The jungle covers quite a bit of ecuador's total land area. Not surprisingly, there is a wide variety of tours here. The jungle offered by default in tours is the jungle at Tena. This area is very accessible, gives a good jungle feel and you don't lose too many travel days. However, for people who want more there are other options in northern Ecuador. These locations do require an extra domestic flight (cost around €160) or twice a 12-hour night bus. After that you will also be on the bus for 2 hours and 4 hours in the canoe, but then you will arrive deep in the jungle… (please note the recent travel advice from the NLse embassy). We have below an overview of the different options we have experienced as the best quality/price ratio for a 4-day tour.
Secondary forest (easy to reach by car)
Kichwa Jungle tour (Tena) This is our standard tour as we can enter in
all packages. You stay in the area of Misahualli, the Napo River. The activities in these days are flexible and can be adapted according to your wishes and weather conditions. At this location we have a simple stay run by the community or a more luxurious stay. The cost is around €180,- (simple) or €295,- (luxury)
Itapoa Jungle/Rainforest Trek (Pto Quito) A 
hidden treasure in northwestern Ecuador with unique opportunities to see the rainforest. Since 1989 originated to prevent deforestation, Itapoa Reserve is a project for rainforest research and its conservation. It is located in the Chocó region, an area near the border of Colombia in northern Ecuador. Here you will make a 5-day jungle tour with a stay in a tent and simple meals. This area belongs to the cloud forest and there are no villages nearby. Costs are around €235,-
Sangay Jungle TrekJungle/Rainforest Trek (Sa
cua) A part of Ecuador which has recently become more accessible with a new road. Sangay National Park is one of ecuador's most diverse parks. it has a height difference of 1000m to 5000m with the volcano top which you will see a lot from the jungle. You start with a 4×4 to the first overnight spot in the middle of nature. from here there is a walk and visit to the volcano river that meets the Upano River. The next day you will enjoy the scenery, birdwatching, visit the lagoon and again stay in refugio (or tent) in the middle of nature. From here a walk to the vantage point on the Sangay Volcano. This tour can be extended with additional walks through primary forest or visit to the Native American geemneschap Sucua Kinti Panki. Please note this is really a nature park and there are no villages nearby, stay on mattresses or tents. Costs are around €335,- pp for 4 participants.
Primary forest (Only accessible by flight/night bus and canoe)
Huaorani jungle tour (Yasuni – Coca) Tour focused on culture and nature. This
departs from Coca and you stay in the Yasuni National Park. The stay is with the Huaorani tribe of the Neoneno community. The stay is simple in nature. There is a fixed program with brisk walks of about 4 hours, canoe tours and visits to the Huaorani. A multi-day trek is also possible. The cost is around € 575, – including flights.
Siona jungle tour (Cuyabeno – Lago Agrio) Tour 
focused on culture and nature. This tour departs from Lago Agrio and you stay in the Cuyabena National Park. You will meet the indigenous people of Siona here. There is a fixed program with walks, canoe tours, dolphin tour and visit to the Siona community with shamaan. For this area we offer a simple stay (with an option on a visit to Clay lick) and a 'more luxurious' accommodation. The cost is around €470, – including flights.
Huaorani jungle trekking tour (Huaorani – Tena) This is the most r
emote area to visit. Real jungle seekers can go on tour with a small plane and then sit in the middle of the bush bush. This trip is at least 5 days. Departure is from Tena and you stay with the Huaorani people. The stay is particularly easy, you sleep in a tent or hammock. The cost is around €560,- and the flight with 4 person plane costs €415,- p.p. If you want to make it a 5-day canoe trip, the cost is around €580,- p.p. (you arrive at the Huaorani after day 3).
Kapawi Lodge (Achuar – Shell) This is the most luxurious stay we have
included in our program. However, the stay is far away in the jungle and can only be reached by a small propeller plane. On this jungle tour you still have some freedom to put the emphasis on culture or nature yourself. In this beautiful nature reserve you are visiting the Indian community of Achuar. The Kapawi reserve is considered by National Geographic to be the top 50 in the world. Costs are around €1,295,- with flights.
Jungle cruise Yasuni The next 4 days you will explore the jungle from a cruise boat (30 persons). It sails in the upper basins of the Napo and Aguarico rivers, around the Limoncocha Nature Reserve and Yasuni National Park, Ecuador’s largest protected wildlife sanctuary. Here, the dedicated, highly knowledgeable guides come into their own as they love to share their wealth of information about the tropical rainforest of the Amazon. The beautiful routes are carried out with care to the communities and nature of the Amazon. From the cruise star a variety of excursions. There are several areas on the boat with beautiful views and of course all meals are well taken care of. The cruise is bookable from 4 days to an 8 day tour and includes canoe and kayak trips, community visits, Clay lick and observation towers.
Email us on info@golocal-travel.org for an extended day-to-day program.
Experiences from our travelers
The days in the jungle were great. The lodge was lovely (clay lick no longer available) and we had fantastic days led by Diego !!!
The meals this trip were great, we also thought it was great in the jungle what they could make for the vegetarians with so few resources.
Pablo, who led the jungle tours, was an excellent and passionate guide with a lot of knowledge. We liked that the accommodations were small, so we came into good contact with the owners and other guests. We found that the lodges were often set up in the style of the area. It was a very nice extra.
Yasuni Shiripuno Lodge: beautifully deep in the jungle, basic, fits in such a place! Nice employees and guide. What trips we have made and seen a lot!
Sometimes when we arrived at locations with our first name we were welcomed. That was special and you felt welcome.
The Jambu Lodge in the jungle was beautiful. It is also nice to see the animals around the lodge.