Back

Visit AmaZOOnico animal rescue centre in Ecuador’s Amazon

Ecuador_TheEcuadorianAmazon_ShutterStock

Visit a unique animal rehabilitation centre in the heart of Ecuador's Amazon rainforest and see recovering monkeys, caiman, toucans and and parrots up close.

AmaZOOnico is an animal rescue centre in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest which rehabilitates, reintroduces, and cares for animals which are victims of illegal trafficking. You are very welcome to visit, but it’s certainly not a zoo. The animals, including caimans, toucans, macaws and other parrots, plus mammals – including a number of species of monkey – are recuperating in as natural an environment as possible, which make s observing them a particularly rewarding experience.

These animals have been confiscated from people who have kept them as pets, or have been traded on the black market. Some arrive suffering from problems too severe for them to return to a self-reliant life in the forest. In those cases, the charity provides them with spacious and comfortable enclosures in familiar surroundings. In other cases, creatures arrive in good condition and following rehabilitation can be successfully reintroduced into the charity’s protected forest.

The centre is open to visitors on a daily basis and it’s a real opportunity to observe the rainforest’s normally shy animal life up close. It’s heartening to see creatures which had had a poor future well on the road to recovery. Getting there is all part of the experience; you can travel by canoe for an hour down the Napo river from Tena, enjoying the life of the riverbank as you go. 

Holidays Visit AmaZOOnico animal rescue centre in Ecuador’s Amazon

From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.

Amazon river flowing through the rainforest

Private Journeys

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

Self-drive Ecuador: The back roads of the Andes

10 days from £3,050pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

0 1 2 3 4 5