Quick answer: Puerto Misahuallí is a small river town in Napo province, about 5 to 6 hours from Quito by bus via Tena. Its beach still has a small troop of wild capuchin monkeys, fewer than in the past. Most visitors come for canoe trips on the Napo River, short jungle walks and the Las Latas waterfalls, 13 km away.
Updated September 2026 by our local guides in Quito: we added how to get to Misahuallí from Quito, current bus and entry prices, the situation of the monkeys on the beach and a correction about the Ahuano airport.
| Misahuallí at a glance | As of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Where | Puerto Misahuallí, Tena canton, Napo province, where the Misahuallí River meets the Napo |
| Quito to Tena | Bus from Quitumbe terminal via Baeza, about 4.5 to 5 hours, around $8 to $10 |
| Tena to Misahuallí | Local bus from Tena, roughly every 40 minutes, about 45 minutes, $0.90 |
| Las Latas waterfalls | 13 km from Tena on the road to Misahuallí, $1.50 entry, about 45 minutes of trail |
| Canoe rides on the Napo | From about $20 per group for short trips, more for longer routes |
| Best for | A relaxed Amazon stop combined with rafting in Tena; not for deep-jungle wildlife |
Local tip: Do not feed or touch the monkeys, and keep sunglasses, phones and snacks inside a zipped bag on the beach. They are wild capuchins and can bite when people tease them or pull food away.
A popular tourist stop is the small town of Misahualli Ecuador (pronounced Mees-a-why-YEE). Located at the junction of the Misahuallí and Napo rivers this sleepy, end of the road town has beautiful jungle scenery and a large sandy beach.
Animal Life
The most popular inhabitants of Misahualli are the monkeys. They wander along the beach and into the park at the center of town.
Be careful the monkeys are very mischievous and will steal anything they can get their hands on. Water bottles and food are their favorite things to snatch. Watch you cameras and sunglasses too.
Things to Do
2026 update: The “new International Airport” at Ahuano mentioned below is Jumandy Airport, opened in 2011. It has had no scheduled commercial flights since January 2016, so plan to arrive by road through Tena. The Las Latas trail is still open: it passes a small 3 m fall and a 10 m fall with natural pools and caves, and the community charges $1.50. Always hire guides with a license from Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism, as the original post advises.
There is a nice butterfly farm in Misahualli just a block from the park. You can see some of the many butterfly species found in the jungle including the beautiful blue morpho butterfly.
Misahualli Ecuador is a nice place to do a quick jungle tour. Day trips are available, as are longer trips. Options include nature walks, waterfalls, and visiting indigenous communities. Watch out for unlicensed, inexperienced guides.
The nearby Latas Waterfall is impressive and worth the jungle walk.
During the past, Misahualli was the principle passageway to Coca, with travelers going by canoe. This is no longer necessary, but you can still hire a canoe and go down river.
If you just want a short canoe experience try going from Misahualli to Ahuano. Ahuano is the site of the new “International” Airport in the jungle. And you can either go back to Misahualli by canoe or take the bus to Tena from Ahuano.
– See more at: http://www.life-in-ecuador.com/misahualli-ecuador.html#sthash.ZuZNd7Fz.dpuf
How do you get to Misahuallí from Quito, and what are the monkeys like now?
Take a bus from Quito’s Quitumbe terminal to Tena. The road climbs over the Papallacta pass and drops through Baeza, and the trip takes about 4.5 to 5 hours. From Tena’s terminal, local buses run to Puerto Misahuallí roughly every 40 minutes for $0.90, a ride of around 45 minutes. A taxi from Tena is faster if you share it. If you want to see Las Latas, ask the Misahuallí bus to drop you at the trail entrance, 13 km from Tena, and catch the next bus onward afterwards.
The capuchin monkeys still come down to the beach and the central park, and in 2026 local media still describes them as the town’s main draw. There are fewer of them than when this post was first written. A local guide quoted in the regional press put the troop at about 11 animals, down from around 32 some 15 years earlier, because of deaths, males leaving the group, hunting and animals being taken to rescue centers. Watch them from a few meters away and let them stay wild.
Misahuallí is an easy add-on to rafting in Tena, which is the main reason most of our travelers come to this part of Napo. For wildlife such as pink river dolphins, caimans and ten species of monkeys, you need to go deeper, to a reserve like Cuyabeno.
Tena Rafting · half day or full day · on request
Run the rivers around Tena with certified rafting guides, then spend the afternoon on the beach at Misahuallí. Tell us your dates and we will set up the day for you.
Related guides
- Tena, Ecuador: the complete whitewater rafting guide
- How to do a Cuyabeno Amazon tour from Quito
- Cuyabeno vs Yasuní: which Amazon reserve should you visit?
- The best waterfalls of Ecuador
- What to pack for the Amazon and the rest of Ecuador
Plan it with us
Our office is at Pedro Fermín Cevallos N6-78 y Olmedo, on the edge of Quito’s Old Town, inside Community Hostel. Drop by, message us on WhatsApp at +593 97 953 3832 or write to info@communitytravel.ec, and one of our local guides will help you plan the Amazon part of your trip with current prices and departure dates.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Quito to Misahuallí?
Take a bus from Quito’s Quitumbe terminal to Tena, about 4.5 to 5 hours and around $8 to $10. From Tena’s bus terminal, local buses leave for Puerto Misahuallí roughly every 40 minutes, cost $0.90 and take about 45 minutes. Door to door, count on 5 to 6 hours. There are no commercial flights to the nearby Jumandy Airport.
Are there still monkeys on the beach in Misahuallí?
Yes. A troop of wild capuchin monkeys still visits the beach and the central park, but it is smaller than it used to be. A local guide quoted in regional press counted about 11 monkeys, down from around 32 some 15 years earlier. Do not feed or touch them, and keep food, phones and sunglasses zipped away.
How much does it cost to visit the Las Latas waterfalls?
Entry to Cascada de Latas costs $1.50 per person, charged by the local community. The trailhead is about 13 km from Tena on the road to Misahuallí, so any Tena–Misahuallí bus can drop you there. The walk takes about 45 minutes and passes two falls of roughly 3 m and 10 m, with pools you can swim in. Wear shoes that can get wet.
Is Misahuallí worth visiting?
It is worth a night or a day if you are already in Tena for rafting. The town is quiet, the river beach is pleasant, and canoe trips and short jungle walks are easy to arrange. It is not the place for deep-jungle wildlife, because the forest around town is secondary and settled. For that, choose Cuyabeno or Yasuní.
Can you still take a canoe from Misahuallí to Coca?
The road network means nobody needs the canoe to reach Coca anymore, and long river trips downriver are now arranged privately rather than as a regular service. Short canoe rides on the Napo, for example toward Ahuano, start at around $20 per group. Agree on the price and route before you leave, and wear the life vest.
