Puerto Misahualli in 2 Days: The Ultimate Guide to Ecuador's Amazon Getaway
UNDERSTAND:
Puerto Misahualli is a little town full of monkeys, with a beach on the Rio Napa where the Amazon Area was discovered for the first time by the Spanish. It is an accessible (both economically and physically) way to see Amazon Region (access) even if the wildlife is not what it used to be. But still, there are lots of things to do. Puerto Misahualli is situated on two different sides of Rio Napo. One side is where the town centre is situated and the other side is where you go for the Lagoon tour. Between the two sides, there is a boat service that costs 1 Usd one way.
Puerto Misahualli, Ecuador's Amazon Getaway
HOW TO GET TO PUERTO MISAHUALLI AND HOW TO MOVE IN PUERTO MISAHUALLI
Puerto Misahualli is easy to reach by bus from Tena in 45 min. for 1 Usd or by taxi in 25 min. for 10 Usd. When you reach Puerto Misahualli you can move by foot around the little town, you can cross the river to reach the other side of the town. For the excursions, you need to take tours either by private car or by canoe.
BUS SCHEDULE TENA-MISAHUALLI
WHERE TO STAY IN Puerto Misahualli
Puerto Misahualli is quite a touristy place and you can find good quality/price ratio accommodation options online. Better if you stay close to the centre within walking distance. We stayed happily in Banana Lodge, it was 7min. walk from the main square, with an excellent breakfast and coffee. They have a private descent to the river and a very beautiful garden. The rooms are comfortable with a garden view. They offer you a locker and a guest kitchen with a free drinkable water tank.
Our stay in Puerto Musahualli, Banana Lodge
PUERTO MISAHUALLI ATTRACTIONS
The access of Amazonian Rainforests, Puerto Misahualli offers many tours and attractions. On the beach, there are big price tables for tours and excursions. Just go to one of the travel agents and bargain the tours that are of your interest. It is more convenient to combine many tours in one day as the distances may vary. If bargaining is not your style, you can reserve your tours online from here!
AMAZOONICO
Not a zoo but a rescue centre for animals saved from captivity. Many young volunteers take you on a tour. The cost of 15 EUR entrance goes to the poor animals' well-being. It is a nice and long canoe tour from Misahualli so better to combine it with other tours on the way like a forest walk or an indigenous village visit. The visits need to be reserved and they are available from 08.30 till 15.00.
Amazoonico
FOREST WALK
Typical rainforest walk with the indications of medicine plants and huge trees as well as colourful and interesting insects.
Guided forest walk tour through the Amazon rainforest, surrounded by dense vegetation and towering trees
Stairs leading through the Amazoonico Animal Sanctuary in Puerto Misahualli, Ecuador, surrounded by lush rainforest, with enclosures housing rescued Amazon animals
Puerto Misahualli from the opposite riverbank at sunset, showing the town, calm water, and the warm hues of the sky.
INDIGENOUS VILLAGE VISIT
There are many indigenous villages around, even if they wear their traditional clothes only for tourists and they make touristy presentations of their artisanal works, it is still very interesting.
Indigenous Village Visit
LAGUNA CAYMAN
Close to the indigenous villages, you can see many caymans get together in a lagoon protected by the locals basically for tourism purposes. You need to give 2 USD to the locals for entrance and they will provide you with some meat wrapped in a piece of leave so to get the attention of the caymans. It is an experience to see how they are agile when moving.
Laguna Cayman
LAGOON TOUR
Before sunset take the boat to pass the other side of Rio Napa and look for Don Pedro to take a romantic canoe tour of the lagoon in the sunset and observe different birds. You will pay 2 USD to pass the Rio Napa and 10USD for the lagoon tour.
Golden hour magic on the Puerto Misahuallà Lagoon in Ecuador!
Sunset Lagoon Tour
WHERE TO EAT IN PUERTO MISAHUALLI
On the beach, till 18.00 there are stalls selling delicious food.
La Tasca - A luxury option for Misahualli, Spanish tapas and local food is served on a pleasant terrace covered with nets to protect from monkeys.
Restaurante El Bijao - In the middle of the main square, delicious fish cooked in "the bijao" leaves on bbq. Economical and friendly.
Mexican Food & PIZZERIA - Good food and Margheritas if you miss Mexican cuisine.
An Amazon specialty, El Bijao, features fish wrapped in leaves from the bijao tree
Beachside snack break in Puerto MisahuallÃ! Fresh flavors and pure relaxation.
2 DAYS ITINERARY IN PUERTO MISAHUALLI
DAY 1
Spend your arrival day for the organisation and bargaining of your excursions of the day after.
Chill out on the beach with snacks and drinks available from the stalls behind.
Shop at the souvenir stalls close to the main square.
Observe the cheeky monkeys at the main square.
Cross the river to take a lagoon tour for sunset.
Dinner at the main square El Bijao.
DAY 2
Start your tour early in the morning.
Better to choose to trek in the forest as the first thing as rain is more likely to come in the afternoon.
Amazoonica visit
Indigenous villages
Cayman Lagoon
Sunset at the Misaualli Beach
Dinner in La Tasca or Mexican Food.
Sunset canoe on the Puerto Misahualli lagoon in Ecuador