There are several types of eco-tourism in the Northern part of the Amazon: Indigenous ecotourism, guided tours, lodges, and traveling without a guide. The Southern provinces of the Oriente such as: Morona-Santiago and Zamora-Chinchipe have less tourist infrastructure.

These lodges are ideal for pre-arranged trips from Quito or abroad with the tour operators with a host of activities organized beforehand often built around personal preferences and tastes of the visiting group including transport to and from the lodge.

© Picture by Kleintours

The lodges are constructed mainly of local materials that merge like chameleons into the background nature and are set in natural environments away from most human life focused in towns and surrounding villages.
Canoeing journeys into the lodge are also typical when entering while the service is of a general high standard in most lodges who work hand in hand with the surrounding indigenous populated areas as well as making varying levels of contributions for work to the local labor and economy.
Most lodges are owned by locals and overseas developers and investors. Do bring plenty of Insect sprays, sun protection, hats and torches as well as rain gear for frequent downpours.

Tours from 1 to 7 days are the most offered, check with the local tour operators which are concentrated in Quito, Guayaquil, Puyo, Baños, Coca, Lago Agrio, Tena and Misahuallí or pick up ad hoc a local guide or river tour company. Do check if they are licensed and authorized by the Ministerio de Turismo for the best service.
The expenses in such tours always depends on the group size and out of season. It may be difficult to build and team up with a group during July and August though it may be counter argued that out of season tours gives the tourist a better position to discuss a lower price. Try to formulate groups in Baños or Quito first if possible.
Always get your tour in written contractual form which must cover all costs such as Park fees or payouts to the locals in each area; typically the accommodation is provided for rest and sleep in rustic cabañas or for deeper terrain's tents. Actually, to avoid all this awareness and stress, The best of Ecuador (BOE) has direct contact with professional local tour operators throughout Ecuador and will definitely help you find the best tours and rates according to your budget and physical needs through our online Travel Agencies and Tour operators network reservation form.

A popular trend over the past decade has been move of local indigenous families offering their own unique eco-tourism visits within their own property grounds and surrounding areas.
These program are usually controlled by a combination of the locals independent of outside influences or and outside non-local parties who act as the external commercial force of a Joint Venture partnership.
The guides authorized to walk you through these sacred eco spots are all licensed and are called guias nativos, many of whom work out of Tena, Coca, Puyo and Misahualli.
Don't forget your insect spray and do bring high level sunscreen protection along with sleeping bags, trousers, first aid kits and water-purifying tablets unless you bring your own water.

A popular trend over the past decade has been move of local indigenous families offering their own unique eco-tourism visits within their own property grounds and surrounding areas.
These program are usually controlled by a combination of the locals independent of outside influences or and outside non-local parties who act as the external commercial force of a Joint Venture partnership.
The guides authorized to walk you through these sacred eco spots are all licensed and are called guias nativos, many of whom work out of Tena, Coca, Puyo and Misahualli.
Don't forget your insect spray and do bring high level sunscreen protection along with sleeping bags, trousers, first aid kits and water-purifying tablets unless you bring your own water.

The unaided Indiana Jones unaccompanied adventure may appear exciting but leads to higher risks of personal injury in addition, it detracts from the eco-principle of conservancy and can produce the opposite with unwanted feet trespassing and causing damage to sacred areas of nature.
Unguided tours are however possible in more open lands such as the Tena area, but in general don't take unguided boat rides, indigenous properties and surrounding areas or deep forested lands.

Before deciding on which rainforest to visit it is best to consider if you are one of two types of visitor to the green maize of endless nature. For some people a journey to the periphery and outer boundaries of the forests to view mammals, plants, insects and various multicolored bird life.
The other traveler will need to be more prepared and equipped as well as paying more financially wishing to penetrate to the heart of the forest in order to visit the people of the rainforest and larger species of bird life and mammals.
The nice thing about venturing deep into these forests is that you can never plan on anything here, so don't expect a family photo timed picture of the exotic, animals and bird life will fly by you within a second, it is enough just to see such nature in motion for most and a look into the unique private inner world of nature away from mankind that you can savor the rest of your life.
For serious bird watchers we recommend the various canopy towers that are dotted around the guided areas you will visit.
The advantage of these is that the viewer is far higher up parallel to the tree top lines where many birds construct their nests and spend more of their time making it easier on the naked eye than from ground level. The birds individual dialects may also be heard better from closer range from such towers. The ultimate in travel for the wildest appreciation of nature may be best seen via motorized canoes, the secret here is to steer well away from any lodges reachable by road and also keep away from Villages who often hunt and kill all large mammals around their neighboring areas. The usual lodges and indigenous based lodges are always available most times of the year and well worth staying in as well as practically located as you plan your routes through the dense jungle cultures.

"You definitely get what you pay for" and the quality of guide and safety of your trip must be considered always first, don't get into a two guide bidding situation and buy the cheapest deal, shortcuts in their practices not only endanger your life but may also destroy or damage the environment. Taking photographs and videos of the local inhabitants is also considered rude and perceived by the native as having his soul stolen from him so please refrain form these actions unless you have specific permission. Also ignore all offers of guides wanting to be hunters to hunt down your dinner and also don't purchase any gifts made from animals or bird life pieces, if you do you are encouraging more creatures to be hunted down.