Eastern Ecuador plays host to some of the most biodiverse rainforests in the world. However, despite the incredible variety of life, very few of those bizarre bugs, colorful birds, and other jungle animals are easy to see. In fact, most are pretty tough to see because they occur at low densities and just about everything is wonderfully adapted to staying hidden and avoiding predators.
The Blue and Gold Macaw is one of the more spectacular bird species that occurs in eastern Ecuador.
Nevertheless, many of those animals can be seen, especially if one follows these three tips:
- Be patient: Don’t expect animals to show themselves. Keep looking, listening, and quietly wait until animals show themselves and you might be surprised at what turns up!
- Go to the right places: Unfortunately, in most easily accessible areas of eastern Ecaudor, you won’t find flocks of screeching macaws as they fly over the canopy of the rainforest, nor troops of monkeys shaking branches as they forage in the jungle. A lot of wildlife disappears or becomes very scarce in places in the vicinity of towns and villages, near roads, and where the forest is cut down. On the bright side, the best places to see Amazonian wildlife also happen to be forested areas near remote ecolodges such as the Huaorani Ecolodge.
- Explore the rainforest with a local guide: Walk with guides who have grown up in the rainforest and you will be amazed at how well they can spot motionless birds, hidden animals, and countless insects.
Visit ecolodges in eastern Ecuador to experience one of the wildest and most biodiverse places on Earth.
