TASTE OF PUERTO MISAHUALLI

2 days in Puerto Misahualli ​

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. ​

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. 
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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.

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WHERE TO STAY

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. 

Banana Lodge

WHAT TO DO

​On the beach of Puerto Misahualli, 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. ​

• ​​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. 
• Forest walk: Typical rainforest walk with the indications of medicine plants and huge trees as well as colourful and interesting insects. ​​
• ​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. 
• 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. 
• 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. 

Amazoonico

Forest Walk

Indigenous Village Visit

Laguna Cayman

Sunset Lagoon Tour

WHERE TO EAT

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.​

El Bijao

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Minimum Itinerary 
2 days in Puerto Misahualli 

1st day:
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. 
2nd day:
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.