Yasuni National Park

Localization

Eastern Ecuador, about 250 km east of Quito (No. 3 in the map of national parks on Ecuador introducing page)

Access

Difficult

Characteristic

9 820 km², Slightly undulated Amazon lowlands between Napo and Curaray rivers (altitude 200 to 600 m). Extraordinary fauna and flora biodiversity. Typical ecosystems: three types of rain forests - Terra firme', found on the high reliefs areas and not subject to flooding; 'Varzea', a forest type subject to periodic flooding, and 'Irapo' in the permanent or near permanent flooded forest; important wetlands and river ecosystems, several lagoons. Very sparsely inhabited region.

Fauna + Flora

Mammals:

185 mammal species

Bats - New World Leaf-nosed Bats (Phyllostomidae): Lophostoma yasuni (endemic species of this national park)

Primates - Titis, Sakis and Uakaris (Pitheciidae): Coppery Titi

- Spider Monkeys and Wooly Monkeys (Atelidae): Red Howler Monkey; White-bellied Spider Monkey; Humboldt's Woolly Monkey

- Night Monkeys (Aotidae): Northern Night Monkey

Edentata - Anteaters (Myrmecophagidae): Giant Anteater

Rodents - Guinea Pigs (Caviidae): Capybara

Carnivores - Weasels, Otters, Badgers (Mustelidae): Giant Otter

- Procyonids (Procyonidae): South American Coati

- Dogs (Canidae): Bush Dog; Short-eared Dog

- Cats (Felidae): Jaguar; Jaguarundi; Ocelot; Puma

Dugongs and Manatees - Manatees (Trichechidae): Amazonian Manatee

Odd-toed Ungulates - Tapirs (Tapiridae): South American Tapir

Birds:

650 bird species

Tinamiformes - Tinamous (Tinamidae): Bartlett's Tinamou; Cinereous Tinamou; Great Tinamou; Little Tinamou; Undulated Tinamou; Variegated Tinamou; White-throated Tinamou

Podicipediformes - Grebes (Podicipedidae): Least Grebe

Pelecaniformes - Anhingas (Anhingidae): Anhinga

- Cormorants and Shags (Phalacrocoarcidae): Neotropic Cormorant

Ciconiiformes - Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae): Least Bittern; Cattle Egret; Snowy Egret; Great White Egret; Agami Heron; Little Blue Heron; Boat-billed Heron; Capped Heron; Cocoi Heron; Striated Heron; Zigzag Heron; Black-crowned Night-Heron; Rufescent Tiger-Heron

- Storks (Ciconiidae): Wood Stork

- Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae): Green Ibis; Roseate Spoonbill

Anseriformes - Screamers (Anhimidae): Horned Screamer

- Gees, Swans and Ducks (Anatidae): Masked Duck; Muscovy Duck; Blue-winged Teal

Birds of Prey - American Vultures (Cathartidae): American Black Vulture; King Vulture; Turkey Vulture; Greater Yellow-headed Vulture

- Ospreys (Pandionidae): Osprey

- Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Kites and Old World Vultures (Accipitridae): Crested Eagle; American Harpy Eagle; Great Black-Hawk; Bicolored Hawk; Black-collared Hawk; Black-faced Hawk; Crane Hawk; Roadside Hawk; Short-tailed Hawk; Slate-colored Hawk; Tiny Hawk; White Hawk; Black Hawk-Eagle; Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle; Ornate Hawk-Eagle; Double-toothed Kite; Grey-headed Kite; Grenada Hook-billed Kite; Pearl Kite; Plumbeous Kite; Slender-billed Kite; Snail Kite; Swallow-tailed Kite

- Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae): Black Caracara; Red-throated Caracara; Yellow-headed Caracara; Bat Falcon; Laughing Falcon; Orange-breasted Falcon; Peregrine Falcon; Barred Forest-Falcon; Buckley's Forest-Falcon; Collared Forest-Falcon; Lined Forest-Falcon; Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon

Galliformes - Chachalacas, Guans and Curassows (Cracidae): Speckled Chachalaca; Nocturnal Curassow; Salvin's Curassow; Spix's Guan; Trinidad Piping-Guan

- Quails (Odontophoridae): Marbled Wood-Quail

Gruiformes - Limpkins (Aramidae): Limpkin

- Trumpeters (Psophiidae): Grey-winged Trumpeter

- Rails, Crakes, Coots and Gallinules (Rallidae): Black-banded Crake; Chestnut-headed Crake; Grey-breasted Crake; Rufous-sided Crake; Azure Gallinule; Purple Gallinule; Blackish Rail; Gray-necked Wood-Rail; Red-winged Wood-Rail

- Finfoots and Sungrebes (Heliornithidae): Sungrebe

- Sunbitterns (Eurypygidae): Sunbittern

Charadriiformes - Jacanas (Jacanidae): Wattled Jacana

- Wading Birds (Scolopacidae): Sanderling; Least Sandpiper; Pectoral Sandpiper; Solitary Sandpiper; Spotted Sandpiper; Greater Yellowlegs; Lesser Yellowlegs

- Plovers (Charadriidae): Pied Lapwing; Southern Lapwing; Collared Plover; Lesser Golden Plover; Semipalmated Plover

- Gulls (Laridae): Laughing Gull

- Terns (Sternidae): Large-billed Tern; Yellow-billed Tern

- Skimmers (Rhynchopidae): Black Skimmer

Columbiformes - Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae): Gray-fronted Dove; White-tipped Dove; Blue Ground-Dove; Ruddy Ground-Dove; Pale-vented Pigeon; Plumbeous Pigeon; Ruddy Pigeon; Ruddy Quail-Dove; Sapphire Quail-Dove

Psittaciformes - Parrots (Psittacidae): Blue-and-yellow Macaw; Chestnut-fronted Macaw; Red-and-green Macaw; Red-bellied Macaw; Scarlet Macaw; Cobalt-winged Parakeet; Dusky-headed Parakeet; Maroon-tailed Parakeet; White-eyed Parakeet; Black-headed Parrot; Blue-headed Parrot; Festive Parrot; Mealy Parrot; Orange-cheeked Parrot; Orange-winged Parrot; Yellow-crowned Parrot; Blue-winged Parrotlet; Dusky-billed Parrotlet; Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet

Strigiformes - Owls (Strigidae): Band-bellied Owl; Black-banded Owl; Mottled Owl; Ferruginous Pygmy Owl; Tawny-bellied Screech Owl; Tropical Screech Owl; Spectacled Owl; Striped Owl

Cuculiformes - Cuckoos, Anis, Coucals and Roadrunners (Cuculidae): Greater Ani; Smooth-billed Ani; Black-billed Cuckoo; Dark-billed Cuckoo; Little Cuckoo; Pavonine Cuckoo; Squirrel Cuckoo; Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo

Opisthocomiformes - Hoatzins (Opisthocomidae): Hoatzin

Goatsuckers - Nightjars (Caprimulgidae): Common Nighthawk; Lesser Nighthawk; Nacunda Nighthawk; Sand-colored Nighthawk; Short-tailed Nighthawk; Blackish Nightjar; Ladder-tailed Nightjar; Common Pauraque; Ocellated Poorwill

- Potoos (Nyctibiidae): Common Potoo; Great Potoo; Long-tailed Potoo

- Oilbirds (Steatornithidae): Oilbird

Apodiformes - Swifts (Apodidae): Fork-tailed Palm-Swift; Chapman's Swift; Gray-rumped Swift; Pale-rumped Swift; Short-tailed Swift; Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift; White-collared Swift

- Hummingbirds (Trochilidae): Pale-tailed Barbthroat; Black-throated Brilliant; Festive Coquette; Garden Emerald; Glittering-throated Emerald; Black-eared Fairy; Black-throated Hermit; Great-billed Hermit; Reddish Hermit; Rufous-breasted Hermit; Straight-billed Hermit; White-bearded Hermit; Many-spotted Hummingbird; Olive-spotted Hummingbird; White-necked Jacobin; Gould's Jewel-front; Black-throated Mango; Grey-breasted Sabrewing; Golden-tailed Sapphire; Rufous-throated Sapphire; Buff-tailed Sicklebill; Long-billed Starthroat; Black-bellied Thorntail; Fiery Topaz; Fork-tailed Woodnymph

Trogoniformes - Trogons (Trogonidae): Pavonine Quetzal; Black-tailed Trogon; Black-throated Trogon; Blue-crowned Trogon; Collared Trogon; Violaceous Trogon; White-tailed Trogon

Coraciiformes - Kingfishers (Alcedinidae): Amazon Kingfisher; Green Kingfisher; Green-and-rufous Kingfisher; American Pygmy Kingfisher; Ringed Kingfisher

- Motmots (Momotidae): Broad-billed Motmot; Blue-crowned Motmot; Rufous Motmot

Galbuliformes - Jacamars (Galbulidae): Brown Jacamar; Great Jacamar; Purplish Jacamar; White-chinned Jacamar; White-eared Jacamar; Yellow-billed Jacamar

- Puffbirds (Bucconidae): Lanceolated Monklet; Black-fronted Nunbird; White-fronted Nunbird; Yellow-billed Nunbird; Brown Nunlet; Chestnut-capped Puffbird; Collared Puffbird; Pied Puffbird; White-chested Puffbird; White-necked Puffbird; Swallow-winged Puffbird

Piciformes - Barbets (Capitonidae): Gilded Barbet; Lemon-throated Barbet; Scarlet-crowned Barbet

- Toucans (Ramphastidae): Chestnut-eared Aracari; Ivory-billed Aracari; Lettered Aracari; Many-banded Aracari; Channel-billed Toucan; Cuvier's Toucan; Golden-collared Toucanet

- Woodpeckers, Wrynecks and Piculets (Picidae): Lafresnaye’s Piculet; Rufous-breasted Piculet; Chestnut Woodpecker; Cream-colored Woodpecker; Crimson-crested Woodpecker; Golden-green Woodpecker; Lineated Woodpecker; Little Woodpecker; Red-necked Woodpecker; Red-stained Woodpecker; Ringed Woodpecker; Rufous-headed Woodpecker; Scaly-breasted Woodpecker; Spot-breasted Woodpecker; White-throated Woodpecker; Yellow-throated Woodpecker; Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Perching Birds - Woodcreepers (Dendrocolapidae): Red-billed Scythebill; Barred Woodcreeper; Black-banded Woodcreeper; Buff-throated Woodcreeper; Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper; Lineated Woodcreeper; Long-billed Woodcreeper; Ocellated Woodcreeper; Olivaceous Woodcreeper; Plain-brown Woodcreeper; Spix's Woodcreeper; Straight-billed Woodcreeper; Striped Woodcreeper; Strong-billed Woodcreeper; Wedge-billed Woodcreeper; White-chinned Woodcreeper

- Ovenbirds or Horneros (Furnariidae): Brown-rumped Foliage-Gleaner; Buff-throated Foliage-Gleaner; Chestnut-crowned Foliage-Gleaner; Chestnut-winged Foliage-Gleaner; Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-Gleaner; Crested Foliage-Gleaner; Olive-backed Foliage-Gleaner; Ruddy Foliage-Gleaner; Rufous-rumped Foliage-Gleaner; Rufous-tailed Foliage-Gleaner; Chestnut-winged Hookbill; Lesser Hornero; Black-tailed Leaftosser; Short-billed Leaftosser; Tawny-throated Leaftosser; Point-tailed Palmcreeper; Orange-fronted Plushcrown; Plain Softtail; Dark-breasted Spinetail; Plain-crowned Spinetail; Rusty-backed Spinetail; Speckled Spinetail; White-bellied Spinetail; Striped Woodhaunter; Plain Xenops; Rufous-tailed Xenops; Slender-billed Xenops

- Antshrikes (Thamnophilidae): Banded Antbird; Black Antbird; Black-and-White Antbird; Black-faced Antbird; Blackish Antbird; Black-throated Antbird; Dot-backed Antbird; Grey Antbird; Hairy-crested Antbird; Lunulated Antbird; Plumbeous Antbird; Scale-backed Antbird; Silvered Antbird; Sooty Antbird; Spot-backed Antbird; Spot-winged Antbird; Warbling Antbird; White-cheeked Antbird; White-plumed Antbird; White-shouldered Antbird; Wing-banded Antbird; Yellow-browed Antbird; Barred Antshrike; Castelnau's Antshrike; Cinereous Antshrike; Fasciated Antshrike; Great Antshrike; Mouse-colored Antshrike; Plain-winged Antshrike; Saturnine Antshrike; Spot-winged Antshrike; Undulated Antshrike; White-shouldered Antshrike; Chestnut-shouldered Antwren; Dot-winged Antwren; Dugand’s Antwren; Grey Antwren; Long-winged Antwren; Ornate Antwren; Plain-throated Antwren; Pygmy Antwren; Rio Suno Antwren; Rufous-tailed Antwren; Short-billed Antwren; Stipple-throated Antwren; Streaked Antwren; White-flanked Antwren; Yasuni Antwren; Black-spotted Bare-eye; Reddish-winged Bare-eye; Black Bushbird

- Antbirds (Formicariidae): Fulvous-bellied Antpitta; Ochre-striped Antpitta; Scaled Antpitta; Thrush-like Antpitta; Black-faced Antthrush; Rufous-capped Antthrush; Noble Antthrush

- Antpipits and Gnateaters (Conopophagidae): Ash-throated Gnateater; Chestnut-belted Gnateater

- Cotingas (Cotingidae): Plum-throated Cotinga; Purple-throated Cotinga; Spangled Cotinga; Bare-necked Fruitcrow; Purple-throated Fruitcrow; Cinereous Mourner; Screaming Piha; White-browed Purpletuft; Black-necked Red-Cotinga; Amazonian Umbrellabird

- Manakins (Pipridae): Blue-backed Manakin; Blue-crowned Manakin; Golden-headed Manakin; Green Manakin; Orange-crested Manakin; Striped Manakin; White-bearded Manakin; White-crowned Manakin; Wire-tailed Manakin; Wing-barred Piprites; Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin

- Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae): Rusty-belted Tapaculo

- Tyrants (Tyrannidae): Ringed Antpipit; Bright-rumped Attila; Cinnamon Attila; Citron-bellied Attila; Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet; Black-and-White Becard; Black-capped Becard; Chestnut-crowned Becard; Pink-throated Becard; White-winged Becard; Forest Elaenia; Grey Elaenia; Large Elaenia; Mottle-backed Elaenia; Small-billed Elaenia; Yellow-crowned Elaenia; Dusky-tailed Flatbill; Olivaceous Flatbill; Rufous-tailed Flatbill; Black-tailed Flycatcher; Boat-billed Flycatcher; Brownish Flycatcher; Dusky-capped Flycatcher; Dusky-chested Flycatcher; Euler's Flycatcher; Fork-tailed Flycatcher; Fuscous Flycatcher; Grey-capped Flycatcher; Grey-crowned Flycatcher; Ochre-bellied Flycatcher; Olive-sided Flycatcher; Piratic Flycatcher; Royal Flycatcher; Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher; Short-crested Flycatcher; Social Flycatcher; Streaked Flycatcher; Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher; Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher; Sulphury Flycatcher; Swainson's Flycatcher; Variegated Flycatcher; Willow Flycatcher; Yellow-breasted Flycatcher; Yellow-margined Flycatcher; Eastern Kingbird; Tropical Kingbird; White-throated Kingbird; Great Kiskadee; Lesser Kiskadee; Cinnamon Manakin; White-headed Marsh-Tyrant; Greyish Mourner; Double-banded Pygmy-Tyrant; Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant; Greater Schiffornis; Crowned Slaty-Flycatcher; Golden-crowned Spadebill; White-crested Spadebill; Sirystes; Black-crowned Tityra; Black-tailed Tityra; Masked Tityra; Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher; Spotted Tody-Flycatcher; Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher; Black-and-White Tody-Tyrant; White-eyed Tody-Tyrant; Golden-faced Tyrannulet; River Tyrannulet; Slender-footed Tyrannulet; White-lored Tyrannulet; Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet; Long-tailed Tyrant; Riverside Tyrant; Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant; Drab Water-Tyrant; Eastern Wood-Pewee

- Swallows and Martins (Hirundinidae): Brown-chested Martin; Grey-breasted Martin; Bank Swallow; Barn Swallow; Blue-and-White Swallow; Cliff Swallow; Southern Rough-winged Swallow; White-banded Swallow; White-thighed Swallow; White-winged Swallow

- Crows and Jays (Corvidae): Violaceous Jay

- Thrushes and Chats (Turdidae): Black-billed Thrush; Hauxwell's Thrush; Lawrence's Thrush; Swainson's Thrush; White-necked Thrush

- Wrens (Troglodytidae): Black-capped Donacobius; Southern Nightingale Wren; White-breasted Wood-Wren; Buff-breasted Wren; Coraya Wren; House Wren; Musician Wren; Thrush-like Wren

- Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae): Tropical Gnatcatcher; Half-collared Gnatwren; Long-billed Gnatwren

- Tanagers (Thraupidae): Red-crowned Ant-Tanager; Black-faced Dacnis; Blue Dacnis; White-bellied Dacnis; Yellow-bellied Dacnis; Orange-bellied Euphonia; Rufous-bellied Euphonia; Thick-billed Euphonia; White-lored Euphonia; White-vented Euphonia; Green Honeycreeper; Purple Honeycreeper; Red-legged Honeycreeper; Short-billed Honeycreeper; Fulvous Shrike-Tanager; Bay-headed Tanager; Blue-gray Tanager; Masked Crimson Tanager; Flame-crested Tanager; Fulvous-crested Tanager; Green-and-gold Tanager; Grey-headed Tanager; Magpie Tanager; Masked Tanager; Opal-crowned Tanager; Opal-rumped Tanager; Orange-headed Tanager; Palm Tanager; Paradise Tanager; Scarlet Tanager; Silver-beaked Tanager; Summer Tanager; Swallow Tanager; Turquoise Tanager; White-shouldered Tanager; White-winged Tanager; Yellow-backed Tanager; Yellow-bellied Tanager

- Blackbirds, Orioles and Cowbirds (Icteridae): Oriole Blackbird; Pale-eyed Blackbird; Ecuadorian Cacique; Red-rumped Cacique; Solitary Cacique; Yellow-rumped Cacique; Giant Cowbird; Shiny Cowbird; Velvet-fronted Grackle; Pampas Meadowlark; Moriche Oriole; Amazonian Oropendola; Band-tailed Oropendola; Casqued Oropendola; Crested Oropendola; Green Oropendola; Russet-backed Oropendola; Orange-backed Troupial

- Cardinals and Grosbeaks (Cardinalidae): Red-capped Cardinal; Blue-black Grosbeak; Slate-colored Grosbeak; Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak; Buff-throated Saltator; Greyish Saltator

- Vireos (Vireonidae): Dusky-capped Greenlet; Lemon-chested Greenlet; Tawny-crowned Greenlet; Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo; Red-eyed Vireo; Yellow-green Vireo

- Warblers (Parulidae): Blackburnian Warbler; Blackpoll Warbler; Buff-rumped Warbler; Canada Warbler; Yellow Warbler; Northern Waterthrush

- Buntings, American Sparrows, Juncos, etc. (Emberizidae): Black-and-white Seedeater; Chestnut-bellied Seedeater; Lesson's Seedeater; Lined Seedeater; Variable Seedeater; Yellow-bellied Seedeater; Large-billed Seed-Finch; Lesser Seed-Finch; Orange-billed Sparrow; Yellow-browed Sparrow

Reptiles:

180 reptile species

Lizards and Snakes - Boas, Pythons (Boidae): Green Anaconda

Crocodilia - Alligators (Alligatoridae): Black Caiman

Amphibians:

more than 100 amphibian species

Frogs - Dendrobatidae: Dendrobates ventrimaculatus

Plants:

More than 5000 vascular plant species

Dicotyledons:

Santalales - Santalaceae: Acanthosyris annonagustata - new species

Malvales - Tiliaceae: Pentaplaris huaoranica - new species

- Bombacaceae: West Indian Balsa (Ochroma pyramidale)

Rosales - Cecropiaceae: Coussapoa trinervia; Pumpwood (Cercopia sciadophylla)

Fabales - Fabaceae: Inga sarayacuensis - new species; Macrolobium acaciifolium

Malpighiales - Euphorbiaceae: Croton (Croton lechleri)

- Chrysobalanaceae: Licania sp.

Myrtales - Myrtaceae: Stopper (Eugenia sp.)

Gentianales - Naucleaceae:  Uncaria tormentosa

Monocotyledons:

Arecales - Arecaceae: Iriartea deltoidea and I. stenocarpa; Lepidocaryum tenue; Oenocarpus bataua; Prestoea shultzeana; Socratea exorrhiza

Possible activities

Birdwatching

Canoe

Note

UNESCO Biospheric Reserve

The park is threatened by the oil production

Several indigenous tribes living in absolute isolation

Best time to visit I-III.

Picture - source ecuador-travel.net