Tena:
Overview I Accommodation
I Restaurants I Tour
operators I Transport I General
interest I Jumandí caves
I Excursions I Sumaco
Volcano I Jungle tours from Tena
I Write
a review about Tena 
Founded
in 1560 Tena is the capital of Napo Province and houses over 20,000
residents. It was formerly a major trading port of the Amazon
and early colonial missionary area while today it is a major commercial
center surrounded by a convergence of the Tena and Pano rivers
and beautiful river walks and sand pebbled beaches.
Tourism
has lifted off well in the past decade in Tena and the town enjoys
year round ambient temperatures of around 24ºC, while it
has developed good ethno-tourism with the large population of
Quichua Indian inhabiting the area along with Chibcha and Quijos
natives who have kept their own inherent customs, myths and ethnic
life styles going despite commercial encroachment.
The
tourist head quarters may be found at Bolivar and Garcia Moreno
close to the market at the northern end of town while in the center
is a pedestrian bridge linking the two sectors of town together.
There is also a local market and airport used for local flights.
Restaurants |
Pollo
Good.- Chicken specialties. Address: On 15 de Noviembre, (one
block away from the bus terminal).
El
Toro Asado.- Set meals. Located on the main road coming from
Archidona, on the left.
Cositas
Ricas.- Vegetarian and set meals. Address: On 15 de Noviembre
(by Hostal Traveler's Lodging).
Chuquitos.-
Set meals. Address: On García Moreno (by the Plaza).
Tour operators
|
Important
Notice: If you wish to book in advance through any of
the below listed tour operators in Tena for Jungle tours, White-water
rafting, Canoe
trips or any other desired activity. Direct
reservations are available through our online
Travel Agencies and Tour operators network reservation form,
a BOE specialized agent will direct your inquiry and search for
the best and most affordable tours and rates!.
Ríos
Ecuador.-
White-water rafting and kayak tours. Located on 15 de Noviembre
and 9 de Octubre. Tel. 06-887438 (in Tena). In Quito: Tel. 02-2553727.
See also Rafting.
Amarongachi
Tours.- (See
Hostal Traveler's Lodging
and Jungle
tours).
Kanoa
Tours.- Located on 15 de Noviembre, opposite restaurant "Cositas
Ricas".
Transport
|
Bus
There
is a frequent bus service to Quito (5 hours, US$5.50).
To Baños (US$4, 5 hours). To Riobamba (US$5.50,
6 hours). To Baeza (2 1/2 hours). To Ambato 5 1/2
hours, US$6). To Coca (US$7, 6 1/2 hours). To Lago Agrio
with Jumandy (US$9, 8-9 hours). To Puyo (4 hours). To Archidona
(15-20 minutes, US$0.50). To Misahuallí (50 minutes,
US$1).
Air
There
are frequent flights to Shell-Mera. Short flights available through
the jungle, for one person only. Reservations through Ríos
Ecuador (See Tour
operators).
General interest
|
Communications
Andinatel.-
Address: Olmedo and Juan Motalvo.
Internet
Piraña
Net.- Address: 9 de Octubre and Tarqui.
Yacu
Runa Net.- Address: 15 de Noviembre and Rueda.
Tena
Systems.- Address: Bolivar and García Moreno.
Excursions from Tena
|
If
you carry your own torch, flash lights with back up batteries
and a good pair of rubber boots for the mud and water, you may
enjoy the various limestone caves around Tena. One
of the most feared caves by the locals likely from superstition,
particularly the Quichua are the Jumandi caves north of
Archidona 6km further via bus or taxi.
The
caves have a restaurant (open at weekends) as well as a daily
pool and waterslide facility to enjoy, when entering the various
openings to this large maize of interiors look out for the colonies
of vampire bat nestling in the crevasses as well as the eloquent
stalactites which hang like chandeliers form the caves roof. Note:
Check prior to entering the cave due to dangerous flash flooding
during the rainy season.
Sumaco Volcano
|
The
Sumaco volcano is the remotest coned volcano in Ecuador standing
at 3,730m and some 5-6 days return trek from the base due to thick
vegetation, deep inclines and constant wet weather. It lies approximately
27km from the Tena-Coca road to the north and the best local guides
may be found in the village of Huamani off the Tena-Baeza road
after a turn off from the main Coca road (20km up). The guides
can take you to the summit which is supposedly dormant although
some volcanologist agree to differ on the activity level. The
guides will hack through dense undergrowth with their "machetes"
and you will feel like you are on an Indiana Jones expedition
discovering new lands for the first time.
The
best guides are Benjamin Shiguango and Francisco Chimbo for around
US$15.00 per day, bring sufficient food and camping equipment
which must cover the guide also in addition to his fee along with
another US$12.00 that must go to the village of Huamani. The months
of October to December are the driest and best periods to go on
this far out adventure as the other months are far muddier and
more difficult to traverse.
Jungle tours from Tena
|
There
are numerous guided Jungle tours from Tena, the largest main operators
are Amarongachi Tours, located on 15 de Noviembre 422.
Tel & Fax 06-886372 and the Red Indígena de Las
Comunidades del Alto Napo para la Convivencia Intercultural y
El Ecoturismo (Ricancie)
(Indigenous Network of Upper Napo Communities for Cultural Coexistence
and Ecotourism). Tel 06-887072 based at 15 de Noviembre 774 (around
the back of this street).
The
former operator is a cooperative run company who works closely
with the locals and in addition has a lodging restaurant as well
as Shangri-La cabins up from Rio Jatunvacu in a southerly direction
where you may stay with local indigenous families for around US$30.00
daily. The actual tours are around US$35.00 daily also per person
but is cheaper if several days are booked or you arrange with
a group.
The
major activities include panning for gold, living with jungle
families, swimming, try out the local cuisine as well as trek
and hike. Do note most families don't speak English and only some
Spanish as their second tongue as they are mainly Quichua so do
brush up on your Spanish before arriving.
The
latter aforementioned agency, RICANCIE has local guides and again
few speak English so, Spanish is essential when communicating
with them. These guides can take you to numerous caves in the
area, arrange local stays with the indigenous inhabitants of the
area as they represent 9 major villages ranging from
US$35.00 to US$60.00 per day depending on group size, number of
days booked and traveling distance from their headquarters.
Other
eco/ethno tourism operators highly recommended are through Sr.
Delfin Pauchi, a Quichuan who speaks only Spanish in addition
to his own language. Casilla 245, Tena. Tel. 06-886434 and 06-886088
who runs Cabañas Pimpilala located 45 minutes from
Tena US$30.00 daily including meals, guided tours on medicinal
plants, music and local legends. You can also connect to the latter
guide via Naturgal of Quito on Reina Victoria and Foch. Tel. 02-2522681.
Another highly recommended operator is through the Cerda family
of Oswaldo, Olmedo and Fausto Cerda, a Quichua run enterprise
with over 8 different tours ranging from US$30.00 daily per person.
Their name, address and details are: Sacharicsina, Tarqui 246.
Tel. 06-886250 and 06-886962.
Tena:
Overview I Accommodation
I Restaurants I Tour
operators I Transport I General
interest I Jumandí caves
I Excursions I Sumaco
Volcano I Jungle tours from Tena
I Write
a review about Tena
Surrounding
areas:
Misahuallí
I Jungle tours from Misahuallí
I Jungle lodges on the upper Napo I Jatun
Sacha Biological Station I Archidona
I Excursions from Archidona
I Baeza
More about Ecuador Amazon:
Sucumbíos
I Orellana I Napo
I Pastaza I Morona
Santiago I Zamora Chinchipe
More
about Ecuador:
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through our extensive florist Network in Ecuador, you can send flowers for any occasion anywhere in Ecuador.
