Ecuador A Walk On The Wild Side

First fly into Quito and hop on a bus bound for Papallacta (4 days) in the Oriente. This town has a knack for easing foreigners into Ecuadorian life. Just kick back and relax at its hot-spring baths after a day or two of hiking through verdant forest. Drive on down the road a little way to Baeza (4 days) for a good base from which to explore the San Rafael Falls, Volcán Reventador, and the rest of the Antisana Ecological Reserve. Spend some time in Tena (10 days) in the only big city (very large town) of the Oriente. At a confluence of rivers that offer some of the best rafting in the world, Tena has plenty of outdoor activities to offer. Use it as an entry point to visit indigenous communities and the deeper regions of the jungle. Not too far north from Tena is Archidona, a good place to pick up supplies before spending time (5 days) camping out, staying in local cabañas, or searching for petroglyphs. For a thorough cross-section of what the Oriente has to offer, move on to Selva Viva (3 days) where an incredible variety of rehabilitating animals live. Be sure to visit the local indigenous community of Runa Huasi. Then drive on over to Misahaullí (1 day) for a taste of the jungle within the borders of a town before heading into the rainforest for a daytrip or longer. Jatun Sacha (2 days) is a jungle that offers contemplative hikes. Find Puyo (3 days) a bit south. Spend time in its outskirts at Hola Vida and Dique de Mera before heading out to Baños (5 days) for nightly dips in hot-springs baths after daily adventures of hiking, biking, riding, and rafting. Then get back on the bus and speed on over to Macas (6 days) for small-town atmosphere with all the amenities of a larger city. Use it as a starting point for longer jungle treks, visits to local Shuar communities, or hikes through Parque Nacional Sangay. Go on excursions to Cuevas de Los Tayos, Guapu Archaeological Complex, Sevilla Don Bosco, Tsurakú Community Biological Station and Reserve, and the Alto Macuma waterfalls. Finish up the Oriente by town-hopping through Sucúa (1 day), Méndez, and Gualaquiza (1 day), then head on over for some big city living in Cuenca (3 days) before heading home.