Downstream
from Misahualli
on the
north bank
of the Napo,
Ahuano
cowers in
the shadow
of the gargantuan
Casa del Suizo,
looking like
a medieval
village beneath
the towering
walls of a
castle.
Despite appearances,
this huge
hotel has
brought money,
jobs and a
telephone
office to
Ahuano and
kick-started
a fledgling
tourist economy
in the village
itself. At
the eastern
end of town,
in Ceramica
Indigena you
can watch
a demonstration
of Quichua
pottery skills
[$2*]
and buy the
finished product
in the shop.
Other local
products include
natural medicinal
lotions and
potions such
as sangre
de drago,
good for gastric
disorders,
and aceite
de hungurahua,
used for shampoo,
plus cane
and gourd
flutes, stuck
together with
beeswax.
General
information
With
so few independent
travellers
stopping here,
aside from
the La Casa
del Suizo
hotels and
tourist facilities
are thin on
the ground.
On the main
street the
east end of
town is a
budget travellers’
paradise,
offering hiking
and camping
expeditions
into the forests.
Places
to sleep
Accomodation
is limited
to a few basic
hostals, family
houses with
clothes lines
running from
wall to wall
and children
running beneath
them, cheap
rooms with
shared bathrooms
and electric
showers.
Places
to eat
You
can
get breakfast,
lunch or dinner
at the simple
restaurants.
The one on
the waterfront
under the
walls of La
Casa del Suizo
also has a
couple of
basic rooms
upstairs.
Entertainment
Next
door to Casa
del Suizo
the local
youth party
the night
away in the
village disco,
bopping away
to a selection
of Latin and
pop hits in
the strobe
lights of
a bamboo hut
[Thurs-Sun
from 9pm;
free].
Things
to do
A
number of
locals work
as guides
at La Casa
del Suizo.
You may be
able to hire
their services
for
tours into
forested areas
downstream
[$10-15 *
per day].
Getting
there
There
are two ways
to get to
Ahuano. A
daily canoe
runs from
Misahualli
to Coca
passing the
village. Otherwise
you can take
a bus
from Tena
or Puerto
Napo
along the
southern bank
of the Napo
as far as
La
Punta,
where canoes
wait to ferry
you across
($0.
20*).
There may
be a camioneta
on the other
side to take
you the 2km
to Ahuano.
La
Punta
has a couple
of restaurants
and a basic
hotel if you
should get
stuck here.
*Prices
quoted are
approximate
Last
updated 14th
June 2006
