Coca (Ecuador)

Coca, or Puerto Francisco de Orellana, is in the Amazonian region of Ecuador. The city serves as the main gateway in Ecuador for travellers heading into the Amazon rainforest.

Coca sits at the confluence of the Coca River and the Napo River. The smaller Payamino River also merges into the Napo in the city. It has a population of about 51,000 as of 2022.

The weather is hot and humid with heavy rainfall all year round. However, June to August are the rainiest months.

The city is accessible by road from most of the country's major cities, but also by river via the three rivers that cross it. It is approximately 8 hours from Quito via a road that is in good condition.

• -0.4443-77.00241 Coca Bus Terminal (Terminal Terrestre El Coca), Av. Francisco de Orellana and 12 de Octubre. 24 hr. The main land transportation hub for the city of Coca. This terminal connects the Amazon region with the rest of the country via routes to cities such as Quito, Tena, Lago Agrio, and other nearby towns. Its facilities offer basic services such as ticket offices, waiting areas, shops, and restrooms, providing comfort to travelers.  (updated Oct 2026)

• -0.462778-76.9866672 Francisco de Orellana Airport (OCC  ^IATA). Aeroregional and LATAM Ecuador run flights from Quito.  (updated Oct 2026)

• -0.4746-76.98481 MACCO Museum (Museo Arqueológico y Centro Cultural de Orellana), 9 de Octubre and Eugenio Espejo streets (on the city's waterfront), ☏ +593 6-230-0277. It has more than 400 archaeological pieces that would belong to the Omagua culture, and communities that lived on the banks of the Napo River (1100-1500 CE). Foreign adult US$5, Ecuadorian adult US$3.00, child or senior US$2.50.  (updated Oct 2026)
• -0.4724-76.9862 Our Lady of Carmen Cathedral Church (Iglesia Catedral Nuestra Señora del Carmen), 9 de Octubre and Vicente Rocafuerte. The Cathedral Church was built by Capuchin priests approximately 35 years ago, so its architecture is contemporary. Among the church's most valuable objects are the personal belongings of Sister Inés Arango, a missionary who attempted to evangelize the Waorani people . These objects are kept in what was her room, exactly as she left it before departing. The patron saint of the cathedral is Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and her feast day is celebrated every July 16th.  (updated Oct 2026)
• Other attractions in the city include: the Napo River, the Coca River, the city's port, and the first cable-stayed bridge over the Napo River.

• -0.4723-76.98361 Central park (Parque Centrale). A small park with a children's playground and toilets.  

There are a variety of handicrafts made from balsa wood and tagua nut, crafted elsewhere and resold locally.

• The Rooftop Coca, ☏ +593 96 347 3518. A restaurant with beautiful rooftop views. (updated Oct 2026)

• Gran Hotel del Coca (Gran Hotel de Lago), Camilo de Torrano y Esmeraldas &, Francisco de Orellana, ☏ +593 6-288-2311.  (updated Oct 2026)

• Yasuni National Park - the largest national park on the Ecuadorian mainland