Vilcabamba
Hotel &
Cloud Forest Reserve
Vilcabamba
Recently popularised as a Gringo party place, Vilcabamba's inital popularity arose from it's proximity to the Podocarpus National Park and it's international fame as a "Valley of Longevity".
But with some of the most stunning scenery in the Ecuadorian Sierra and a year round spring like climate, Vilcabamba remains a place not to be missed, whether you choose to go trekking in and around the Podocarpus park or to just kick back and relax. Many visitors to Vilcabamba have told us it has been the highlight of their visit to Ecuador - just avoid the touts at the bus station and head to one of the out of town hostels.
Cabañas Río Yambala
Address: Yamburara Alto
e-mail: rio_yambala@yahoo.com
web: Vilcabamba hotel
Cel: 091062762
Situated alongside a fresh mountain river of shadetrees and pools, in the heart of rural Ecuador and it's culture, Cabañas Río Yambala provides an ideal spot for hiking, horse trekking, birding as well as a peaceful retreat where you can get away from it all, sleep well, forget time and relax.
Private cabins in spacious grounds, with balconies and hammocks, overlook the picturesque valley.
Directions and information for local walks and bird lists are available.
A restaurant serves veg & non-veg dinners & breakfast.
There is a riverside Finnish style Sauna
and 1 to 3 day hiking or horse trekking tours into the Podocarpus National Park from their Cloud Forest Reserve, Las Palmas, can be arranged.
Las Palmas Cloud Forest Reserve lies 8kms up valley from the Cabañas, bordering and within the Podocarpus Park. As well as it's pristine waterfalls, Las Palmas offers some of Ecuador's most biodiverse cloud forest; the only tree canopy adventure in Vilcabamba; and the only legal access to the Lake and Paramo region from Vilcabamba. Being the first pioneering ecotourism project in the Podocarpus buffer zone, Las Palmas lies in the most biologically diverse region of the Vilcabamba valley, with the only subsatncial tracts of cloud forest in the area, making it the prime spot for visiting the Podoacrpus park.
Zamora
Zamora is the gateway to the relatively unexplored Southern Oriente (Amazonia), as well as to the lower region of the Podocarpus National Park. There are two entry points into the park close to Zamora, Romerillos and Bombuscara.
Hotels
Copalinga ecolodge is next to the Podocarpus Park entrance. The owners can help organise trips to the park and to Cabañas Yankuam on the Rio Nangaritza in the Southern Amazon.E-mail:info@copalinga.com Web:www.copalinga.com Cel:093477013. Spanish, English, French & Dutch spoken.
Tzanka, Jose Luis Tamayo y Pasaje sin mombre, is a hotel and animal refuge in a beautiful garden, in the center of Zamora which has been recommended.
E-mail: refuguiecologicotzank@yahoo.es Tel: (07) 2605692 Cel: 097886387.
Rio Nangaritza
To the east of Zamora lies the jungle of the Southern Amazon. A particularly beautiful and pristine area is the Rio Nangaritza. There are two places to stay along the river, Cabañas Yankuam and Shaime community lodge, both reached by canoe from Las Orchidias.
Hotels
Cabañas Yankuam. The owners can arrange canoe trips on the Rio Nangaritza. "refreshing waterfalls, mega diverse flora & fauna, spectacular landscapes and views of tabletop mountains, indigenous cultures".Shaime community lodge, run by an indigenous Shuar community. The lodge is basic, but has clean sheets and is perched on a cliff overlooking the river.
- To get to the Río Nangaritza area you can get a bus to Guayzimi from either Loja or Zamora.
- You can then get a coletivo to Las Orquideas and from there a canoe down the river Nangaritza, to either Cabañas Yankuam or Shaime.
- To Cabañas Yankuam Contact the owners and they can arrange to meet you, or negociate a ride when you get to Las Orchideas.
E-mail:info@lindoecuadortours.com Web:www.lindoecuadortours.com Cel:099470740 Tel:07 2605 739.
Spanish, English & Swedish spoken. - To Shaime - There is public transport by boat every Saturday morning from Las Orquideas to Shaime, returning the same evening. It is possible to stay at Guayasimi or Las Orquideas to catch the boat to Shaimi. The difficulty may be returning if you stay overnight. There are apparently private boats that may be negociated with to take or bring you bring back.
Macas
Macas lies north of Zamora and can be reached by road from Zamora and Puyo or by air from Quito.
Fundacion Ecologica Tsentsak has been recommended. They run ecological tours into the jungle, visiting shuar communities where you can experience a shamanic ayahuasca ceromony.
Contact Raul Antuka. E-mail: seecha40@yahoo.com Tel:(03)2312 045 Cel:09438187
TSUNKI has also been highly recommended as a guide and a hotel. His e-mail is tourshuar@hotmail.com .
Puyango
The park has an information area & small museum. Guides are always available on arrival.
Get off the bus at the police control. They can get you a car to the park entrance if you want. Camping is possible in the park, but there are no hotels.
Alamor is the closest place with a hotel, but not very nice. Pindal is nicer.
Zaruma
Hotels
Romeria HostalPlaza Independencia 045 Tel:(07) 2972173 E-mail:romeriahostal@hotmail.com
Hosteria el Jardin: has fruit and cactii gardens, a Tilapia pond and an animal zoo.
Barrio Limoncito
Tel:(07) 2972706 Cel:097568134
Roland hotel has a pool and great views of the lower part of town.
Tel:(07) 2972800 E-mail:rowlandhotel@hotmail.com
Oroadventure: Tour operator
Parque central.
Web:www.vivezaruma.org E-mail:titocastillo@yahoo.com Cel:094139928 Tel:(07) 2972 761