Cayambe Coca National Park
Cayambe Coca National Park (officially Parque Nacional Cayambe Coca) is a protected natural area spanning the Andean Highlands and the Coastal Lowlands regions of Ecuador. It draws mountaineering visitors to several mountain peaks, including the iconic Volcan Cayambe, which at 5,790 meters is the third highest peak in Ecuador (and the highest point on the equator). The park has numerous mountain streams with scenic waterfalls feeding several lagoons. Nature lovers find diverse animal and plant species throughout the park.
Understand
[edit]This is a large park covering an area of more than 403,000 hectares that includes very different ecosystems from the high mountain environment of the Andes highlands to the steamy jungles of the Amazon rainforest.
History
[edit]The park was established as part of the Ecuador national parks system in 1970.
Landscape
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Volcan Cayambe has a permanent snow cap and a glacier on its eastern flank. It is an active compound volcano that last erupted in 1786. It is a popular destination for mountain climbing. The route to the top is moderately difficult at lower elevations but becomes challenging in the final stages where climbers must cross a glacier and navigate numerous cracks and fissures, cope with seracs, and climb a steep section with inclines over 45°. A mountain hut called the Ruales-Oleas-Bergé Refuge supports climbers preparing to ascend Cayambe. The park has a number of waterfalls along its mountain streams and rivers, most famous is the Cascada San Rafael, once a popular scenic spot for shutterbugs though the waterfall actually collapsed on itself in 2020 due to forces of the rushing river waters.
Flora and fauna
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The park is a hotspot of biodiversity with more than 100 species of endemic plants, dozens of species of mammals, a whopping 900 species of birds, 140 reptiles, and 116 amphibians. The large number of species is a product of its range of diverse ecosystems with sparse, cold mountain conditions in the highlands, areas of páramo and montaine forests as the mountains give way to lowlands, and hot humid rainforests that support jungle animals like monkeys and tropical birds.
Mammals include the endangered spectacled bear in the rocky highland areas of the park and several species of monkey lurking in the trees in the tropical jungles of the northeast section of the park. Another interesting endangered mammal found in the park is the Andean tapir, which is the only species of the tapir family that does not live in tropical jungles. The Andean tapir is similar in size and shape to its lowland cousins, but can be distinguished by its thick fur coat.
More than 200 bird species in the park entice many Birdwatchers to grab their binoculars for a birdwatching hike along the park's many trails. Interesting birds include the famous Andean condor as well as an odd avian predator called the variable hawk, which gets its name from its range of different colorations and forms that it might take. Sometimes the bird appears mostly black, while in other forms it can take on a mottled look resembling the coloration of a calico cat.
Climate
[edit]Get in
[edit]The park is 70 km northeast of Quito. There are three entrances to the park, each being "best" for different types of travelers, depending on what you want to see and what activities you want to do. The entrances are:
- 1 Cayambe entrance - close to the famous volcano, best for those planning to engage in mountain sports. The Ruales-Oleas Berge Refuge is accessible from this entrance. There are several hostels and cheap restaurants in the town of Cayambe.
- 2 Papallacta entrance - is a small village of about 600 residents in Napo province. The park entrance is near the paramo and temperate forests. Papallacta is at an elevation of 3300 meters. Papallacta is also a good base for exploring the Antisana Ecological Reserve. This entrance is good for access to hiking trails through the paramo and for fishermen to access the lagoons.
- 3 Santa Rosa de Quijos (East Slope Entrance) - on the E45 highway, Santa Rosa de Quijos is the closest entrance to the lowland jungle sections of the park. Many guide books still contain recommendations to use this entrance for access to the famous Cascada San Rafael (once the highest waterfall in Ecuador, but the falls collapsed in 2020).
You can get to the three towns by driving a rental car, taking a taxi (a long ride but convenient and affordable), or using local buses (often the cheapest way to get around, plus an adventure in traveling like a local).
By bus
[edit]From Quito you can get to Cayambe by bus. Cooperativa Flor Del Valle operates frequent buses (about every 15 minutes), departing Quito from Terminal la Ofelia. The fare is about US$3 for the 90-minute trip.
To Santa Rosa, Cooperativa de Transportes Loja Internacional operates buses departing the Terminal Carcelen toward Carlamanga, which is beyond Santa Rosa. Tell the driver you want to get off at El Chaco, which is about 5 km from Santa Rosa. You can take a local taxi to the town. The bus will cost about US$10 for the 2-hour trip.
There is not a direct bus to Papallacta but you could take a bus from Terminal Terrestre Quitumba as far as Pito (less than half way). From there, you would need to take a taxi the rest of the way, so it's probably easier to just take a taxi all the way from Quito to Papallacta (or rent a car or SUV).
Fees and permits
[edit]The park entry fee is US$10. Discounts are available for Ecuadorian citizens and children.
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- 1 Volcan Cayambe, Cayambe. Active compound stratovolcano, popular mountain climbing destination.
- 2 Cascada Rio Malo, Manuel Galindo (E45). Impressive waterfall with a plume that shoots from a narrow chute with great force and volume. US$1.
- 3 Gruta los Tayos, Salado (E45). Caves in the jungle accessed via a trail through the rainforest that crosses two rivers. Guides can be hired at the restaurant near the entrance for US$5.
- 4 El Reventador (E45). Ecuador's most active volcano has been in a continuing state of eruption since 2021.
- 5 Laguna San Marcos, Olmedo (E45). 5-km trail leading to a mountain lake.