Located 20 km west of Tena in Ecuador's Oriente region, Misahualli is the closest town to the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle. This is why it brings together a fascinating blend of adventure tourism, expedition, and cultural heritage discovery. It is often celebrated for its magnificent natural landscapes, diverse ecosystems and indigenous communities. The town is a highly interesting and popular tourist base for jungle excursions.

History

The parish of Misahualli was formed following the 1941 war. During this conflict, certain inhabitants of Napo took refuge in the area and founded a small village. In 1966, the small village of Misahualli began to develop with the opening of the Puerto Napo–Misahualli road and the arrival of oil companies.

Due to the colonization of surrounding regions that lasted for decades, Misahualli's wildlife declined significantly.

Today

The town of Misahualli covers an area of 513.8 km². It is a river port situated at the junction of the region's two most important rivers, the Misahualli and Napo rivers. Its population, essentially from indigenous communities, numbered approximately 5,393 inhabitants in 2010.

Despite oil extraction in the Napo region which has nearly destroyed its natural landscapes, Misahualli has retained a good portion of its ecosystem to this day. For this reason, it is one of the best meeting points to organize a trek into the Amazon jungle. A steady flow of tourists comes to the region to discover and enjoy the Amazon wilderness. Several tourist activities such as hiking or canoeing, visits to protected areas and encounters with indigenous communities make for a vibrant and unforgettable Ecuadorian adventure.

The itinerary for off-the-beaten-path excursions includes nature walks, waterfall visits and meetings with indigenous communities.

For those who love water, it is possible to paddle a canoe on the river to appreciate the surrounding nature. The journey is delightful and takes you through the lush jungle vegetation along the river route of the early travelers to Coca.

Meeting the Local People

The local communities such as the Shiripuno are indigenous peoples who practice shamanism. This is a community of 25 families totaling 150 inhabitants who are very conservative with their traditions and culture. Today, these peoples are developing ecotourism activities linked to their customs, traditions, legends and folklore. During your stay in Misahualli, you can participate in one of the many ritual celebrations in a neighboring village and immerse yourself in indigenous culture. Traditional dances, music, songs and other festivities are on the agenda, allowing you to discover Yuca dances and Quichua music.

Relaxing in Misahualli

Often calm and tranquil with a refreshing breeze, the Misahualli beach stretches for over 700 m. Bordered by tall trees where capuchin monkeys play, you can rest in the shade and enjoy the peace of nature. During the Carnival Beach Playero season, the beach hosts numerous celebrations. Concerts and performances by local artists enliven the area.

Further afield, 8 km from town in the direction of Tena, you can discover the stunning Latas waterfall, also known locally as "Cascada del Rio Latas". It plunges from a height of over 16 m and spreads across 6 m in width before crashing into a natural pool of crystal-clear water. On its sides, rock formations present fossils embedded like marine crustaceans. From Misahualli, it is pleasant to reach the waterfall via a scenic hike. Once there, nothing beats enjoying the cool waters of the waterfall and swimming in such an environment.

Misahualli, City of the Capuchins

There's no escaping them during a stay in Misahualli! The capuchins are omnipresent throughout town. While they are rather welcoming and sociable with humans, it is best to remain cautious in their presence and keep in mind that they remain wild animals. These capuchins have lost their fear of humans and have learned over time to take advantage of human presence to acquire small gifts. It is not uncommon to see them rummaging through bags in search of food, water bottles, or even sunglasses and cameras.

Climate

The Misahualli region enjoys pleasant temperatures and consistent humidity throughout most of the year. The average annual temperature is 25°C and annual precipitation is 3,808 mm.

By Car

From Quito, renting a vehicle is the best way to reach the town of Misahualli. During the day, public buses depart from across the street from the Tena Bus Terminal for a 30-minute journey to this small town. The road connecting Tena and Coca that passes through Misahualli was officially completed in the late 1980s.

By Air

From Jumandy airport in Quito, Misahualli is a required stop before reaching the town of Tena.