The Best Hikes in Podocarpus National Park From Loja and Zamora

Podocarpus National Park is one particular of the most attractive national parks in Ecuador because of to its topography and locale in the Jap Ranges of the Andes Mountains in southern Ecuador. The park consists of ecosystems in the Sierra and the Ecuadorian Amazon. Its altitude ranges from 900 to 3,600 meters previously mentioned sea stage. Podocarpus was declared a national park on December 15, 1982, a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2007 and in 2012 it was declared a Ramsar site, for wetlands conservation.

The park has valleys, slopes, mountains, glacial lakes, paramo, cloud forests, thickets, rivers and hills. This nationwide park has extra than 622 registered species (including above 37% of the birds in the nation), which is why it is recognized as one of the richest destinations for birdlife in the globe with mountain turkeys, rock roosters, parrots, hummingbirds, substantial-altitude toucans, tanagers, many species of raptors, torcaza, the eagle, woodpecker, bearded turkey, zumba, blackbird, Andean gull, pet dog fowl and the guajalito.

There are also additional than 4,000 species of flora, of which 40% of them are endemic, meaning it only exists in this region and you simply cannot obtain them any where else in the globe.

Other animals that you can discover 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 4 significant species in risk of extinction: the jaguar, the mountain tapir, the northern pudú and the spectacled Andean bear.

In close proximity to Podocarpus there are several additional all-natural spots that are well worth traveling to together with Yacuri Nationwide Park and the Cerro Plateado Organic Reserve, which belong to the Podocarpus – El Cóndor Biosphere Reserve. 

What will make the park one of a kind is the mixture of the dry vegetation from the Coastline, the humid vegetation of the high Andes and the forests of the Amazon, providing a good diversity of species. Some of the most widespread factors to do in the Podocarpus National Park are climbing, biking, bird seeing, horseback driving and camping.

The Podocarpus Countrywide Park is located between the provinces of Zamora Chinchipe (70%) and Loja (30%). The park can be achieved as a result of the town of Loja or by means of the city of Zamora. If you go from Loja, you access the Cajanuma Administrative Heart. Though if you go to from Zamora, you arrive by using Bombuscaro.

Entrance to the park is cost-free and is open up every day from 08:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You must sign up at the entrance to the park at the rangers’ refuge.

When is the ideal time to visit Podocarpus Nationwide Park?

The very best time to visit Podocarpus Countrywide Park is from September to December, when the climate is warmer and there is a lot less probability of rain, great for the climbing trails.

What to carry or pack to take a look at the Podocarpus Countrywide Park?

The best packing listing for Podocarpus National Park all depends on what location of the park you plan to stop by. If you pay a visit to Loja you really should put on warm dresses, a poncho, a watertight jacket and shut-toe sneakers, but if you go through Zamora it is advisable to put on mild waterproof apparel and h2o shoes. 

• Drinking water
• Warm apparel (in scenario you visit the Lojano aspect of the park)
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Treats
• Eyeglasses
• Water-proof jacket
• Mountaineering footwear

How to get to Podocarpus Countrywide Park?

There are two key entrances to Podocarpus Countrywide Park. If you want to visit the lessen aspect of the park, you have to go from Zamora together the Bombuscaro highway for 7 kilometers right until you attain the parking ton and follow the path that normally takes you to the park refuge.

If you want to check out the higher segment of the park, you have to go from Loja along the highway to Vilcabamba, continuing on for 15 kilometers until eventually you access the initially checkpoint, and from there generate on 9 more kilometers to the Refuge from the Administrative Middle. 

Podocarpus Nationwide Park – Loja 

Entering as a result of the Administrative Heart of Cajanuma, there are a variety of limited and long hikes, this kind of as viewing the Lagunas del Compadre, which are 14 kilometers from the administrative heart. The administrative heart in Cajanuma has a conference place, cabins, a tenting region, loos and 4 assigned trails. If you are not fascinated in tenting inside the park, really don’t get worried, you can remain in the shelter the place there are five rooms, which cost $3.00 USD for every individual for each night.

The four climbing trails from Cajanuma

Spectacled Bear: On this path you stroll by way of the cloud forest and can recognize the flora and fauna. On this trail there are several facts symptoms about the fauna and flora of the park.  Length: 400 meters | Difficulty: Small

Cloud Forest: This path goes all over the foot of the mountain array and returns to the to start with refuge, offering you the option to enjoy the cloud forest and see a amazing check out from its all-natural viewpoint. Distance: 700 meters | Trouble: Very low

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. Distance: 5 kilometers | Difficulty: Difficult 

Lagunas del Compadre: These lagoons are the principal vacationer attraction of the Podocarpus Nationwide Park, it is a very long route that finishes in the lagoons. Retain in brain that it requires at the very least two days to do this route, because 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 advisable to pay a visit to the lagoons in the months of November and December, with the most affordable chance of rain and you can camp on the shore of the lagoons. In this sector you can with any luck , see the mountain tapir and the moor wolf. Length: 14.5 Kilometers | Problem: Difficult 

Podocarpus Countrywide Park – Zamora (Bombuscaro)

In Buscaro there is an environmental interpretation middle and a multipurpose area for educational routines. From this aspect of the park you can go to 3 trails, but to get to the first refuge you should park and climb a kilometer uphill.

La Poderosa Waterfall: A stunning trail by the tropical jungle that can take you to an spectacular waterfall that will depart you breathless. You can consider a dip into the pool at the base of the waterfall and awesome off. Distance: 500 meters | Difficulty: Medium

El Mirador: From the viewpoint you can appreciate the metropolis of Zamora and the mountains that surround it. Distance: 1 Kilometer | Issue: Medium

Higuerones: You walk by means of a lovely orchid garden and see the Bombuscaro River. You will have a excellent chance to see birds together the way. This tour can acquire numerous hrs.  Distance: 2 Kilometers | Trouble: Medium

La Chismosa Waterfall: Tiny waterfall located just 200 meters from the environmental interpretation middle, down some techniques. Issues: Quick

Podocarpus Nationwide Park – Yangana – Valladolid

Cerro Toledo Viewpoint: It is a pure viewpoint situated 12 kilometers from the Yangana highway to Valladolid with a breathtaking watch of the forest and the Andes Mountains. It is an outstanding put to notice unique styles of birds.

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