Sunday, October 16, 2016

Who wrote this Blog?

My name is Alvaro, I have had the opportunity to travel around 31 countries and see many landscapes, get to know many different cultures, learn English and German (my writing skills are not the best so apologies in advance for my grammar mistakes). I have gotten to know amazing people and collect unforgettable experiences. I’m also a solo traveler which is contradictory because I have almost never been alone during my trips thanks to my second home (hostels). I was born in Tena and I lived there until I was 19. After that, I started travelling and I have been travelling ever since then.

Why am I doing this Blog? I started doing this blog because I want to share my experience and knowledge about Tena, especially to travelers who are looking for hidden paradises. During my trips to South America (2011) and to Central America (2015), I realized that many tourists skip Ecuador and the Amazon region of this country. Why? Because it is dangerous? Because in Peru you will see the same? Because if you stay in Ecuador, you will have less time in Brazil? Or the classic one “Because The Lonely Planet does not say much about it ”? Well, a bit more of self-information, and this blog probably will change your mind.

What you will find here?

Here you will find all of the important tips and tricks for your time in Tena. We want to make your trip easier, cheaper, and better. The information here is given by a local who has travelled to many countries and is still fascinated with the landscape and the authenticity of Tena and Napo province. I hope this information will help to make you fall in love with this part of the world, in the same way that I am. I hope you enjoy this Blog. Best wishes.

Why visit Tena ( part 1)

Many travelers skip Tena because of the lack of information. This little corner of Ecuador has more to offer than you might think, what you are missing here is huge. I will explain to you why:

– You can stay with communities and ethnic groups around Napo, Anzu, and the Misahualli River. You will be able not only to stay in rustic houses made of bamboo, but also you will be able to experience a normal day of a Quechua family.

– In Tena and it`s surroundings, you will experience the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin, with more than 250 endemic species.

-The food in this area is amazing. It is normally prepared on firewood and cooked in bamboo or rolled in a leaf similar to the banana leaf. This way of cooking is called Maito and makes the food taste delicious. Mainly fish and chicken will be cooked this way. Another typical food is the chontacorro (worm of chonta palm) for all the worm lovers :). Some communities less connected with the society even eat monkey, turtle, and snake but that is abit far away from Tena. That should not be surprising to you when Ecuadorians are known worldwide as guinea pig eaters. The food is totally different from the food in the highland and coast of Ecuador. Try rthe food of the area is a "must"!!!

Why visit Tena ( part 2 )

– 20 minutes away from Tena, you will find the Jumandy Caves. It was a refuge for Jumandy, an Inca warrior during the Spanish invasion. There is a lot of history and scientific research in these caves. A short tour can take 45 minutes and can be scary because of the darkness, but they are definitely something that has to be seen. It has not been proved jet, if the caves have an end.

– The rivers are definitely a main attraction in Tena. They are famous worldwide for the green kayak and rafting activities. It is something that you cannot miss, especially if you are in Ecuador around January (Kayak festival) or in February (they celebrate Carnival like crazy). During the rafting tours, the combination of good weather, landscape, and nice food is something to remember. Does not matter if it is your first time, if you are a beginer or if you are a pro in Tena you can do all levels.

– There are more than 20 waterfall spots that you can visit, rivers and lakes only a few minutes away by bus. From Tena, you cal also get to the biggest waterfall of Ecuador. La cascada San Rafael is 150 m high and is 15 m wide. It is a spectacle.

Why visit Tena ( part 3 )

– There is also a large range of options for volunteering work. For example, you can work with animals in nonprofit organizations like the "Amazoonico Ecological Reserve", teach English and German in communities located in the middle of the jungles, or you can learn about fauna with organizations like "Jatun Sacha". Normally you will need to stay at least 2 weeks to participate in these activities.

– You can do an express trip by motorized canoe in the Napo River or a chilled one by canoe paddle combined with fishing while enjoying the beautiful sunset.

– There are many more interesting reasons why to visit Tena but you will have to experience them yourself.

The offer for hostels, tourist agencies, and restaurants is big and adjusted to all budgets. Our staff in Zumag Sisa hostel is ready to give you the best advise. Check out the reviews in Google or facebook.

I will post with more detailed information about all that I mentioned. I hope you found this post informative. See you next time.

From Baños to Tena

This road used to be one of the scariest roads in South America but not anymore, things have changed giving the travellers a first clase road and an expectacular view (to se the old road have a look in the video from min 5:33 to min 6:06)

It takes only 4 hours from Baños to Tena. It is better if you choose a seat at the window on the right side. The landscape between Baños and Puyo is really cool (1 hour and 30 minutes approx.) but from Puyo to Tena you will only see vegetation during the journey. In Puyo, buses normally make a short stop (sometimes a very long one of even 45 min) so do not be surprised.

You will feel the change of weather from fresh-cold to tropical humid, very humid, so take a bit of extra water to drink. If you need to use the bathroom, public buses do not have one, but normally stop anywhere if you ask nicely.

My favorite option is to rent a bike and go downhill from Baños to Puyo it takes approx. 3 hours by bike but is an amazing experience (in the video you can have a look from min 2:20 until min 6:03 to have an idea). The adventage is that you can stop in many spots such as el ”Pailon del diablo”, “la gabarra” , do doggie jumping, or stop anywhere to take pics of the waterfalls you will see here, thats why I recommended. If you decide go by bus, once again "take the right sit in the bus".

Going from Tena to Puyo by bike is not a good idea spetially if you are not in good condition because there is no mountain to go down any more, but a plain green landscape that will take you about another 4 hours.

https://vimeo.com/143448058

From Quito, it will take approximately 4 hours by bus (7 usd). If you take a taxi (best agency: Taxi amigo, or la cuevita amazonica) it will take only about 2:30 minutes (25 usd). They will take you from door to door. From anyware you are in Quito to anywhere you will stay in Tena. To take pictures or small breaks, you can ask the driver anytime to make a stop.

Buses from the capital of Ecuador to Tena leave 3 times a day from the bus terminal Quitumbe. To get there, it depends where you are. What you can allways do is, take a "alimentador" to the terminal (alimentador is just a type of bus that takes you to "small bus terminals". In this "small bus terminals" you can take buses to towns around Quito or to other cities)

It can be that you have to take more than 1 alimentador depending where you take it. If you ask any quitenian on the street, how to and where to get to the terminal quitumbe, they can answer this question. A taxi is a good option if you are in a group.

During the trip, the temperature changes very clearly since you go from the Andes to the plains of the Ecuadorian Amazon. So if you have problems with dizziness , better take some medicine agains it. You can go directly from Quito to Tena or, I strongly recommend doing a Break between Quito and Tena and spend the day in the Papallacta thermal springs. If you are planing doing that, leave early (8am), and in the bus terminal, ask for a ticket to Papallacta (all buses going to Tena will pass through Papallacta and it will take about 2,30 hours to get there).

Once in the bus, tell the bus driver to tell you when you arrive to Papallacta. The bus will let you out on the road/small town called Papallacta. Once you get out of the bus, from there you can walk 30 to 40 minutes or hitchhike to the thermal springs.
Try to get out of the pools by about 3pm or 4pm to arrive early to Tena. Remember that you have to go back to the main road and then wait for transportation. Do not forget to bring warm clothing as it is very very cold in Papallacta, and of course new clothes for afther the refreshing bath. Have fun!!!!

Trip to Laguna Azul

Or also known as “Laguna Azul” even though the water does not have exactly that color. Not far away from Tena (45 min with taxy) . You will enjoy the landscape on your way. It is recommended not to go there if it has rained in the morning or the night before because the color of the water will not be as it is in the picture. From Tena city center it takes about 45 minutes by taxi (20 usd one way approx. or 35 usd approx. both ways. Almost every taxi can be shared with max 7 people). Ask the taxi driver to come back for you a specific time to pick you up or risk your luck and expect to find somebody to give you a ride back.

A cheaper version is to take a bus and ask the bus driver to leave you at the entrance to Laguna Azul or Lagunas de Cando (the bus you have to take, is the one that goes to Talag and the bus stop is not in the main bus terminal but is close to it). There is no point giving you the specific address of the terminal address because nobody uses street names in Tena, so you will have to ask “donde está el terminal para buses al Talag” It is very close to the main bus terminal. To get there, it will take about one hour or more with the bus and cost you approx. 2 usd, but you will have to walk about 40 minutes more until you get there. You will not get lost; you just have to follow the main road. The landscape is amazing and you will enjoy the nature and tranquility of this place, so walking is not a bad option.

There are restaurants with typical food like “tilapia en maito” which is fish cooked in banana leaf on the grill, or if you are more adventurous you can try the “chontacuros” which are worms from a palm of the region.

I think that it will be ok if you spend about 3 to 4 hours here, so if you are going to take the first option of transportation, do not forget to tell your taxi driver to come back for you or remember that the last bus is around 6pm. There is a good chance that somebody takes you back. Almost everyone in this place will go back to Tena city, so once again, be smiling or use your charm.

Trip to Pinpilala Waterfall

This trip can be combined with la Laguna Azul tour but you will need more than 4 hours to do it. You will not be able to do the tour without a tour guide because there are no signs and can be triky. You will have to pay to the guide around 25 dollars per group. If you come without a tour guide, the owners of the ground/area can be your guides for this walking tour too (the owners live exactly in the entrance for this place). It can take about 3 hours walking to the top and 1 1/2 hours going down. It is important to take old shoes or gumboots because you will get dirty.

There are two versions of tours. The shorter takes 20 minutes and you will be able to see only 2 of 5 waterfalls and the other one takes about 4 hours as it was explained above. The entrance to the waterfall is on the way to Laguna Azul, you can ask the taxi driver or if you decided to take the bus and walk, you will see the advertisement to this place very clearly. Short tour cost 2 per person and the long one 25 per groups of max 12.

Trip to El Gran Canon

I highly recommend going to this place .It is a nice walk that will connect you with nature. You can do it alone but inform yourself very well before going there because there are a few ways to get there. It is much better if you go with a tour guide because the journey can be tricky especially if you are not good with orientation. Wear old shoes or gumboots always.

You can take a taxi that will cost you approx. 15 usd one way and will take 30 minute to get there. Ask the taxi driver to take you to “el gran canon in kilometro 10 on the way to Quito” (in Spanish: Lleveme por favor al gran canon de Archidona en el kilometro 10 via a Quito). Explain to him that you want to go to the end of the road and not only to the side of the main road (where normally the bus stops). Some taxi drivers may not know where this place is, so ask many taxis until you find someone that does. Once you find one, this is your time to show your business skills and start negotiating the price. Do not forget to tell the taxi driver to pick you up later. 3 ½ to 4 hours is a good amount of time to tell him to come back.

The other option is to take a bus that goes to Quito in the bus terminal and get off in the 10^th km (ask the driver to stop in the “kilometro 10” or ask the passengers where the entrance to “el gran canon” is) Once you are there you will have to walk 20 minutes until the main entrance. From here, your walking adventure starts and lasts for one hour until you get to the place in the picture). Once there don’t be afraid of going inside of the caves and do the big jump.

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