The hook
Ecuador's compact but staggeringly biodiverse slice of the Amazon, the "Oriente," where a short flight from the Andes drops you into rainforest so rich that a single patch can hold more tree and animal species than all of North America.
01Why it's worth it
East of the Andes, Ecuador descends into the western Amazon, the "Oriente," and though small compared with Brazil's or Peru's, it is one of the most biodiverse places on the entire planet: Yasuní National Park and the surrounding forest hold astonishing concentrations of species, with more kinds of trees, insects, birds, amphibians, and mammals packed into small areas than almost anywhere on Earth. Because the Andes are so close, it is remarkably accessible: a short flight to a jungle airstrip and a canoe journey down a river reach comfortable eco-lodges from which to explore. From these, guided by naturalists and often by indigenous Kichwa, Huaorani, or Achuar communities whose ancestral lands these are, you canoe blackwater lagoons and rivers, walk canopy towers and forest trails, and visit parrot clay licks where hundreds of birds gather, spotting monkeys, caimans, pink river dolphins, and dazzling birdlife. Many lodges are community-run, so a visit can directly support the indigenous peoples and rainforest conservation. Combined so easily with the Andes and the Galápagos, the Ecuadorian Amazon completes a remarkable range of ecosystems in one small country.
02How to experience it
Fly in to a jungle lodge (many are community-run and support indigenous peoples) for a few days of canoe trips, canopy towers, forest walks, and clay-lick visits with naturalist and indigenous guides. Wildlife takes patience, so slow down and immerse. Come prepared for heat, humidity, and insects, and choose responsible, community-linked operators.