This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Puyo.
Puyo, the main city of the Ecuadorian region of Pastaza, is a fairly small place that still manages to concentrate a good mount of activities in the fields of tourism, culture, and entertainment. Puyo is famous with travelers as gateway city to explore the Ecuadorian Amazon.
From here, you can depart on day tours organized by local tour operators that normally include treks in the jungle and visits to indigenous communities that will welcome you with traditional dances and typical Amazonian dishes (the banana-leaf-wrapped fish is a must-try!). Longer expeditions can also be organized from Puyo and it's common among the most adventurous tourists to get a group together in this city and head into the jungle for five days to a week, exploring the local flora, fishing, canoeing, and immersing themselves in a rustic and adventurous lifestyle for a few days. And if you are truly adventurous, the Amazonian roasted worms are probably going to suit your palate.
Carnaval is also a highlight in Puyo; celebrated around the twelfth of February each year, it gets all the inhabitants and visitors partying until late hours and, sometimes, even doing water fights!
Puyo hostel options and accommodation are concentrated mainly around two different areas. The more upscale is close to the river, with lodges surrounded by greenery. More affordable options can be found in the town center, where tour agencies have their offices, making it more practical to arrange your trips. The town center doesn't extend for that long, making it easy to walk around, or, if need be, take a taxi.
Written by local enthusiast for Puyo hostels
zararock
