Things to Do in Tena

By Christopher Sacco

Tena's claims to fame are the rainforest and its rivers. The jungle, especially if you get outside town 15 or 20 kilometers, is impressive. First-timers will be changed forever after they lay their eyes on a pristine stretch of Amazon. There is no shortage of jungle guides or tour operators, and many have offices at the northern end of town on Avenida 15 de Noviembre.

Tena has reached near legendary status with whitewater enthusiasts and boasts the best rafting and kayaking in Ecuador and, some say, the world. The jungle rivers on the Amazon side of the Andes are bigger and have more consistent flows than their west-Andean counterparts. They are also the cleanest and most scenic rivers in Ecuador.