Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Eastern Cordillera of the Andes, the region stretches east and down
to the Amazon, offering páramo habitat, cloud forests, the country's
third-highest mountain, natural hot springs and quaint indigenous
communities. The Quichua community of Oyacachi is known for its
natural thermal baths and is a gateway into the Amazon.
The ecological significance of the reserve cannot be overstated. More
than 450 species of birds have been identified here. The endangered
Andean condor resides in this region, as do abundant and diverse
flora, including orchids, balsa wood, dragon's blood, ayahuasca and
laurel. And this untapped reserve offers more to do for the outdoor
and adventure enthusiast than one could ever hope to absorb in one
trip. Stick with the experts for fantastic opportunities to hike, bike,
ride horseback, mountain climb, or just relax and soak in the natural
hot springs. See Adventures , page 132, for an excellent trek from
Oyacachi east into the Oriente via Chaco.
The reserve itself is east of Quito and Otavalo and includes various
life zones, from páramo in the highlands down to upper Amazon ecol-
ogy. The reserve has various access points, most of which require
four-wheel-drive and a good guide. To get there from Cayambe, take
the road (to Hacienda Guachala), which veers east off of the Pan-
American three miles south of Cayambe to the village Cangahua. Af-
ter a drive of just over an hour, there is an entrance station to the
park. In theory, it is open daily and is where you would pay the $5 en-
trance fee, but there's usually no one at the gate. A couple of miles be-
yond the entrance station is the village of Oyacachi. If you want to
climb Volcán Cayambe, the refuge on the mountain costs $10. An-
other entrance to the reserve is on the road through Papallacta to
Baeza via Papallacta.
Cotacachi-Cayapas
Ecological Reserve
Near the town of Cotacachi, on the southern slope of Volcán
Cotacachi, is the ancient crater lake of Cuicocha , meaning guinea
pig in Quichua. Don't let the name fool you, as this is a truly beautiful
lake, with great views and hiking. Cuicocha Lake is a popular week-
end spot for both Ecuadorians and foreign visitors. The area has been
developed for tourism and a fee is collected when officials are sta-
tioned at the entrance. A motorboat can be hired (about $2 per per-
son) for excursions out to themiddle of the lake and around the Yerovi
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