Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Indigenous huaorani huts in Yasuní National Park
Puyo
Located one hour south of Tena and another east of Baños, Puyo makes for a lazy jungle
stopover before heading to a remote indigenous village or even just a weekend escape
from Quito's cold clamor. As the political, commercial and cultural capital of Pastaza
Province, Puyo serves as a hub for goods like coffee,
naranjilla
, tea, cassava and sugar
cane and thusly is easily accessible by a good network of roads on all sides. Other than
serving as a jumping-off point for jungle adventures, Puyo also has a few attractions that
are emblematic of its regional importance in the Amazon, making it worth a visit on its
own.
Puyo was founded in 1899 by missionaries aiming to convert native tribes, namely the
lowland Kichwa. The city's name itself is an interpretation of its Kichwa name
Puyu
,
which means 'cloudy'. It's almost always overcast which makes the humidity bearable
