Tour Guide, Yasuni National Park, Ecuador
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Ecuador is the number one active destination in the world. Although it's the smallest Andean country, its mega diversity offers something special for everyone. Within minutes, from any major city, you can enjoy one of Ecuador’s geographic areas: La Costa, Los Andes or La Amazonia. Imagine biking along the exotic coast, trekking through the magnificent Andes along the Inca trail or enjoying the view on horseback. If you want more adventure, join an expedition into the mystical Amazon and let's not forget the Galapagos which is a world on its own.
Ecuador has about 1600 species of birds, 18% of the world's total. It has 124 species of hummingbirds, 35% of the world's total. 18% of its territory is in national parks and protected areas. 3 out of 10 hotspots of the world are found in Ecuador. 10% of the plants in the world are found in Ecuador. Ecuador has been honored with 5 UNESCO world heritage sites. Ecuador is home to over 15 different indigenous groups.
Yasuni National Park
Deep in the heart of Ecuador’s Amazon basin, in the shadows of the Andes and below the equator, lies what may be the most biologically diverse place on the planet. Yasuní National Park in eastern Ecuador is home to millions of species of plants, birds, insects and mammals.
Whether it’s humongous kapok trees, hairy tarantulas, squawking toucans, jumping spider monkeys or fierce jaguars, the diversity of organisms inhabiting Yasuní is astonishing. What is truly hard to fathom, though, is that little of the park has actually been studied.
Here is no definitive answer to the question of why or how Yasuní became so biologically diverse—the causes may include its high annual rainfall or low variation in temperatures. The park has also been called “an ecological bull’s-eye” due to the fact that it sits at the base of the Andes, along the Amazon and close to the equator—three distinct ecological systems converging to create a wholly unique area.