Podocarpus Countrywide Park is a person of the most lovely nationwide parks in Ecuador owing to its topography and place in the Eastern Ranges of the Andes Mountains in southern Ecuador. The park consists of ecosystems in just the Sierra and the Ecuadorian Amazon. Its altitude ranges from 900 to 3,600 meters higher than sea amount. Podocarpus was declared a nationwide park on December 15, 1982, a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2007 and in 2012 it was declared a Ramsar internet site, for wetlands conservation.
The park has valleys, slopes, mountains, glacial lakes, paramo, cloud forests, thickets, rivers and hills. This countrywide park has a lot more than 622 registered species (like above 37% of the birds in the nation), which is why it is known as 1 of the richest locations for birdlife in the entire world with mountain turkeys, rock roosters, parrots, hummingbirds, significant-altitude toucans, tanagers, numerous species of raptors, torcaza, the eagle, woodpecker, bearded turkey, zumba, blackbird, Andean gull, doggy fowl and the guajalito.
There are also extra than 4,000 species of flora, of which 40% of them are endemic, which means it only exists in this location and you can not obtain them anywhere else in the entire world.
Other animals that you can obtain in the park are pygmy deer, puma, a variety of deer, páramo wolf, tigrillo, tapir, spectacled bear, spider monkeys, tapirs, cutines, jambatos, glass frogs, the anolis podocarpus lizard, the opossum, the marsupial mouse, the polynivorous bat, the American tiger, pudú, cervicabra, preñadilla, sardines, foxes, squirrels and the chucuri. In the park there are four major species in hazard of extinction: the jaguar, the mountain tapir, the northern pudú and the spectacled Andean bear.
In the vicinity of Podocarpus there are many extra purely natural areas that are well worth visiting which include Yacuri Countrywide Park and the Cerro Plateado Biological Reserve, which belong to the Podocarpus – El Cóndor Biosphere Reserve.
What can make the park unique is the combination of the dry vegetation from the Coastline, the humid vegetation of the higher Andes and the forests of the Amazon, offering a excellent variety of species. Some of the most typical items to do in the Podocarpus Countrywide Park are mountaineering, biking, bird seeing, horseback driving and camping.
The Podocarpus Countrywide Park is located amongst the provinces of Zamora Chinchipe (70%) and Loja (30%). The park can be achieved as a result of the city of Loja or via the city of Zamora. If you go from Loja, you accessibility the Cajanuma Administrative Middle. When if you visit from Zamora, you arrive by way of Bombuscaro.
Entrance to the park is absolutely free and is open everyday from 08:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You should sign-up at the entrance to the park at the rangers’ refuge.
When is the very best time to check out Podocarpus National Park?
The ideal time to pay a visit to Podocarpus Countrywide Park is from September to December, when the climate is hotter and there is considerably less possibility of rain, ideal for the climbing trails.
What to deliver or pack to go to the Podocarpus Nationwide Park?
The fantastic packing listing for Podocarpus National Park all relies upon on what spot of the park you approach to pay a visit to. If you go to Loja you need to put on warm dresses, a poncho, a water resistant jacket and shut-toe shoes, but if you go by means of Zamora it is sensible to wear mild water resistant clothes and h2o sneakers.
- Water
- Warm outfits (in case you go to the Lojano aspect of the park)
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Treats
- Eyeglasses
- Water resistant jacket
- Climbing footwear
How to get to Podocarpus National Park?
There are two main entrances to Podocarpus Countrywide Park. If you want to pay a visit to the lessen section of the park, you have to go from Zamora along the Bombuscaro street for 7 kilometers until you attain the parking large amount and observe the route that usually takes you to the park refuge.
If you want to go to the higher section of the park, you have to go from Loja together the highway to Vilcabamba, continuing on for 15 kilometers until finally you achieve the 1st checkpoint, and from there generate on 9 additional kilometers to the Refuge from the Administrative Middle.
Podocarpus National Park – Loja
Moving into by means of the Administrative Middle of Cajanuma, there are a range of shorter and long hikes, these kinds of as going to the Lagunas del Compadre, which are 14 kilometers from the administrative heart. The administrative heart in Cajanuma has a conference area, cabins, a tenting area, loos and 4 assigned trails. If you are not interested in camping inside the park, really do not fear, you can remain in the shelter in which there are five rooms, which expense $3.00 USD for every human being for each evening.
The four hiking trails from Cajanuma
Spectacled Bear: On this trail you wander by the cloud forest and can enjoy the flora and fauna. On this path there are numerous information and facts signals about the fauna and flora of the park. Length: 400 meters | Problems: Reduced
Cloud Forest: This path goes all-around the foot of the mountain selection and returns to the first refuge, offering you the option to appreciate the cloud forest and see a stunning check out from its all-natural viewpoint. Length: 700 meters | Problem: Lower
The Viewpoints: In this hike you go via the cloud forest and the paramo to arrive at the viewpoints that give a panoramic watch of the valleys of Loja, Vilcabamba and Malacatos. Length: 5 kilometers | Problem: Difficult
Lagunas del Compadre: These lagoons are the most important vacationer attraction of the Podocarpus Countrywide Park, it is a extensive route that finishes in the lagoons. Continue to keep in mind that it will take at least two times to do this route, since its 14.5km length is only one particular way. You can camp but you will need to sign up with the park rangers. It is highly recommended to take a look at the lagoons in the months of November and December, with the cheapest probability of rain and you can camp on the shore of the lagoons. In this sector you can ideally see the mountain tapir and the moor wolf. Distance: 14.5 Kilometers | Trouble: Difficult
Podocarpus Countrywide Park – Zamora (Bombuscaro)
In Buscaro there is an environmental interpretation center and a multipurpose place for educational routines. From this side of the park you can go to 3 trails, but to get to the initially refuge you must park and climb a kilometer uphill.
La Poderosa Waterfall: A wonderful path by the tropical jungle that normally takes you to an amazing waterfall that will depart you breathless. You can consider a dip into the pool at the base of the waterfall and neat off. Distance: 500 meters | Difficulty: Medium
El Mirador: From the viewpoint you can enjoy the town of Zamora and the mountains that encompass it. Distance: 1 Kilometer | Problem: Medium
Higuerones: You walk through a wonderful orchid back garden and see the Bombuscaro River. You will have a terrific possibility to see birds along the way. This tour can acquire many hours. Distance: 2 Kilometers | Trouble: Medium
La Chismosa Waterfall: Modest waterfall found just 200 meters from the environmental interpretation middle, down some measures. Issues: Effortless
Podocarpus Countrywide Park – Yangana – Valladolid
Cerro Toledo Viewpoint: It is a normal viewpoint located 12 kilometers from the Yangana road to Valladolid with a spectacular look at of the forest and the Andes Mountains. It is an superb place to notice different styles of birds.
