The Amazon Rainforest stretches across eight countries – Bolivia, Columbia, Guyana, French Guiana, Ecuador, Brazil, Suriname and Peru. While it takes up just 7% of the world’s land mass, it is home to half of the plant species on the planet. There are four national parks in Ecuador’s Amazon: The Yasuni National Park, Cayambe-Coca National Park, Llanganates National Park, and Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park.
The Yasuni National Park is located in Ecuador’s Amazon Basin under the magnificent backdrop of the Andes Mountains. The national park is spread over an area of 9,820 square kilometers (or 6,101 square miles) and is considered by many to be the most biologically diverse region in the world. Situated close to the equator, the area also holds the record for being the single most diverse area in the world.
The Yasuni National Park was created in 1979 and was designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1989 by UNESCO. The park’s land lies in a territory claimed by the indigenous Huaorani people. The national park is also home to two other indigenous tribes that remain isolated (uncontacted) from the rest of the world – the Tagaeri and Taromenane people. Wildlife at the Yasuni National Park includes jaguars, monkeys, river dolphins, 121 species of reptiles, 1,100 species of trees, 596 species of birds, 70,000 species of insects (if that’s your shtick!) and much more, which is why it is known as a paradise for those looking for wildlife tourism.