Lago Agrio is a sketchy border town most tourists dont venture. It is however the main jumping off point to the Cuyabeno Jungle Wildlife reserve, a unique flooded rainforest. Also, a visit to nearby Dureno can give you a taste of what primary rainforest is like.
Where to stay?
My pick is Hotel Selva Real on the corner of AV QUITO Y COLOMBIA with basic, clean rooms relatively mosquito free starting at $15 per person.
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A few hours from Quito on the road to the Amazon lies a steamy spa town famous with local vacationers, Papallacta.
What to do?
Bath in the Thermal Hot Springs in the Termas de Papallacta about 1.5 km before you reach town.
Where to stay?
My pick is the Hosteria La Pamapa de Papallacta. Basic, clean rooms with on-site hot springs to enjoy, Prices start from $20. 2320624.
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Vilcabamba is THE place to go in Ecuador if you just want to veg-out in absolute tranquility. The weather is near perfect and on most days you can hear a pin drop.
Where to stay in Vilcabamba?
Hotel Mandango: My pick for budget travelers with clean, simple rooms that start around $6 per person.
What to do in Vilcabamba?
– Swim in the nearby lazy streams.
– Rent a bike and bike around town.
– Hike the nearby hillsides.
– Try the Filet Mignon at Madre Tierra Guesthouse.
– Get a facial and a Nuru massage to relax.
– Check out some real estate with one of the several local agencies with offices around the main plaza.
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Zamora, the gateway to the southern Amazon region, refreshingly cool due to its altitude, Zamora has a unique feel surrounded by waterfalls, rivers and orchids. If you like bird watching and hummingbirds this is the place to visit, just 1 hour from Loja with the new road.
Where to stay in Zamora?
Copalinga: A hydro-powered nature lodge great for hummingbird watching. (From $25 per person).
Hotel Betania:Francisco Orellana My pick for budget travelers with clean, simple rooms that start around $12 per person.
What to do in Zamora?
– Kayak or rafting on the Rio Bombuscaro.
– Visit nearby Parque Podocarpus.
– Rappelling up the nearby waterfalls.
– Bird watching near the Rio Bombuscaro.
– Take a Orchid watching tour.
– Swimming in the nearby streams
– Paintball in the local course.
– Canopy in the nearby mountains.
– Fishing in the nearby streams.
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El Tigrillo
Loja is an interesting place. Some acquaint it to a mini-Cuenca, but it actually has a flavor all its own. The people are very proud of the heritage, are very into the fine arts, classical music and they even have their own gastronomy, and arguably the best coffee in Ecuador.
Where to stay in Loja?
Hotel Prado Internacional: Near the old town, this is by far the best value for buck place in Loja, with top quality although cramped rooms for a reasonable price ($20 per person).
Hotel Londres:Sucre 07-51 My pick for budget travelers with rooms that start around $7 per person.
What to do in Loja?
– Meander the Old Town. Its one of the most picturesque in Ecuador.
– Visit nearby Parque Podocarpus.
– Visit the locally-famous zoo.
– Try the local eats like the TAMAL LOJANO, TIGRILLO, and LAS HUMITAS.
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