Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ground-dwelling birds. A rainbow of hummingbirds, almost over-
whelming in their diversity and range, completes the list.
Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca is the base ingredient for a powerful hallucino-
genic brew, made from the vine of the same name, that has
been used for centuries in religious and healing ceremonies,
by the people of the Amazon, and in particular the tribal
shamans. It is said that the consumption of this brew gives
the shamans special powers, such as the ability to com-
mune with spirits, animals and nature, to diagnose illness,
treat disease, and even see into the future. The term
ayahuasca comes from the words aya , meaning spirit or an-
cestor, and huasca , meaning vine or rope.
Ecuador is such a hotspot for birds (and
birders!) that you would need an entire
book on the subject. Luckily there is one,
The Birds of Ecuador , by Robert S. Ridgely
& Paul J. Greenfield (2001).
Getting Here &
Getting Around
T
he northern Oriente includes the land west of Quito and two ma-
jor points of access to the upper Amazon Basin: Coca on the
Lower Río Napo, and Lago Agrio on the Río Aguarico. Lago Agrio of-
fers access to the Cuyabeno region, while Coca is the jumping-off
point to Limoncocha Biological Reserve, Yasuní National Park and
surrounding indigenous areas. These and other waterways, as you'll
see, are the primary paths of travel through the Amazon jungle.
By Car
There are two access roadways from the highlands to
these destinations, both with frequent bus service, though
the rainy season often results in road damage, mudslides
and travel delays. One is from Quito via Baeza and the
 
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