Parks & Reserves
Parks and reserves are areas of the rainforest that have demonstrated great potential in terms of diversity, wildlife, and outstanding qualities. This is true for many areas of the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest.
The primary goal of parks and reserves is to protect and safeguard their boundaries in order to keep these areas as pristine and unaffected as possible. Tena Province is not a park or reserve, but it is a feature-rich region with many benefits and is well-known for a great Amazon trip.
Yasuni National Park
The Yasuni National Park maintains world records like no other place; its compact size conveys an unbelievable diversity of species and flora at exceptional levels, earning it the title of the world’s most bio diverse location. This outstanding natural destination, located in the provinces of Orellana and Pastaza, was designated as the Yasuni National Park in 1979 in order to protect the area’s authenticity and uniqueness.
The park drew worldwide attention, and in 1989 it was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNSESCO. To put it into perspective, here are some impressive records: One hectare of Yasuni’s park contains the same number of trees and insects as all of North America.
The Cuyabeno Reserve
The Cuyabeno Reserve is an excellent reserve in the main rainforest with specific ecological factors identified no other place in the world, owing primarily to its closeness to the Andes. The reserve’s countless ecosystems, including a network of permanent and semi-permanent rivers, swamped forests, rivers and streams, and swamps, provide the ideal environment for various types of vast amazon mammals such as Tapirs, Pumas and some others.
The reserve is unquestionably a real Amazon experience, including over 500 species of birds and over 300 species of fish, anacondas, caimans, and the once facing extinction pink dolphins.
Tena (Capital of Napo)
Tena, the capital of Napo, is a tiny town known for its rivers and secondary jungle; visitors can arrange a variety of daily activities directly in its city center. A few lodges in the region are easily accessible by land transport and offer short tours at reasonable rates as well as a wide range of activities such as white water rafting and horse riding, a perfect blend that would not be conceivable in primary rainforest.
Tena is also famous for its white water rafting. The Tena and Pano rivers congregate in the area, creating the ideal environment for some adrenaline-pumping rafting, which can effortlessly be set up as day tours from Quito.
