National Protected Areas and National Parks

SANGAY
It is located between three Provinces: Tungurahua, Chimborazo and Morona Santiago. Extension: 671,654 acres. Take the Pan-American Highway to Riobamba (>> map). When reaching Alao you can ask for tourist information at the park’s administration center: correct paths for mountain climbing, horse rental, etc. There are three main mountains in this park: Sangay (17,154 ft. high), Altar (17,446 ft. high), and Tungurahua (16,452 ft. high). These mountains offer opportunities to hike, trek, and climb, except the Sangay Volcano because it is in permanent eruption. However, you can get close enough to take spectacular photographs. Native communities live in this park: Quichua- Canelos in the north and the Shuar in the south.

YASUNI
It is located in the Napo Province. Extension: 2.426,281 acres. This is an important biogeographical area where endemic species of plants and animals have been preserved since the Pleistocene Period (20,000 BC). According to the “UNESCO”, more than 700 species of vegetation have been identified, 500 bird species and 200 different animals.

The exuberant flora and fauna of the jungle can be observed in this area. The Napo River is the main access to the park. The Huaorani Indians that live here, together with environmentalists, have raised a controversial issue regarding petroleum exploration in this area.

LLANGANATES
This park is home to one of the most exotic and inaccessible landscapes of Ecuador, including rough moorlands, deep valleys, rivers, lagoons, and abundant waterfalls. Most of the park is covered by dense vegetation, and the weather is mostly cold and rainy. Cerro Hermoso (15,618 feet) is the highest mountain in the area.
The most common animal species are moorland rabbits, sacha (jungle) rabbit, and weasel. Other common species very difficult to observe are the spectacle bear, white-tailed deer, moorland deer, moorland fox, puma, deer, tapir, cock of-the-rock, and condor.

Throughout history, explorers and adventurers have been attracted to this area in search of the elusive gold of Atahualpa, which according to the legend is hidden in the Llanganates. Nobody has found the gold, however, all visitors bear witness to the region’s mysteries, and keep the legend alive…

SUMACO-NAPO-GALERAS
With a surface of 507.181 acres, this National Park holds a wide diversity of ecosystems, ranging from high mountains to cloud and lowland forests. It includes altitudes from 1,968 to 12,792 feet. The Napo-Galeras mountain range has various rivers and springs running through deep valleys.

The Sumaco volcano (12,792 feet), surrounded by lowland forest, stands isolated from the rest of the Andes. This National Park is rich in animal species from the humid tropical forest and cloud forest: spectacle bear, several bats, marsupials, armadillos, eagles, guams, cock of the rock, and many species of reptiles and amphibians. The most common species of vegetation are cedar, canelo, and rubber tree, among others. Native Indian Quichua communities and archaeological sites of the Cosanga culture are found close to this National Park.

CUYABENO RESERVE
The Cuyabeno Reserve is located in the Napo and Sucumbíos Provinces of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The protected area, founded in 1979, contains 603,380 hectares of tropical rainforest stretching north towards the Colombian border and east to the Peruvian border. A variety of canoe and hiking tours are offered in the Reserve providing excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Frequently seen fauna include several species of monkey, birds, caimans, pihranas, turtles, and conga ants. Freshwater dolphins, giant armadillos, anacondas, and manatees are also occasionally spotted. The main watershed of the Reserve consists of the Aguarico and the San Miguel Rivers, and the Cuyabeno River and its tributaries. Halfway down the Cuyabeno there is a system of 14 spectacular lagoons created by lowland rainforest floods, typical of the wet season.

Since its creation, the Reserve's boundaries have changed due to oil exploitation of the area that began shortly after the protected area was designated. Petroleum extraction and the activities derived from the oil industry such as road building, colonization, and agriculture have negatively impacted the environment. Responsible tourism, the involvement of local populations, and various NGO's have helped preservation efforts in the Reserve, but the battle continues to protect this incredible habitat.
A variety of indigenous groups, including the Cofan, the Siona, and the Secoya have traditionally inhabited the area. Recently, the Lowland Quichuas have immigrated to the area. Some of these indigenous communities are involved in "Indigenous Community Controlled Ecotourism," and offer jungle tours that support responsible tourism.
The Cuyabeno Reserve is best accessed via Lago Agrio, an oil town approximately seven hours east of Quito by bus or 30 minutes by plane. Once there, you can join a jungle tour, which generally passes through Puerto Chiritza, down the Aguarico River and into the Reserve as far as the Peruvian border.

LIMONCOCHA BIOLOGICAL RESERVE
The Limoncocha Reserve, located on the north shore of the Napo River between the Coca and Aguarico rivers, is on mostly level ground characterized by the presence of wetlands and swamps. The Limoncocha Reserve is one of the most bio-diverse areas in the world, but its flora and fauna are continually threatened by increasing oil activity. Scientific studies have identified over 450 bird species in the area and unique trees such as the giant ceibo, cedars, laurel, the balsa, and the Pambil are common. The Reserve also contains the Laguna Limoncocha, which is famous for being an excellent bird watching site.
Lowland Quichua families live nearby the lagoon and grow mainly subsistence products along with some cash crops. Petroleum activities during the 1980s and 1990s have negatively impacted this region and its people. Therefore, the community is open to ecotourism and other alternative uses of their fragile environment.
The best way to access the Reserve from Quito is by taking a plane to Coca or Lago Agrio. Buses travel to these two destinations as well as directly to the town of Limoncocha. There is also fluvial transportation from Coca to two small ports (Puerto de Palos and Puerto Pompeya).

PODOCARPUS
It is located in both the Provinces of Loja and Zamora Chinchipe. Extension: 351,436 acres. This park has two zones: jungle and highland, with great diversity of vegetation and bird species. Here you will find the most exotic orchids, bears, pumas, humming birds, toucans, reptiles and woodpeckers, among others. It is the ideal place for botanical, ecological and zoological investigations. If you enjoy long walks, listening to the sounds of birds along your trail walks, running rivers, waterfalls and camping, this is a place you shouldn’t miss.

COTOPAXI
The Cotopaxi National Park, named after the highest active snow capped volcano in the world (19.347 ft above sea level), is located 60 km of Quito. It is an hour drive to this national site consisting of 83,829 acres. Its altitude ranges from 11,152 ft to 19,347 ft above sea level.

The Cotopaxi Volcano is one of the most important monuments of this park. It is the highest active volcano in the world. Adventurous professional mountain climbers are attracted here along with many tourists that take pride in reaching different altitudes according to their climbing skills and expertise.

The immense plain that surrounds the volcano offers a wonderful landscape with extraordinary geological conditions and various animals and vegetation. This is the home of dears, pumas, condors, wild horses and llamas.
The Limpiopungo lagoon close to the Rumiñahui volcano (15,492 feet above sea level) is the next place to stop. An extensive plain with camping areas surrounds it.
The Pucará Ruins are a Pre-hispanic fortress of the Incas that should be visited too. These three areas mentioned are close to each other and should not be hard to reach in a full day tour. At the foot of Cotopaxi you will also find the Inca Palace, built by Tupac Yupanqui in the XVth century and turned into a monastery by the Catholic Augustinian Order in the XVIIth century. At this site you will enjoy a beautiful view of the volcanoes.

CAJAS
This National Park is only 21 miles away from Cuenca. The altitude ranges from 9,840 to 11,480 feet. This 71,186-acre area includes mountains and 232 lagoons of glacier origin, connected with each other by small rivers and streams. Two of the rivers surrounding Cuenca, Tomebamba and Yanuncay, are born in this area.

The Park holds mammals such as the white-tailed deer, spectacle bear, puma, paramo deer, paramo rabbit, and the Andean tapir. Some of the most important bird species are the caracara, condor, Andean toucan and spectacle duck. The most common vegetation includes: chuquiragua, paramo grasses, yagual (Polylepis), romerillo, chachacoma, genciana, romerillo and the sarar. The Park also has some archeological Inca sites in the area of Molleturo, which historians believe have been a ‘tambo’ (resting areas for the Inca couriers from Cuzco to Quito).

MACHALILLA
Located in the province of Manabí, Machalilla takes its name from one of the pre-Columbi an cultures that inhabited this area. The Valdivia, Chorrera and Manteña Cultures also inhabited this land of template climate and extraordinary landscape. Archeological remains are still found within the park, and can be admired in-situ, especially at Agua Blanca and Salango. The park occupies 136,000 acres. It has an average temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit and by the influence of the Humboldt Current in the Pacific, conserves the amazing tropical humid and tropical dry forests.
One of the main attractions of the Park is “Isla de la Plata” (Silver Island), which was named this way because at the end of the XIV century the pirate Francis Drake took treasures from the Spanish ships and hid them on this site. Plata means silver, but it is also the Ecuadorian common name for money. According to the legend, much of this treasure was never claimed and is still hidden there. “Isla de la Plata” is a favorite spot for scuba diving. The Island is surrounded by Coral Reefs so the marine life is exciting and plentiful. Some excellent scuba-diving services are offered in this site. The Island has two guided hiking routes, both with awesome sights. You will encounter an interesting colony of blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, and albatrosses. The plant life is also interesting and the guides are well versed on the subject.
In the months June-September Machalilla has an exceptional highlight because whales come to mate and can be observed off the beaches of this park and its surroundings.
One must purchase a 5-day pass to the park for a fee of 25 dollars. With this ticket one can visit all the sites of the National Park.

Besides these protected areas, Ecuador includes other National Protected Areas , and other important private protected areas and natural sites.