Ecuador Travel

Cayambe Coca

Cayambe Coca

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Overview

The Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve is located approximately 100 kilometers from Quito, to the north. The park covers a large area—approximately 3,700 kilometers square of Ecuadorian highlands and cloud forested areas. The reserve is one of the largest in Ecuador for biodiversity and houses rainforest in Napo and Sucumbios province, El Reventador volcano and it stretches as far as Papallacta, which is in the Pichincha province. The reserve has a massive altitude range, stretching from the highest point of the reserve, the Cayambe volcano, which stands at 5970 meters tall, and the lowest point in the reserve which only reaches 800 meters above sea level.

There is interesting wildlife in the reserve for the visitor, including fauna such as foxes, condor, spectacled bears, deer, armadillos and rabbits. The flora of the reserve includes primary forest and paramo. There are 900 species of bird found here. The park has more than 50% of all Ecuador bird species, making it an excellent location for birdwatching.

Cayambe Volcano (5790 meters)

Cayambe Volcano itself is a climb that is recommended to be attempted with a guide. While not technically challenging, it has a significant frequency of avalanches and there are a lot of crevasses. The weather can also be changeable and unpredictable on this mountain. The volcano’s refuge stands at 4700 meters.

Oyacachi Thermal Springs

Oyacachi is a little off the regular beaten path for travelers, but is well worth the effort to get there. It is set in a cloud forested area at the base of a type of bowl shaped mountain arrangement. One of the attractions that Oyacachi is particularly known for is its hot springs, which are much less frequented than many other hot springs around the country. They are especially quiet during weekdays. It costs $2 to get into the springs, which are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. In addition to the hot springs there are interesting ruins, and the area is well known for its excellent hiking opportunities.

Do not visit Oyacachi without trying the trout from one of the local restaurants. In fact, this may be all that a visitor can purchase, since restaurants and stores are very limited in this town. There is a place selling trout outside the hot springs. There is very little in the way of accommodation in this town, with just a couple of hotels, but there is decent camping at the hot springs for a small fee.

Highlights

Cayambe – this small town located just over an hour from Quito shares its name with Cayambe Volcano. A sight that can often be seen while driving along the Pan-American Highway, and even from Quito, this huge mountain offers up an interesting climb for those wanting a challenge. Other travelers can hike up beyond the refuge to view the glacier and small lakes, below the summit.

Bizcochos – in this part of the country, the specialty is “biscochos”. Biscochos are a flaky pastry kind of a biscuit. Some love them, while others don’t appreciate how delicious they are. They are best served with the local “queso fresco”, or fresh cheese. These can be purchased almost anywhere when you are close to the town of Cayambe.

Oyacachi Hot Springs – these hot springs are much smaller and less commercialized than their close-by Papallacta counterparts. There are a number of different pools which are at varying different temperatures. Those wanting to cool off and take a break from the hot water can splash around in the chilly river next to the springs. The springs are set in the base of a kind of bowl shaped valley and the views while in the springs are amazing.

Oyacachi Ruins – just a short walk of two kilometers outside of Oyacachi, it is possible to find some ruins. At this point, there are some stone houses and a cemetery. These were most likely to have been abandoned over a century ago due to the risk of landslides. For history buffs, about another hour along this trail, it is possible to find some land forms, which may be Caranqui pyramids. It has not been possible to confirm whether this is indeed the case, but it makes for an interesting sight.

San Marcus Lake – toward the other side of the Cayambe volcano compared to the town of Cayambe, the San Marcus Lake provides hiking and bird watching opportunities. At one time there were foot paths all around the lake, but these are somewhat overgrown at the current time. The lake itself has an interesting selection of bird life, and along the rough trails that do exist around the lake, it is possible to see interesting mixed flocks.

Hiking – the Cayambe Coca reserve offers up many opportunities for hiking for those who enjoy this outdoors pursuit. There are vast areas of paramo grassland where hikers can find countless trails. There is some hiking (not just climbing) at the Cayambe volcano itself. Visitors could consider basing themselves in one of the local haciendas, and taking day hikes in this area.

Getting There

There are a number of different entry points to the Cayambe Coca reserve. Those wanting to head to the Cayambe volcano, San Marcus Laguna or Oyacachi, should take a bus from the Terminal Carcelen, located in the north of Quito. A bus ride to this terminal will cost $0.25, and a taxi will cost approximately $4-5 from the Mariscal part of town. Allow an hour on a bus and 30 minutes in a taxi. Buses can be taken to Cayambe town, and from here it is possible to change to go to other parts of the reserve, such as Oyacachi.

Those wanting to head out to Reventador or Papallacta should go to the Rio Coca bus terminal. This is in the northern part of Quito, and sits at the end of the Ecovia bus line. From here, a bus can be taken to Cumbaya, at a cost of $0.25. Most of the buses out to Papallacta and Reventador head out through Cumbaya.