Getting Here & Around

By Air

Tame flies from Quito to Coca's Aeropuerto Francisco de Orellana (OCC) and Lago Agrio's Aeropuerto Nueva Loja (LGQ) daily except Sunday, and to Macas's Aeropuerto Edmundo Carvajal (XMS) Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Ícaro connects Quito with Coca daily and Lago Agrio three times weekly. Each flight is a 40-minute trip. Several small charter companies specialize in jungle towns and other remote destinations; these are considerably more expensive.

By Bus

The trip from Quito to Lago Agrio takes eight hours by bus. Since Lago Agrio is near the Colombian border, it's best to consult a tour operator about safety in this area. The trip from Quito to Coca takes nine hours. A journey from Cuenca to Macas takes 10–12 hours, but the road is frequently impassable, a condition that comes and goes with the weather. Since El Oriente has no truly dry season, don't count on being able to negotiate this route overland.

By Car

Car travel to this region should be undertaken only with much caution and advance preparation. Be forewarned, however, that in some areas of El Oriente you will find yourself driving alongside ugly oil pipelines; roads are periodically blocked by environmentalists protesting petroleum exploration. The trip between Quito and Coca takes eight hours. Misahuallí can be reached in 5–5½ hours by car. Since Macas is so remote, and the road sometimes becomes impassable, you shouldn't attempt to drive. No roads pass near Kapawi, making air travel your only option.