Tena Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon Ecuadorian Orient

Alukus is a community that carries out the activity of community tourism within the primary forest of the Amazon. It began in 1994, with the objective of maintaining the cultural identity of indigenous peoples, the ecosystem conservation and the intercultural relationship with visitors from different countries. This Kichwa community has a series of very interesting tourist attractions such as: natural swimming pool, waterfalls, giant butterflies, route of the orchids, fishing, gold washing, participation in the yucca farm, development of handicrafts, explanation of medicinal plants, hiking, ancestral knowledge of culture, history and indigenous traditions related around a campfire, rituals of shamanism (optional). All this accommodated in rustic cabins built with materials of the environment and enjoying native food.

People talk a lot about Laguna Azul in Tena, Ecuador. I thought I had never been there until I finally realized that they referred to the same lagoons we use to go all the time as the children. At that time it was called Amorongachi or Amoroncachi in Kichwa. I guess I needed a more "universal" name and Laguna azul tena Napo was chosen. Although, the lagoons are not blue. It is a jewel for the community.

The Blue Talag Lagoon is actually a series of natural pools formed by a tributary of the Jatunyacu River. The water is very cold and clear, and the surrounding jungle is beautiful.

Before, when we used to go in the late 90's there was only a small road at the end of the road leading to the lagoons. Now, there are huts built around the main pool and a door to the entrance where you pay to enter. The price is $3 for foreigners and $2 for Ecuadorian citizens and residents.

Luckily, the lagoons themselves have not been tampered with. The water is still beautiful and if you ignore the mini-community of the hill you still feel as if you were in the middle of nowhere.

One of the benefits of the new start - in addition to the toilets - is that it replaced the wet trunk that used to have to cross to reach the upper lagoons with a nice little bridge. The bridge is much less afraid to try to keep the balance in the register!

Multiple lagoons in the Blue Lagoon

The main lagoon is large and has a great place for those who like to jump. The water is crystal clear. It flows through a waterfall and into the Jatunyacu river below. This blue lagoon waterfall is very dangerous. It is not a water slide. There is a rope through the lagoon to which to cling if you start floating in the wrong direction, but the current is not very strong (it is not recommended that you swim if it is raining as the water could suddenly rise).

Behind the main lagoons, in the river Jatunyacu, you can see large volcanic rocks from the last great eruption of the Cotopaxi volcano, its tributaries feed the river. There is a lot of black sand mud that some spa would probably love to have.

The upper lagoons are not so deep and have no waterfalls to worry about. These lagoons are great if you have small children with you. I didn't go up to the top lagoons this time. It's not (was) one with a natural water slide that's fun to go down and makes for a great photo op.

Blue Lagoon How to get there?

Distance from Tena to Blue Lagoon The only way to get to Blue Lagoon is by taxi or drive. The lagoons are about a half hour outside of Tena beyond the cities of Pano and Talag. There are buses to these towns, but the lagoons are still farther away. Many tourism companies offer excursions to the jungle that include this place and others in the area. For a reputable travel agency in Tena.