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Shady Ady
Shady Ady
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5 out of 5
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Editor Pick

Jardin Botanico Los Orquideas

  • February 24, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Shady Ady from Hinckley, United Kingdom
Jardin Botanico Los Orquideas

Being the keen gardener that he is, you would have thought my father's love of dirt and all things green would have rubbed off on me. Up until now, flora wasn't really at the top on my list of fun things to do. A few hours at Jardin Botanico Los Orquideas could change such views of even the most stubborn, strong-willed person.

Located in the suburb of Intipungo, a 15-minute car journey from central Puyo (costing $3 by taxi), Jardin Botanico Los Orquideas really is an outstanding private botanical garden, containing close to 200 native species of Amazonian orchids.

The quality of the guide plays an enormous role in the satisfaction levels experienced, but I have never known a guide full of so much enthusiasm as Omar Tello, who also owns the gardens. His love of orchids is evident from the start and as every word is enthusiastically spouted from his lips, you soon find yourself becoming more and more fascinated by these strange and wonderful plants.

Spread over a couple of hills, the gardens are a lush tangle of vegetation, which you explore during the $5, 2-hour tour. Show genuine interest and I'm sure he will guide you around for the entire day! Some of the orchids are easily identifiable but many of the more finer, exquisite varieties need a magnifying glass for them to be seen in all their glory.

The paths are sometimes steep but are excellently maintained and can be navigated easily. If lucky you might also catch some wildlife that like to call the botanical gardens their home, including snakes, tarantulas, butterflies, and other creepy crawlies that have been spotted here. Omar also points out an incredible amount of medicinal uses that trees endemic to the region have to offer. I think I chewed enough cinammon tasting leaves to give me diarrhoea for a week! At least I had fresh smelling breath. At the end of the tour you are led through a field of orchids cultivated for exportation and sold for a ludicrous amount of money to rich Westerners. I'm sure this helps to supplement the rather meagre income that tourism brings to this botanical garden. Overall it really is a fascinating trip, not only into the world of orchids, but an insight into the fascinating joys an abstract hobby can bring to someone's life.

Due to only Omar and his wife giving tours, which can be going on at any time of the day, I would say making a reservation is a must. I didn't do this but I was very fortunate, as a group was leaving into the depths of the orchid filled 'jungle' just as I arrived.

For reservations or more information, Omar Tello and Jardin Botanico Los Orquideas can be contacted on either 03884855 or 884854. You can also visit the Oficina de Turismo (corner of 9 de Octubre and Francisco de Orellana) once arriving in Puyo.

From journal Puyo Jungle Shenanigans

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