How to Visit the Amazon Rainforest, Ecuador

Last Updated on April 23, 2023

On our last leg of our trip through South America, we ventured into the Amazon Rainforest on an adventure tour from Baños. Along with the Galapagos islands, this was a major highlight of our Ecuador itinerary. Home to proliferate wildlife and nearly-extinct primitive tribes, the Amazon Rainforest is the largest and most species-rich tropical rainforest in the world. Covering an area of 5.5 million square kilometers, it sprawls across eight countries in South America. 

In the adventure town of Baños, we booked ourselves on an ‘Amazon Extreme’ tour that included white-water rafting, cycling and jungle-trekking for 2 days. Our guide Edwin was a knowledgable, local Quichua-speaking expert, who gave us an insightful peek into life in the Amazon. The night walk was the best part, as we stumbled upon many odd insects; besides, the thrill of jungle-trekking in the dark was priceless.

How to Visit the Amazon Rainforest, Ecuador

The Amazon Rainforest has always been well-known for its inhabitants – proliferate species of plants, animals and indigenous human tribes. On our trek, our guide Edwin pointed out to us all sorts of interesting insects, from giant spiders to beautiful bugs. We even saw tree frogs and tried lemon ants (yes, ants that taste like lemon).

A View of the Amazon Rainforest Ecuador

At a lookout point, we drank in the incredible view and tried swinging from tree to tree. Back then it wasn’t a famous Instagram spot yet, but these days it probably is. We also got to meet a Quichua indigenous who showed us how to shoot with traditional Amazonian harpoons.

Sleeping in the Amazon Rainforest

In the evening, we trekked to our cabañas (little bamboo huts) where we would stay for the night. Made up of bamboo and rattan, the simple hut was a cute little sanctuary that stood next to a flowing stream.

We couldn’t have asked for a better place. Our bunk beds were all equipped with mosquito nets and there was no electricity, just the moonlight and the peaceful sounds of the jungle and flowing water.

By night, we would swing in the hammocks below our room, and listen to the insects creak through the night.

Night Walking in the Amazon Rainforest

The highlight of the trip was the night trek we did. It was ridiculously fun and slightly scary, finding our way through the dense jungle in the dark, skinny-dipping in the waterfalls (I had my bikini on, but not the guys!) and coming up-close and personal with giant spiders and stick insects. It was a different world at night, when the nocturnal creatures came to life.

Boating on the Amazon River

As the sun gently spread its rays over the flowing stream, we hopped on a wooden canoe that drifted us through raw and captivating landscapes of rocky cliffs and sparse waterfalls. It was slow and calm, and showed us a different side of the Amazon. Seeing the rainforest from the boat gave us new perspectives. We definitely enjoyed floating on the water and just taking it all in.

Visiting Indigenous Tribes in the Amazon Rainforest

After docking our wooden canoe, we crossed the stream and found ourselves wandering through what seemed like a village in the jungle. An Amazon tribe has been living here for decades, and we explored their homes and their handicraft where tools and plates were made with barks and leaves from the jungle.

White-Water Rafting in the Amazon

Our rafting experience down Class III rapids along Rio Pastaza was wild, I loved every minute of riding the ferocious rapids, paddling as a team and getting stuck in whirlpools of water. I for one, fell out of the raft as we were turning 360degrees in what looked like a tornado of white water. The cold was bitterly cold, the water really didn’t seem so scary when I was in it.

How to Explore Amazon Rainforest Ecuador:

Most tour operators in Baños organize these trips into the Amazon Rainforest, and you can stay for multiple nights depending on your preference. We booked our ‘Amazon Extreme’ tour with Rainforestur, a highly reputed operator in the region.  You can also contact our bilingual and interesting guide Edwin Chango directly at [email protected].