Yasuni National Park

Yasuni National Park is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, located in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon. This massive rainforest reserve spans over 9,800 square kilometers and is home to an incredible variety of wildlife – with more tree species in a single hectare than in all of North America combined. The park sits at the intersection of the Amazon, the Andes, and the equator, creating unique ecological conditions that support this remarkable biodiversity.

The park is territory to indigenous groups like the Waorani, as well as the Tagaeri and Taromenane, who live in voluntary isolation. Their ancestral connection to this land adds to Yasuni's cultural significance. Unfortunately, the park faces ongoing threats from oil drilling, as significant reserves were discovered beneath its pristine forests, creating a complex situation where conservation and development interests collide.

Yasuni features amazing river systems like the Napo and Tiputini, which act as natural highways through the dense jungle. Visitors can spot rare wildlife including pink river dolphins, jaguars, giant otters, and countless monkey species swinging through the canopy. The park is also a birdwatcher's paradise with over 600 bird species recorded. For those interested in smaller creatures, the park houses roughly 300 different ant species – more than the entire British Isles!