Archidona - Ecuador

Located in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon, with an environment of primary forest and unique ecosystems of flora and fauna, it is part of the Napo Province.
Archidona has rivers of indescribable beauty among these we can highlight: Misahuallí, Hollín and Calmitoyacu; where you can practice kayak and buoy regattas.

Archidona, not only stands out for its scenic richness, but for the legacy of its ancestors, carved in the stones. Around 60 are the petroglyphs found in Archidona, they are complex and abstract motifs modeled on huge volcanic rocks.

Archidona is derived from two words archi which means abundant, and dona which means gifts; that is, city abundant in gifts.

Protected Areas in Archidona

Antisana Ecological Reserve
Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park
Cotopaxi National Park
Colonso Chalupas Biological Reserve

How to get to Archidona from Quito?

From Quito at 180 km, take the Pifo - Papallacta - Baeza right bank route until you reach Archidona.

How to get to Archidona from Ambato?

From Ambato to 188 km, take the Baños - Puyo - Tena - Archidona road located 8Km from Tena

Tourist attractions in Archidona

Jumandi Caverns:

The Caverns of Jumandy, is one of the most outstanding attractions of the Napo province. With a journey of one hour inside, you can appreciate underground water currents and the spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. The tourist complex has slides, natural water pool, sports spaces and cabins for lodging.

It is a site nestled in the dense forest, are natural formations of permeable calcareous rocks that with the passage of time have allowed the formation of stalagmites and stalactites. In them we also find underground springs.

Caverns Temple of Ceremony:

We are located at Km 09 via Archidona - Baeza, here you will have the opportunity to combine adventure tourism and ancestral culture in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

In our walk along the established trails you can admire and know the use of medicinal plants from the Amazon, continuing the journey you will reach the caves hidden in the middle of the jungle, experiencing the adrenaline and enjoying the tranquility that nature gives you

The Grand Canyon of Ñachiyacu:

The "Grand Canyon" waterfall has a height of 6 meters, and an approximate width of 1.50 meters, its ford measures approximately 17 meters. On the side of the waterfall there are small waterfalls that form the ford in which we can swim, the water that falls from the top to the small caves that have formed.

 Cascadas del Río Hollín:

This waterfall is approximately 20 meters high, it comes from the river of the same name, in the lower part of the waterfall a kind of ravine of approximately 4 meters is formed, in front of this we can find a rocky area which allows us to observe the majestic waterfall, it can be seen from the road as it is very close to it.
Its waters are crystalline in the part that the waterfall ends, however, it tends to become cloudy due to weather conditions.

Yanayacu:

Yanayacu, a privileged place to have more than 8 waterfalls in a 3 km route of the Inchillaqui River, there are also caves and perfect places to take photographs.

You will find the majesty of its landscapes, however, we can not help but show the innate beauty of Ecuadorian Amazonia the waterfalls sources of life that irrigate every corner with the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Sumaco Volcano:

 It is a little known volcano due mainly to its difficult access.

The volcano is constituted by an old building that has undergone a large landslide and a new cone that has grown into the amphitheater left behind after the landslide.

The field missions carried out to study this volcano have revealed that the upper part of the cone would have been built by a continuous and intense strombolian activity, its conical shape gives indications of a recent activity. 

El Capoa natural spas:

The capoa is a beautiful place where all the people go to the river to cool off from the sun with all the families and friends who enjoy the maximum of the river and there is also karaoke disco and sisque bars that want to serve some alcoholic drink there are huts made of lysa and guadua.

Gastronomy of Archidona

Tilapia and Carachama Maito.- These two types of fish are wrapped in leaves, tied and hoeed. They are also prepared based on chontacuro and palmito.

Chontacuro or palm worms - these worms have great healing power. It can be eaten roasted, cooked or fried and the butter provided can be eaten in a few doses to prevent and cure diseases.

Among other typical dishes we can find: Maito de pollo, maito de chonctacuro, maito de gutter, caldo de gallina criolla, carachama broth, mushroom ceviche, ceviche de palmito, gaucho yuyo, chicha de chonta, guayusa, and others.

Crafts The Jungle

It is a collection center for handicrafts, made by skilled hands of the Kichwa women of the canton, is characterized by striking crafts such as arrows, spears, blowguns, ceramics, fans, ornaments, different flora and fauna fi gures, multicolored necklaces, earrings , handles, handbags, hammocks, shigras, bracelets, crowns, handbags, anklets, earrings, belts, made with natural seeds of the jungle.

Recommendations: Photographic Camera