Tena: 186km (116 miles) SW of Quito; 79km (49 miles) N of Puyo
The capital of Napo province, Tena is an attractive and quiet city in the Ecuadorean lowlands. In addition to holding the provincial seat, Tena claims to be the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador, and there are cinnamon farms in and around Tena. The town sits at the convergence of the Tena and Puno rivers. Because of its location close to the Andean foothills, Tena has emerged as one of the top spots in Ecuador to go white-water rafting or kayaking.
Unlike the jungle lodges listed above, the rainforest lodges, tours, and adventures available from Tena are often accessible by car or 4WD vehicle, and do not necessarily involve long boat journeys. Also, because Tena is located in the Andean foothills, slightly above sea level, it's a bit cooler here than in the true lowland regions of El Oriente.
