Surrounded by exhuberant hill spurs, Macas, the capital of Morona Santiago province, is a progressive, dynamic town rising up in the south of the country. It lies in the Upano valley, to the right of the river of the same name. The Virgen Purísima Church is the main attraction of this town dating from the beginning of the XVII century, which was built on the ruins of the old "Sevilla de Oro". Another must is the viewpoint on Quillano hill. 27km away is Sucúa, seat of the Federation of the Shuar and Achuar ethnic groups; and Gualaquiza, 130km away, of great importance for those in search of gold. Macas is bordered by majestic rivers like the Zamora and Bombonaza.

Getting there: The most comfortable opportunity to travel to Macas is by plane. The companies TAME and Austro Aéreo have regular flights from Quito or Cuenca to the city on the Upano river. The combination of airway and country way is an interesting alternative for travelers coming from Quito to Cuenca or vice versa. The loop way to the Oriente is worthwhile to know the indigenous ethnic groups Shuar and their sacred waterfalls in the jungle, the landscape of the cloudforest, the ravines of the valleys and as well the Sangay, the probably most active volcano of the two Americas.