Travel Guide Parque Nacional Yasuni

This 10,227 km2 national park, which occupies areas of tropical rainforest, contains one of the greatest biological diversities in the world. From the Río Napo, we canoe along the narrow, darker, tea-colored waterways(aguas negras) and into the mangroves. The thick forest is a unique vantage point for spider monkeys, bright yellow and black weaver birds, the low-whistling Oropendola, the large brown crested hHatzin (or hoazin), toucans, kingfishers, otters and even discreet jaguars... The sounds of the forest are incessant, day and night. The terra firma zones , located above water level, allow you to explore the forest in greater depth, encountering the many varieties of insects, giant plants and trees, and the villagers who live close to the river. Recognized by scientists as one of the world's greatest biodiversity reserves, Yasuní Nature Park boasts over 640 varieties of tree. The park has been declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. It is also the birthplace of the Huaorani people, authentic warriors who live in self-sufficiency. They remained in relative isolation until the beginning of the last century.Yasuni Park is a bulwark against the oil companies that have obtained operating concessions in the north of Coca, but the region is still under threat from oil extraction, which is still expanding and approaching areas protected by law. Various associations and Huaorani representatives are fighting relentlessly to ensure that the quest for black gold does not spell the end of biodiversity, as is the case in too many of the planet's paradise spots. For over 20 years, one government after another has failed to obtain international aid to compensate for the loss of profits from even more intense oil exploitation, which could be devastating for the planet.A life-saving referendum - Fortunately for the Yasuni, the Ecuadorian people, who were asked to vote on whether or not the oil companies should continue to exploit the area during the presidential elections in August 2023, opposed the continuation of these activities by over 59%. All oil and mining operations must cease by December 31, 2024 at the latest. This is a victory for the indigenous communities, who have been pushing this referendum project hard for several years.