Southern Highlands Travel Guide

This is a travel tip about Puyo, which is in the Oriente (jungle).  In the town tucked within the jungle and plantations, ask the local taxi drivers to take you to "La Casa Del Arbol" (tree house) and it's one of the oldest and tallest in the region with a wooden tiered treehouse.  It's massive and has about ten stories of man made ladders!  Around the tree is the resort style hotel and houses a baby Ocelot (native leopard unique to Ecuador) which is a gorgeous animal.  They keep him caged as a pet but beautiful to look at!  Very friendly staff and they will want to show you around.  We took a taxi for the day for $20 (you can negotiate prices) and went to the cascades and a local taxi driver took us around to several places in Puyo, Mera and Tena.  The water from the cascades is pure mountain water, good enough to drink straight from the cascade itself.  Pure and unspoilt!!  Amazing!

Cuena is a real change from most parts of Ecuador. It is a really beautiful city, with graceful streets and stacks of impressive churches. Although....Cuenca can sometimes feel a bit dead, especially in comparison with the liveliness of the coast (think Guayaquil) Having said that, Cuenca does have some really trendy bars, cafes and restaurants to chill at. - A must is LA PAROLA CAFE on CALLE LARGA. It only opened 4 months ago, but its a real gem. - If your going to stay the night anywhere, make it El Cafecito. Really cool, full of travellers to meet up with, excellent food. Only downside is if you want to have an early one, when the restaurant is still lively. US$6 a night - Day trip not to miss is the Parque Nacional Cajas! Bloody INCREíble! Costs US$10 if your a tourist or US$1.50 if your Ecuadorian or residing in Ecuador 

For those who are into colonial architecture, this is an excellent place to feel like living in the spanish colonization time, all the streets are bedded with "adoquines" the houses and even hotels still keep the colonial and rustical style. There are more than 9 churches/cathedrals in Cuenca with the PAN DE ORO structure inside. A must to buy : the ceramics, all made and painted by hand with unique designs.