Yasuni National Park
General
The Yasuni National Park is the most
extensive protected area in Ecuador, with one
of the highest levels of biodiversity on Earth.
It includes the basins of Yasuni, Cononaco,
Nashinio and Tiputini rivers, and important
lagoons like Jatuncocha, Garzacocha and
Lagartococha. Within the park area live
several Indian groups like the Quichuas del
Napo and the Huaoranis.
Access
You can access the park by river or road.
Starting from Coca (Puerto Francisco de
Orellana), you go down the Napo River till you get to the Tiputini River, or till the
Yasuni River. Going by car you have to take the Coca-Los Aucas-Cononaco road all the
way to the bridge over the Tiputini River, and then you go by canoe till you reach the Napo.
Species
This is an extremely rich and diverse area, but some of the most common animals are
armadillos, peccaries, river dolphins, pacas, jaguars, howler monkeys, harpy eagles and
hoatzín.
Plants
The extreme diversity of this park is such that many species have not yet been recorded.
Some areas have more than 200 species of trees per hectare. Among the most common species are
guarumo, cedar, mahogany and laurel.
