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A Brief History
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish in 1534, the Incas had ruled the Andes for about 50 years, their legacy being the Quechua language, still spoken as a first language by more than half of the population. The area is still home to a number of indigenous peoples, from the Cañaris of Cuenca to the black communities of the Chota valley in the north. The most famous are the otavaleños. Brought by the Cusqueños (Incas) at the end of the 15th century or early in the 16th century, the Otavaleños have maintained their own identity while successfully integrating into the modern economy. Their strength is their favoritism for textiles, expressed in their weavings, mixed with a sharp business sense, that has led their people to travel all over the globe selling their eaving and other Ecuadorian crafts.

Geologically
Andean peaks are as distinct from one another as people are. Cotopaxi (5987meters) the highest active volcano in the world has an almost perfect cone shape, as does Sangay (5500meters), with major volcanic events taking place as frequently as every 15 minutes! In both cordilleras you will find remote areas, with excellent opportunities for adventure.
Earthquakes are common throughout Ecuador as the land is being formed. The lahars around Cotopaxi look like frozen rivers when seen from the refuge. There are lava flows that flowed out of Antisana, which blocked the rivers above Papallacta and formed a large lake. Volcanic layers laid down eons ago have been folded back on themselves exactly on the equator visible in cuttings on the road from Guallabamba to Tabacundo. The volcanic landscape has been modified by the action of glaciers. Forming the basins in the inter-Andean valley that are now separate provinces.

When to Visit
Any time is a good to visit Ecuador's Andean region. For those who prefer a drier climate, June to September is recommended, as well as November and December. The rest of the year is considered rainy season, with temperate weather and mostly afternoon showers. However, as the locals like to boast, the Andean region is famous for experiencing "four seasons in one day": Morning tends to be like spring, midday is summer, afternoon is fall and night time is similar to a mild winter. The Ecuadorian Andes beckons travelers with their blue skies and billowy clouds. If you are lucky you may come across a traditional Andean cowboy or "chagra," who will share with you the legend of a condor swooping away a young damsel and other imaginative tales that have survived the time.

THE AMAZON BASIN OF ECUADOR
The Ecuadorian Amazon Basin is also known as the Oriente. One Amazonian tree can host more ant species than all of the British Isles put together and in one hectare of forest there are as many frog species as all of North America. There are nine tribal groups sharing this rainforest, many of which still live a traditional lifestyle and some of who have avoided completely contact with outsiders.

Moreover, forty percent of all earth's fresh water flows through the Amazon basin. In the Amazon River there are islands as large as Switzerland and otters bigger than men are. It snakes thousands of miles and draws in water from over 1500 water sources, including the Napo River of Ecuador, one of its primary tributary plants are found in this equatorial swath of green.
Some of our favorite gastronomic products come from the Amazon, such as: avocado, black pepper, Brazilian nuts, cayenne pepper, cashews, cocoa, cinnamon, eggplant, figs, ginger, sugarcane, vanilla and yams. The rainforest also produces many medicines, such as quinine for malaria; curare for multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease; as well as many industrial products, including latex, resins, timber, oil and other minerals.

Getting to the Rainforest
You can access to the jungle through one of the roads from the Andes. Going north from Quito. Another road in the south from Baños to Puyo, which is considered to be the most reliable one and the third southern road with access from Cuenca to Macas.
There are airports in Lago Agrio, Coca and Macas, all with scheduled flights from Quito. These services are notoriously unreliable and the weather can also cancel the flights, so be prepared for delay.
Once away from the roads and inside the rainforest the rivers are used for travel, as most settlements are along the banks of the rivers where dugout canoes are used for transport. Hiking through the rainforest is tough and muddy, a delightful challenge for adventure-seekers. Also from November to April there are some fantastic hikes from the Andes to the Amazon, passing down ancient trade routes, through cloud forest and remote villages.

Health
The Amazon rainforest, contrary to the warnings, can be a very comfortable and healthy place to visit. To avoid health problems the three most important things are to try to avoid being bitten by insects, taking care of you personal hygiene and to drink only boiled water (like anywhere else in Ecuador).
It's usually not necessary to take anti-malaria's. The number tropical diseases exist only in the background and the temporary visitor is very unlikely to be exposed to them. The only time it is certainly worth taking prophylactics is if an epidemic in the area is to be visited, in which case you should ask your embassy about before you go or if you plan to stay in the jungle for more than a week. Yellow fever injections are worth while, as is an anti-tetanus booster. Injections against hepatitis should be up to date. The precautions that you can take to avoid insect bites include the use of personal insect repellent, long sleeve shirts and slacks.

Never leave the door to your room or tents open, even during the day, not turning on an indoor light while the door or tent flap is opened at night. Be cautious about lying on the river shores, as sandflies may be a problem. It's also a good idea not to pet animals or birds that many people have living around their homes.

Things To Do
There are jungle lodges, deep in the forest where visitors can experience the rainforest and have the chance of seeing monkeys and other mammals. Also canoe expeditions are an option, combined with camping or basic accommodation, usually these include something cultural from the area often with a community or family visit. There are both indigenous families and communities who welcome visitors and are usually as interested in your culture as you are in theirs.

People and Shamanism
A large proportion of modern medicine is based on the traditional herbal cures of the Amazon basin. There are many plants such as Sangre de Drago (a good anti-biotic, the sap of this tree is said to cure stomach ulcers if taken twice a day in water, among many other illnesses) still waiting to be discovered by western society. The Shaman of the rainforest has inherited this rich tradition and today still uses these traditional techniques to cure their patients. For those interested in extending their knowledge of herbal and other traditional shaman practices this is a great place to do it. These visits are not designed to be worthwhile sightseeing trips, but are for people who wish to actively take part in a learning/healing experience.
The rainforest is home to thousands of indigenous inhabitants, who make up nearly 200 distinct nations, including the Siona, Secoya, Cofan, Shuar, Zaparo, Huaorani, and Quichua. The indigenous tribes that live in Ecuador's rainforest are ancient keepers and guardians of the world's biological heritage - having lived there for more than 10,000 years; they know its trees, its animals and its rhythms better than anyone does.