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Tiputini Biodiversity Station |
Location The Tiputini Biodiversity Station is located in the pristine Eastern Ecuadorian Amazon on a 650 hectare (1500 acre) tract of lowland rainforest. This remote location provides an unparalleled amount of flora and fauna to observe and study. Situated in the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, the Station has been recognized as one of the best spots in the world to study biodiversity because of its protection and isolation.
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Background The Tiputini Biodiversity Station (TBS) was established in 1995 by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in collaboration with Boston University to accommodate the academic community and discerning naturalists. The goal of the Tiputini Biodiversity Station is to promote understanding of rainforest ecosystems through education, research, and ecotourism by providing an opportunity to experience a pristine environment. In 2005, TBS was awarded a grant to make several major improvements. The National Science Foundation grant has allowed for expanded laboratory and guest facilities, and improved communications. Reconstruction of the second canopy tower and canopy walkway is currently underway. TBS has an extensive system of well-marked trails for the use of researchers and visitors. Explore the wonders of the rainforest and the many species that inhabit it.
Habitat Tiputini Biodiversity Station features a variety of habitats, ranging from upland forests, seasonally-flooded lowland forest, palm swamps, small oxbow lakes and streams, and other wetlands. Countless numbers of different species have been recorded at this hot-spot for biodiversity. 12 species of primates have been documented to live in the areas surrounding the camp, and over 500 species of birds have been catalogued. More than 230 species of mammals, several hundred species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and thousands of fungi, plant and insect species have been documented at TBS.
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Getting to TBS... Travel to the station begins from the Andean city of Quito, the capital of Ecuador- a metropolitan city of about 2 million people, with an old-world and indigenous charm. The first leg of the journey will take you on a flight over the Andes Mountains to the lowland jungle town of Coca. The flight takes less than one hour. The second leg of the journey will take you on a motorized boat ride down the Napo River, lasting 1-2 hours. The third leg of the journey is an open-air bus ride from the Napo River to the Tiputini River. This takes 1-2 hours. When you arrive at the Tiputini River, the trip is not yet over. Get ready for a relaxing trip in a motorized canoe down the river. Be sure to keep an eye peeled for wildlife! This part of the trip can take from 2-3 hours.
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