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While Ecuador has a few relatively large cities in the Amazon, most of them feel a little dull without a whole lot happening, but Tena has some charm.
Now, it doesn’t hit the stereotypical beauty standards like Cuenca does, and it probably won’t make you say ‘wow!’ when you arrive. But it has a different type of charm. Bar huts lining the river, a nice malecon lined with modern cafes, little craft shops spotted around the place, a strong indigenous culture, and some nice big parks and rivers within walking distance.
Tena is an interesting blend of diverse indigenous cultures, urban sprawl, and a lively atmosphere of bars and cafes. It’s a mix of the new and the old, smack in the middle of the jungle, making it an ideal launching pad for jungle expeditions and tours.
So, that’s what we’re going to cover here. Let’s have a look at why people visit Tena, and some of the things I recommend you do while you’re here.
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How many days in Tena?
I’ve been to Tena twice, and each time I spent around 3 days there, which was plenty of time to do the main things. If you’re doing longer jungle expeditions, you’ll likely be staying in the area for longer.
While you can see the main tourist attractions in the city in a day, spending a little longer gives you time to feel more immersed in the jungle and explore this city to a little more depth.
Is Tena Worth a Visit?
Tena is worth a visit, in my opinion. If you’re going anywhere in the Ecuadorian Amazon, this is the place to be. Tena is lively, interesting, and somewhat modernized. It’s situated in a beautiful part of the Amazon, and it’s a popular launching pad for Amazon tours.
How’s the Weather?
Tena has a tropical climate year-round, with temperatures between 24°C (77°F) and 30°C (86°F). Days are generally hot and sticky, while nights are often comfortable, sometimes with a bit of a chill.
The dry season runs from December to March and is best for land-based adventures. The wetter months from April to November are great for river activities, though frequent rain is expected.
How do you get to Tena?
Two main roads connect to Tena, one from Quito (about 4 hours away) and one from Baños de Agua Santa (about 3 hours away).
Let’s look at the 2 popular routes to get to Tena
Quito to Tena
Buses from Quito to Tena depart from Terminal Terrestre Quitumbe, located in the southern part of Quito. Take note that Quito has two main bus terminals, so make sure you go to the South one. Bus companies that provide services from Quito to Tena include Flota Pelileo, Cooperativa Amazonas, Expreso Baños, and Cooperativa Baños. Buses run frequently, and you can buy a ticket on arrival. The trip will cost you between $7 - $9, and take around 4 hours.
Baños to Tena
You can catch a direct bus operated by Cooperativa Baños, which departs daily at 13:30 from Terminal Terrestre Baños. The journey takes about 3 hours, and the fare is around $6.50. Going directly from Cuenca to Tena is also an option, in which Cooperativa Amazonas has a couple of buses early in the morning that can take you, with the latest leaving at 8:30 am.
Check Out Malecón Escénico de Tena
Malecón Escénico de Tena is where most of the action in the city is, and it’s also the most developed part of the city, giving it a bigger appeal to tourists. Several years ago, there was nothing here besides some decrepit roads and shoddy buildings, where walking through here felt like a trust exercise between you and your phone’s GPS. Now it’s cleaned up real well, almost unrecognizably so.
Now the Malecón is lined with bar-huts, and a hip bar called ‘Ayahuasca’ that completely missed the plot and may need some help with their marketing initiatives.
This area pops off in the evenings with a vibrant social atmosphere, music, and TVs attached to the venues, making it a gathering spot to watch football games and other events with the community. It’s the perfect spot to unwind after a day of exploration, and knock back a beer or two.
Go to Parque Amazónico La Isla
Parque Amazónico La Isla is a must-see in Tena, and it’s only a 5-minute walk from Malecón Escénico, so you have no excuse not to go.
The park is wedged between to prominent rivers, the Rio Tena and Rio Pano, which converge right at the observation deck. This park is large, beautiful, and gives you a picturesque slice of the untamed Amazon.
You don’t need a guide to enter Parque Amazónico La Isla, and you can walk the main boardwalk area on your own. That said, guides are highly recommended if you want to explore deeper into the park and actually learn something.
The deeper trails can be poorly maintained and occasionally unsafe, and a local guide helps you spot wildlife, understand the ecosystem, and avoid getting lost. For just a couple of dollars, it’s worth the investment. There will usually be some guides waiting around at the entrance of the park.
Here you’ll see Capuchin monkeys roaming wild, some unique bird life, and possibly Greg, the local superstar Tapir who often hangs around the park. His name’s not actually Greg, but he definitely has some Greg energy!
Fun fact: the Capuchin monkey’s IQ is about 2.6, making it a full point higher than my own.
Check Out the Observation Deck and the Beach
Right outside of Parque Amazónico La Isla, check out the observation deck. You have some nice views of the river and city, and it puts it into perspective.
If you’re down for a little walk, follow the bridge across the river and walk left until you hit Playa Tena. It’s a nice walk along the river until you hit a small beach where you can rest or take a swim.
When I was relaxing on the beach, guess who showed up? Good ol’ Greg swimming across the river and hanging out with us. I tried to get a photo with him, but he wasn’t really into it.
Tena is a prime place to do some water activities, such as river excursions or a boat tour. There are quite a few rivers in the area, including the Rio Napo, which is a large river that you can swim in. Embark on canoe trips along the Napo River, exploring hidden lagoons and observing diverse wildlife.
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I can’t say enough about how awesome this company is. Raft Amazonia exceeded our expectations and went above and beyond. Our guides Gregory and Salvatore were outstanding. They were very knowledgeable, kind, and professional. We felt very safe and learned quite a lot from them. If you are looking for an unforgettable and exhilarating day of whitewater rafting then no look further. Book a trip with Raft Amazonia and you’ll be quite happy! - Katherine
Shop for Souvenirs
Shopping in Tena gives you a chance to pick up a lot of unique items sourced by the indigenous people of the Amazon. You’ll find things like:
- Handcrafted baskets
- Traditional bracelets and necklaces
- Natural soaps and hygiene products
- Herbal medicines and remedies from native plants
- Textiles woven with traditional techniques
- Cacao products
- Indigenous artwork, like beadwork and carvings.
- All sorts of tools, handicrafts, and ornaments
Many of these items are made by local artisans who carry on ancestral practices, and buying directly from them is one of the best ways to support the community.
Cascadas de Latas and Cascada Pimpillitu
A short journey from town leads you to these stunning waterfalls. The trail meanders through lush rainforest, culminating in a refreshing natural pool—perfect for a midday dip.
Cascada Pimpillitu is less frequented but just as nice a spot that offers a serene setting for relaxation. The tranquil waters and surrounding greenery create an ideal environment for meditation and connection with nature.
Doing a jungle trek in Tena is one of the main reasons why people come all the way to the Amazon. It’s a surreal experience walking through the endless jungle and seeing all the flora and fauna native to it.
For obvious reasons, you can’t go out and do expeditions by yourself. It’s easy to get lost and can be dangerous, which is why most visitors opt for a tour. Jungle expeditions range from one day to multiple days, include a guide or guides, and often other activities too.
Here I’ve linked a Tena jungle tour that I recommend, check it out if you’re interested in exploring off the beaten path.
- ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars – with 10 reviews!
- ♥️ Why choose this item: One of the top-rated (and most affordable) jungle expedition tours in Tena. Packed with lots of activities, including visiting an indigenous Uchuculin community
I highly recommend this agency if you're looking for an authentic experience in the Amazon jungle in Tena. I had the chance to experience a 3-day trip with the Dream Path. I learned a lot about the Kichwa culture, medicinal plants, and the animals of the forest during my stay. My accommodation was very comfortable. Additionally, my questions were quickly answered via WhatsApp. Overall, I have only positive things to say about this experience.
People mostly go to Tena for one reason: To do a tour and immerse themselves in the jungle.
This jungle expedition runs for 4 days and involves locations such as Cascadas de Latas, hiking through the jungle, spending time with animals at Amazoonico, tubing and canoeing, and visiting local tribes.
If you want to combine all the activities of Tena into one immersive tour, this is the one to do.
Visit Laguna Azul
Laguna Azul is a beautiful part of the river where there are naturally formed rockpools, and this stretch of the river is especially known for its blue water, which is where it gets the name ‘Blue Lagoon’. The entrance fee is $3 for foreigners.
It is a bit of a trek, about a 40-minute drive from Tena. While you can get a bus from Terminal Centinela to in Tena to Talag (the closest town) and then walk an hour to Laguna Azul from there, this isn’t an ideal option. Buses are infrequent and at odd times, and there are no evening buses, so you need to leave the pools early to avoid getting stranded.
A taxi will cost around $15 from Tena, but you might have a similar problem… getting back. You might be able to organize a time for the taxi driver to pick you up, or share a ride with others. If you catch the bus, keep in mind that Terminal Centinela isn’t the main bus terminal, but it’s just a short walk from it.
Visit Puerto Misahuallí
Puerto Misahualli is a small town about 30 minutes from Tena. The town is quite a touristic spot along the Rio Napo, and is known for its abundance of free-roaming monkeys that are all over town, and quite used to humans (careful, one climbed up me and grabbed $10 out of my pocket).
The town has a really nice and active beach along the river where people often hang out, go for a swim, and grab some food from one of the many vendors lining the beach.
Sit In an Ayahuasca Ceremony
Now let’s get to the interesting stuff. There is a place I know of in the area that offers both Ayahuasca and San Pedro ceremonies with local Kichwa shamans for the very affordable price of $50. I’ve sat in 2 ceremonies here myself, both at different times, and it is a truly unique, immersive experience.
Generally speaking, I’ve sat in ceremony with this sacred medicine about 25 times to date, but this is the only place I’ve sat with Ayahuasca where there is no music, no singing, no fire. Just silence, darkness, and deep immersion in the jungle.
A Kichwa guide sits with you, but he doesn’t take the medicine or sing. He may, or can, perform a limpia if some heavy energies need to come out. Ceremonies are casual, and the experience is organized on request rather than having a set timetable for it.
Likewise, just book in however many nights you want to stay, and organize the sitting within that timeframe (I suggest staying an extra night as you will want a day for integration).
If you’re already well-versed with the medicine, this can be a great place to do it. If you’re just starting out and looking for the proper support network and Icaro setup that will ground you, then I would suggest doing a retreat first.
You can book a stay at Magia Verde here, ask Scott about the ceremonies, or check out the website for more information.
Where to Stay in Tena, Ecuador?
In the few times I’ve been back to Tena, I stayed at Hostal Tena Ñaui, which is just outside of town, far enough to feel like you’re in the jungle, but still close enough to be able to walk into town. The hostel is big, spacious, clean, and has a nice outdoor area overlooking the city and jungle, which is a very nice place to relax. Just be warned, you do feel like you’re in the thick of the jungle here. After going out for a smoke one night, I noticed a giant tarantula about a meter away… so there’s that.
If you’re looking for a nice modern apartment that’s out of the city and a little more into the thick of the jungle, I recommend Casa la Estancia. This apartment is perfect for a couple wanting an escape for a while. It comes equipped with a kitchen, modern amenities, and a spacious layout.
Keep in mind that this is a little outside of Tena, about an hour walk or 5 5-minute ride along the highway.
