Ecotourism has grown extremely popular in recent years, especially in the Ecuadorian Amazon. To take advantage of this boom, many tour agencies and hotels have slapped the prefix "eco" in front of their names in an effort to attract clients. To know if you are really getting the ecological experience that you've been promised, check out EcuadorExplorer.com's definition of "eco".

Huaorani tribesmen in the Ecuadorian rainforest. Photo by Andy Drumm, Tropic.

Adventure Life - is committed to providing quality, small-group tours that have a positive impact on local cultures and the environment. They pride themselves on showing you Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia face to face. Join them for the experience of a lifetime as they explore local culture, ecology and life in remote villages, bustling city markets, wild jungles and mountains.

Cabañas Aliñahui - rainforest lodge located on the Río Napo, six hours from Quito, is an example of what eco-tourism should be. Run by two non-profits (Jatun Sacha and Health & Habitat), Alinahui offers visitors the opportunity to experience the Amazon while supporting rainforest conservation and community development programs.

Casa del Suizo - with its panoramic view of the Napo River, Casa del Suizo is a great choice for a first or hundredth trip to the rainforest. First class accommodations, with many of the conveniences of home, and excellent food in the tranquility of the rainforest make Casa del Suizo the ideal getaway and great base camp from which to explore the Amazon.

Cuyabeno Lodge - located in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve deep in the Amazon, Cuyabeno Lodge offers outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities and a chance to meet the area's indigenous inhabitants. Glide through the rainforest in a dugout canoe while spotting monkeys, macaws, manatees and hundreds of other rainforest creatures.

Emerald Forest Expeditions - provides jungle adventures to the depths of the Amazon rainforest, allowing you to truly see, hear, touch, smell and taste the unique diversity of rainforest life. Emerald Forest specializes in affordable trips to the flooded Amazonian lakes of Panacocha, an excellent introduction to the Amazon.

Emotion Tours - offers guided trips to the Ecuadorian Amazon where travelers can visit various indigenous Secoya and Quichua communities, raft in the Upano river, explore the ancient jungle of the Cuyabeno reserve, participate in shaman rituals, fish for piranha, and much more. Emotion Tours provides professional bilingual guides, transportation, lodging, and all meals.

Equator Information - offering unforgettable, affordable tours throughout Ecuador and the Galapagos, Equator Information custom designs each one of its trips to meet your needs. Guiding you to the country's most astonishing destinations by foot, horseback, boat, train and plane, Equator Information truly has it all. So whether you're seeking a challenging eco-excursion to the depths of the Amazon or a luxury, diving tour of the Galapagos, Equator Information has the perfect get away for you.

ExplorerTours - offers exceptional trips at reasonable prices. Their many years in the business guarantee your Galapagos, Amazon jungle and other Ecuador tours will be memorable. By avoiding the middlemen Explorer Tours passes savings to their clients, making them one of the the most affordable tour operators in Ecuador.

Galaeco - the preservation of Ecuador's flora, fauna, and other natural treasures is a priority to Galaeco. They believe responsible, sustainable eco-tourism is the best way to save Ecuador's natural world. Galaeco offers travelers a variety of unique adventures and ecological excursions throughout Ecuador and the awe-inspiring Galapagos Islands. Come enjoy all the wonders of this beautiful South American nation, let Galaeco be your guide.

Golondrina Turismo - visit nature's most impressive museum of evolutionary change by joining Golondrina Turismo for a unique tour of the Galapagos Islands. With ten years of experience, a fleet of boats of all classes and sizes, and a variety of private and semi-private tours to chose from, Golondrina allows you to be the captain of your tour by choosing exactly what it is that you want to see in this exquisite country of unparalleled diversity. From the ecological richness of the Amazon to the Andes' breathtaking Avenue of the Volcanoes, Golondrina Turismo offers you a wide range of fascinating travel opportunities.

La Selva Jungle Lodge - is located high on Lake Garzacocha deep in Ecuador's Amazon basin, the richest primary forest on earth, and offers you the ultimate in luxury jungle adventures. Create your own itinerary; swim in tranquil lagoons and lakes, fish for piranha, go birdwatching, trek or hike in the jungle, canoe in meandering rivers, or simply enjoy the magnificent views of the rainforest while lying on a hammock. Also, enjoy the Lodge's gourmet food and its personalized service.

Oscelot kitten in the Amazon region. Photo by Cherise Miller.

Magic River Tours - specializes in canoe tours through the Amazon rainforest. Paddling and hiking through untouched primary rainforest with expert bilingual guides (both English and German) is a "must do" for birders and wildlife lovers. Magic River provides accommodations in cozy, rustic cabins, and uses state of the art camping and canoe equipment.

Sacha Lodge - is an ecotourist´s dream. Primary Amazon Rainforest, a birdwatching tower, a butterfly nursery, an extensive network of trails and comfortable accommodation make Sacha Lodge one of the world´s premier eco-lodges.

Sandaes - offers some of the best and most varied tours of the Ecuadorian Amazon available. Join them from any one of the four top-class eco-lodges from which they operate and allow them to guide you through the infinite expanses of flooded forests, meandering waterways, serene lagoons, and magical primary forests that make the Ecuadorian Amazon one of the planet's richest and most precious treasures.

Selva Life Without Frontiers Foundation - runs an eco-lodge and several eco-tours to support their vital environmental programs in the Amazon rainforest. The beautiful lodge on the Aguarico river gives excellent access to the Cuyabeno wildlife reserve and the indigenous peoples that inhabit the area. All proceeds from your stay go to sustainable development projects in Ecuador.

Sentient Experientials - an experiential wilderness journey deep into the heart of the upper Ecuadorian Amazonian Rainforest with the Secoya People - forest masters, traditional healers, visionaries, artists, and ethnobotanists.