Cueva de los Tayos Tayu Jee

Chicham

Useful Information

Location:	Chuwitayo, Los Tayos shop. E45 Ruta Panamericana between Macas and Puyo, near the bridge across Rio Pastaza. (-1.951050, -77.788145)
Open:	only on certain weekends. [2021]
Fee:	Adults USD 120. [2021]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Cueva de los Tayos Tayu Jee, Aso. Ecotourism Yamaram Jintia Tayu Jee, Pastaza Province, Tel: +593-98-998-3914. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

The Cueva de los Tayos Tayu Jee is one of numerous caves named Cueva de los Tayos (Oilbird Cave), after the guacharo or tayo (Steatornis caripensis). Those birds dwell in caves, and so they can be found in virtually any cave in their habitat. As a result there are numerous Oilbird Caves in this area, so it is necessary to distinguish them somehow. To keep them apart we added a sort of identifier to the name, in this case "Tayu Jee", after the nearby Yamaram Jintia Tayu Jee Community. The cave is located on Shuar territory, and a visit is only possible if invited by the local Shuar authorities. However, they actually discovered that it is a possible source of income and organize several public cave tours per year. If you want to visit the cave you have to book online.

Individual tourists can follow the road from Puyo to Macas. At km 63 you will find the community of Chuwitayo, in the Los Tayos shop you will get information about how to get to the community. There you will meet Luis Karinas who organizes the trips to the cave. His family organizes the eco-tourism project with adventure activities, caving and cultural exchange.

The cave is a river cave, with a collapsed roof which resulted in a narrow gorge, which then continues underground. The cave is not developed, so this is a cave trekking tour, but it is not very difficult as the cave is horizontal and there is no need for vertical gear. Nevertheless, physical fitness and surefootedness are mandatory. The visit also includes an impressive insight into the culture of the indigenous Shuar and their daily life.