Pasochoa: A Life Reserve Originated From a Boiling Caldron

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When you try to imagine the remains of a millenary volcanic eruption, the first thing that comes to mind is a harsh, arid landscape of rocks and earth. However, in the province of Pichincha, 40km (24 miles) away from the city of Quito, you will find a place that didn’t turn out the way you would have thought. In this place lies the Pasochoa volcano, the protagonist of a great eruption that took place 100,000 years ago. Ironically, that destructive eruption gave place to one of Ecuador’s most beautiful valleys: The Pasochoa Wildlife Reserve, a place with as many green tones as you could imagine.

Located 2800m (9186ft) above the sea level, a place that once burned in flames and was the scene of the cracking down of the Pasochoa Volcano is now a place where lava and ashes have, throughout the centuries, become a very fertile soil creating one of the few naturally originated forests of the Andes with a diverse fauna and flora. This valley is also perfect for horseback riding and picture-taking.

Seeing this forest for the first time from a panoramic view, you’ll notice it looks like a caldron in the shape of a horseshoe. You will discover the 520-hectare reserve through 5 pathways with unique attractions found only on this side of the Andean mountain range. One of them leads to the peak of the volcano at 4200m (13780ft) above the sea level. Throughout this path, you will be able to observe the more than 120 different bird species, among of which is the Great Condor, a representative bird of the country.

The adventures you will live at Pasochoa will make you want to to stay over the night at the area designated for camping. After having spent the night in contact with nature, you will wake up willing to keep on discovering this exciting reserve.

Photo: Pictures from Heather

The Carihuairazo: Learning to Hike with a Giant of Wind and Snow

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The legend tells that, in ancient times, the Carihuairazo Volcano –whose name means “man of wind and snow” in Quechua (cari: man; huaira: wind; razu: snow) – was much higher than it is now. Fighting against the Chimborazo Volcano for the love of the Lady Tungurahua Volcano, the Carihuairazo ended up half-destroyed and lost the fight.

In the Ecuador’s Occidental mountain range is found this romantic fighter, located very close to the Chimborazo, in the province of Tungurahua. The Carihuairazo is perfect for mountaineers in the process of acclimatization or training in search of new landscapes and adventures. It is a place of beautiful natural contrasts that always amazes visitors.

Considering it has 3 peaks, the highest being 5020 (1646ft) above the sea level, the Carihuairazo is also great for beginners or family groups wanting to learn basic techniques for climbing. The snowy slopes are easy to climb, and they help mountaineers to acclimate and get prepared for future ascents to any of the higher, snowy peaks of Ecuador, always accompanied by a professional instructor. In the way up, you will find a great variety of moors full of flora and fauna, which can also be visited on horseback in the skirts of the volcano.

This inspiring, legendary volcano is undoubtedly a relic that can be enjoyed by everyone. The extinct Carihuairazo always welcomes visitors and prepares them for the new experiences and the challenges of reaching great heights.

Photo: august_allen

The Cajas National Park: Find Beauty in the Andes’ Narrowest Point

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The Cajas National Park is the narrowest point of the Andean mountain range and the one with the best landscapes. It is located close to the city of Cuenca, at 4400m (14435ft) above the sea level and it has a surface of 28500 hectares. Considered a national park since 1996, it is made by an exceptional group of more than 300 small lagoons framed by valleys, rocky plateaus and enchanted forests where unique animal and plant species live. Its highest point is the area of the Tres Cruces Lagoon, the place where the Tomebamba River –the only river on Southern America that is the closest to the Pacific Ocean but has waters from the Atlantic Ocean– is born.

The park is considered part of the North-Andean Endemism Center due to the importance it has regarding the Andean Plateau’s biological diversity. It is the only place in the world where you can find 4 out of the 7 existing species of polylepis, the famous enchanted trees from the fairy tales (polylepis weberbaueri, p. reticulata, p. lanuginosa and p. incana). There are also many endangered species living there, like the Andean condor (vultur gryphus), the deer (odocoileus virginianus), the spectacled bear (tremarctos ornatus), the plateau wolf (dulsicyon culpaeus) and the mountain toucan (andigena laminaris). From an ornithological point of view, the park is also a place of high importance because its lagoons are home for a total of 150 bird species.

A trip to Cajas is worth complementing with activities lasting from a couple of hours to a few days. The whole park is perfect for activities such as hiking, climbing and mountain biking. It also offers a great chance to take beautiful pictures: walking in the middle of the mountains and observing everything there is in this land, it is impossible not to feel like taking out your camera. Regardless the place you may choose for your picture, it can easily come out like a beautiful postcard. The lagoons of Toreadora and Llaviucu are ideal for sport fishing and bird-watching. On the other hand, if you want to spend the night in the immensity of the plateau, a good place to set up your camp is in the shores of the Lagartococha Lake. Whatever activity you may choose to do at this park, the experience will undoubtedly be always unique and wonderful.

The Cajas National Park is one of the best parks in Ecuador to get to know the plateau. It is a Nature sanctuary where a great amount of birds and other endemic species coexist in a large forest of enchanted trees. Furthermore, it is easily accessible, well preserved and simply beautiful.

Photo: Orban López Cruz

Find Out About the Legendary Island That Shines Over the Sea

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Picture yourself relaxing on the white, thin sand of a charming beach in the Pacific Ocean, admiring the sunset and waiting for the first moon reflections. Unexpectedly, a bright, mysterious spot as shiny as silver appears on the distance: right before your eyes, you see an inspiring island of treasure legends, whose historic evidence lies under its ground; and whose unique fauna makes it mysterious and wonderful. It is an island known for centuries as the island of Plata (silver).

In this enigmatic place, you can hear from the natives the stories of silver and gold ritual offerings buried in sacred spots as a sign of worship to the Sun, whose archaeological evidence reveals us day after day their authenticity. Numerous silver and gold figures, as well as the famous Spondylus shells used in the past as coins are frequently discovered.

One of these legends takes you centuries back in time, when the famous English pirate Sir Francis Drake used this island as a hiding place to attack and steal the Spanish ships going to Europe charged with gold and then buried the stolen treasure on that land. Even though this legend has not been confirmed yet, many people truly believe that it is real.

This island and its mythical past are a true attraction and a melting pot of life in the Pacific Ocean. Nowadays, it is a new home for many birds native to the charming Galapagos Islands, something that has given it a privileged landscape and made it earn the name of “Little Galapagos”.
For those who wonder about the island’s shine when seen from the distance, researchers have discovered it is due to the large amount of guano found there: the sun rays are reflected on it, producing that beautiful shine.

Photo: Ministerio del Ambiente del Ecuador

Quito: A World Heritage City that lies Among Valleys and Volcanoes

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The magnificent city of Quito, capital of Ecuador, was born in the valley surrounded by majestic mountains and volcanoes. A city full of history and beauty, it got its name from the millenary tribe of the Quitus, and it was the first city chosen by UNESCO as World Heritage in 1978. In many different ways, every corner of the city invites visitors to have fun getting to know it from North to South.

The North of Quito is full of modern infrastructure. One of the tourist’s most visited places is the neighborhood of La Mariscal and its main street, the Amazonas Avenue. This is where many tourists choose to stay because there are plenty of hotels, restaurants and travel agencies to plan the day’s activities that offer visitors endless options. If you want to have a pleasant evening or a night out, this is the area you must go to. If you take a cab to the Plaza El Quinde, better known as Plaza Foch, you will find the tourists’ and locals’ favorite recreational area.

In downtown Quito, you will find yourself face to face with history. It is a place that has survived through time and that is now the best preserved of all Latin American historical downtowns. It still shows its colonial past that started with the fall of the Incan empire, whose baroque and gothic architecture mixed with ancient indigenous techniques is reflected in its churches, plazas, monasteries and cobbled streets.

Downtown is the perfect place to take a walk through its streets and squares, visiting one of its numerous museums and churches, enjoying the panoramic views over the city from the San Juan viewpoint, or taking a 10 minutes ride on the cable railway 4050m (13287ft) above the sea level where you can appreciate the beauty of the city surrounded by the Cayambe, the Antisana and the Cotopaxi volcanoes.

The South of Quito, on the other hand, is a tribute to Nature. This is the area that gives the city the condition of being biologically diverse, thanks to its large surface with heights going from 500m to 4800m (1640 to 15748ft) above the sea level. Here, you can find various ecosystems like cloudy forests, subtropical forests, mountainous high forests and high plateaus, home of 2330 flora species among which 254 are endemic. Places like the Lloa Valley, located at the skirts of the Pichincha Volcano, and the area close to the Cotopaxi Volcano, known for its beautiful ranches, are characteristic of the region. Activities such as hikes and horseback rides can be done during your visit to this area.

Definitely, Quito has it all. It is a place for everyone’s tastes that offers visitors to learn about history in a fun and different way. The city mixes Nature and modernity, fun and relaxation, past and present. It is an experience like you couldn’t imagine. Visiting Quito is going to a place which is unique and full of contrasts, a place as high as your imagination.

Photo: Shoestring