South of Puyo, the dusty potholed road crosses two wobbly suspension bridges on its way to Macas. Smaller, cleaner and quieter than Puyo, Macas is the most appealing town in the southern Oriente, mainly because of its pleasant climate, laid-back atmosphere and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.

 

A good place to take in the lie of the land is on the steps of the modern cathedral in the Parque Central. From here you can see right across the low roofs of the town to the eastern flanks of the sierra. On very clear days you can see the smouldering cone of Volcan Sangay, some 40km northwest. Behind the cathedral the shelf on which Macas is built drops abruptly down to the Rio Upano whose yellow-brown waters curl around the eastern edge of the town.

 

For the best views eastwards, head five blocks north from the cathedral to the Parque Recreacional. This small pretty park sits above the seemingly endless blanket of vegetation - a fuzzy green haze stretching into the horizon.

 

Last updated 26th June 2006