [
tangaras
and cotingidos,
mainly]
inhabit its
lakes.
Panacocha
A small protected
area of 56,000
hectares, Panacocha
straddles the
Napo and Aguarico
rivers. It's
a paradise for
walkers, as
birds, butterflies
and even
freshly printed
footprints of
jaguars
are easily spotted.
Biological Reserve of Limoncocha
Limoncocha Reserve
was created
in order to
prevent the
area's fragile
ecosystem from
damage caused
by oil exploration
activity. Located
in El Coca province,
Limoncocha is
a haven for
birds.
Monkey
Island
As the name
suggests, the
island's most
common inhabitants
are the howling
monkeys. The
howls of these
noisy creatures
can be heard
from more than
a kilometre
away. While
visiting the
island you can't
miss these monkeys
thanks to their
noise and their
reddish behinds.
Hatun Sacha Biological Station
Near Misuahualli
in the Napo
province, Hatun
Sacha is dedicated
to conservation
and to the investigation
of the forest's
species. Visitors
learn about
the station's
projects and
organisation.
"Amazonico"
Animal Rescue
Centre
The rescue centre
welcomes volunteers
from every corner
of the Earth
who come to
help with species'
"re-habilitation".
The objective
of the centre
is to release
the animals
into the wild
after their
recovery.
The Huaorani Reserve
The Huaorani
tribe has always
lived and hunted
in the Napo
area. In the
past few years
however, their
land and lifestyle
have been damaged
and disturbed
by the petrochemical
and tourist
industries.
The Huaorani
reacted by imposing
tolls on the
use of their
rivers and charging
entrance fees
to their communities,
most of which
are now part
of the Huaorani
Reserve south
of Coca.
Yasuni
National Prk
Ecuador's
largest mainland
park, Yasuni
extends over
a whopping
962,000 hectares
[2,376,140
acres].
It protects
a range of
rainforest
habitats from
forested hills
to periodically-flooded
and inundated
lowlands.
Although it
was first
established
in 1979, the
boundaries
of the park
were extended
eastwards
following
the creation
of the Huaorani
Reserve in
1991. The
park is renowned
for its huge
biodiversity,
although to
date little
of it has
been studied.
Recognising
its importance,
UNESCO declared
it a biosphere
reserve and
many conservationist
groups have
been involved
in its protection.
The park faces
serious threats
from the oil
industry:
the Maxus
consortium
enjoys exploration
rights in
the park for
instance.
Thankfully,
the road Maxus
and its predecessor
Conoco built
has been maintained
off-limits
to colonisers,
and environmental
damage from
exploration
has been kept
to a comparative
minimum. The
park is extremely
remote and
seldom visited.
However lengthy
tours can
be arranged
with guides
from Coca
agencies,
as well as
the Quito-based
ones.
Last
updated 4th
July 2006
