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The jungle town of Puyo is accessible, convenient and fun. Just six hours from Quito and a bike ride away from the tourist hotspot of Baños, or almost hour an a half by public transport, Puyo is an especially attractive option for travelers who’d really like to visit the jungle, but maybe don’t have enough time or money to travel into the nether regions. In recent years the town has seen substantial growth, specifically in its tourist infrastructure, making it easy to find suitable accommodations, restaurants and guided tours. Visitors also need not worry about stuffing their packs with extra supplies, as most modern day conveniences are available here. Puyo has the best of both worlds really, because in addition to being—for jungle standards—fairly modern, it also serves as a gateway into the wilderness; local guides and tour agencies offer countless opportunities for wildlife observation, adventure sports, community tourism and hiking.
Traveler’s typically bus into Puyo from the capital city of Quito, or one of the many nearby towns and cities like Baños, Ambato, Riobamba, Baeza, Tena or Macas. The trip from Quito lasts 5 ½ hours and only costs $5. Buses leaving from Puyo to Quito generally leave every half hour or so. Just head to the bus station—a mile outside town—and listen for attendants calling out destinations. You can usually buy tickets on the bus. A popular and easy tourist itinerary starts out from Quito and leads through Papallacta, Baeza and Tena before stopping in Puyo. After Puyo, travelers can choose to journey on through Baños, Latacunga, Cotopaxi National Park and back into Quito. The trip offers extraordinary sights of mountains, waterfalls and highland plains with opportunities for biking, swimming, hiking, rafting kayaking, climbing and soaking in hot springs along the way.
The jungle town of Puyo is accessible, convenient and fun...
The most exciting way to get to Puyo is via bicycle on the winding road from Baños. The designated roadway is almost entirely paved, with only a few patches of gravel under the range of rock tunnels along the way. The trip passes through and around small riverside jungle towns, epic river gorges, and impressive assortment of waterfalls, including the Pailón del Diablo, one of the largest and most famous waterfalls in all of Ecuador. For this reason, the ride from Baños to Puyo is also known as the route of the falls. The scenic journey covers roughly 60 kilometers and requires anywhere from five to eight hours to complete. You won’t want to make the journey in reverse, however, as you’ll find yourself fighting an uphill battle the entire way.
Plant lovers and green thumbs will definitely want to make a stop at the Jardin Botanico Los Orquideos (Orchid Botanical Garden), located just fifteen minutes outside of Puyo. Given its unique location, wedged between the Andes and the rainforest lowlands, the garden houses a unique variety of plants, many of which are endemic to the area. The Orchids are far and away the stars of the show, but as the garden guides will show you, you can also find special medicinal herbs growing here, along with edible plants, and plants commonly utilized for traditional native handcrafts and designs. Garden guides say that you’ll want to spend two to three hours here to completely appreciate all that the garden has to offer. A guided tour is included in the price of admission. The garden also welcomes volunteers and research projects.
Five miles outside of Puyo is the Fatima Animal Park, where visitors can see native jungle creatures like snakes, caimans, tapirs and monkeys. Entrance costs $2.
Also nearby, roughly 30 minutes away, visitors will encounter the Hola Vida forest reserve, the home of the stunning Hola Vida Waterfall. It is possible to swim and hike in and around the waterfall.
Along the Puyo River is a scenic walking trail on which travelers can bird watch and leisurely take in the beautiful sights and sounds of the area. There are restaurants, lodges, cabins, camping sites and swimming spots along the way.
Another highlight of Puyo is the Omaere Ethnobotanical Park, located along the Puyo River on the road to Tena. The 15.6 hectares park was founded in order to investigate and explain the relationship between local indigenous peoples and their natural environment. Without a doubt, human life could not exist in the rainforest if not for the impressive abundance of plant life. The people of the jungle rely on plants for their food, their medicines, their homes and their spiritual and artistic practices. At Omaere Park, visitors can learn how the Shuar and Huaorani people use the gifts that nature has provided. Entrance to the park costs $3 for adults, $1.50 for students, and $0.50 for children. Guides are included in the price, and tours last anywhere from one to two hours. The park is open from 9 a.m. until 5 a.m. every day except Tuesday. It is also possible to complete internships, research projects and volunteer work at Omaere.
Along with the Omaere Park, there many other opportunities in Puyo to learn more about the many indigenous peoples who call the rainforest home. One such example is the Museo Etnografico Huaorani, a museum run by the local Huaorani people, where visitors can observe installations exhibiting Huaorani tools and artifacts. There are also displays that explain the traditional rituals and practices of the Huaorani. The project was created in order to raise awareness, and to support the overall effort to protect and preserve the endangered cultures of the rainforest. Similar, is the Museo Etnoarqueologico, which displays handmade ceramics and other artistic creations found in the area. There is also a plethora of information on the many tribes and peoples living in the rainforests of Ecuador. Puyo is furthermore an excellent location for community tourism; the Kichwa community of Cotococha in the Puyupungo region is just thirty minutes outside of town.
