Experience the best of Tena

Tena lies at the foot of the eastern Andes in the Amazon region of Ecuador, at about 500 metres, where the Tena and Pano rivers meet before flowing on to the Napo. It is the capital of Napo province. A park on an island at the confluence has walkways for seeing local plants and animals close to the town centre.

The Jatunyacu and other rivers around town offer white-water rafting and kayaking. Misahuallí, a small port on the Napo, is a landing for river trips into the forest where monkeys roam the plaza, and Kichwa communities offer cultural visits. Sumaco, a volcano rising above the cloud forest to the north, is protected within its own national park.

Guayusa, a leaf infused as an energising tea, is drunk by Kichwa families before dawn, and cacao from local farms is turned into chocolate. Meals are built on river fish and yuca, often steamed in leaves, and showers are likely in any season, which keeps the forest lush.