Pastaza offers visitors experiences ranging from learning about local history in Puyo to meeting Indigenous communities. You can also find specific places of interest in Tarqui, home to the Kuri Warmi community-based tourism project, and in Pomona at Cascada Hola Vida. If you are looking for accommodation in the province, start by considering which visits you want to shape your stay. This will help you tailor your plans to the themes of your trip.
Puyo: City History and Another Point of Interest
La Casa del Árbol is a ten-minute drive from the city of Puyo, along the road to the Parroquia Shell in Pastaza. This provides a specific landmark for planning around Puyo. If you would like to include the attraction, take its location into account when planning your journey and check which route is right for your visit.
In the city of Puyo, the Casa Museo «Jesús Escobar» tells the story of the founding of Barrio Obrero. This gives a visit a clear focus on local history: the development of this neighborhood is at the center. If you plan to visit the museum, check the current opening hours in advance.
Pomona and the Journey to Cascada Hola Vida
A route connects Puyo and Pomona in both directions. The access road to Cascada Hola Vida in the Parroquia Pomona is paved. For planning purposes, it is useful to keep these two details separate: the route information refers to Puyo and Pomona, while the road information refers to access to the waterfall.
Check the current road conditions before traveling to Cascada Hola Vida. This lets you account for the specific access road without treating the road information as a guarantee of conditions on the day of your visit. Puyo and Pomona offer different points of interest for planning your trip; decide which to visit first based on your planned activities.
Indigenous Cultures and Community-Based Tourism
Pastaza is home to seven Indigenous nationalities: Kichwa, Shuar, Achuar, Shiwiar, Andoa, Waorani, and Zápara. This diversity shapes the province’s cultural context. Visitors can meet and spend time with Indigenous communities. Residents welcome local, national, and international tourists and share traditional knowledge about natural medicine and culture.
To arrange a specific visit, find out in advance which community you would like to visit and what arrangements are currently available. This will help you plan a visit that suits the people involved. The Kuri Warmi community-based tourism project is located in Comunidad Vencedores, in the Parroquia Tarqui in Pastaza. If you would like to include the project in your plans, find out about visiting options in advance as well.
Choose a Focus for Your Accommodation Search
Consider whether city history, an exchange with Indigenous communities, or a visit to the waterfall will shape your stay the most. You can use this focus to guide your plans and search for hotels in Pastaza. Then decide the order of your visits based on your itinerary and the current visiting options.
Discover more destinations: Puyo, Canelos, Mera, Moravia, Napo, Zamora Chinchipe, Santa Elena, Cañar.
For the broader travel overview: Ecuador.
