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Overview
El Angel Ecological Reserve, which totals 15,715 hectares of protected natural land, is located in the northern Ecuadorian province of Carchi. Just outside the small town of El Angél, the reserve is in the páramo, or in the high-elevation Andean moorlands that exist between the upper forest line and permanent snow line. The reserve's altitude ranges between 11,950 and 15,640 feet above sea level, and its climate is characterized by harsh, cold temperatures. Daily daytime temperatures vary between 5° and 18° C (41° to 64° F).
Known for its abundance of flora and fauna, El Angel Ecological Reserve is home to a variety of endemic species. Most of the plants that are found in the reserve have special defense mechanisms to protect themselves from the cold. Many plants have hairy leaves to resist the cold, while others are cushion-shaped and capable of storing lots of water.
El Angel reserve, flora & fauna
El Angel is also covered by a native páramo plant called frailejones, or Espeletia pychnophylla. This sunflower-like plant has tall stems (sometimes up to 20 feet high) that collectively form forests throughout the reserve. Its leaves are long and hairy to keep the frailejones from freezing. Polyepsis trees, locally known as paper trees, have insulated trunks made from many peel-able layers of reddish-brown bark and can also be found here. Numerous types of orchids and gentians also populate the area, and many of the trees are covered with ferns and fungus.
El Angel Ecological Reserve is home to a variety of endemic species...
The reserve is also extremely diverse when it comes to fauna, and many of the species that live there are rare or endangered. Marsupial frogs, condors, Andean pumas, wild rabbits, páramo wolves and trout all inhabit El Angel. Deer, carunculated caracara, weasels, doves, and quail also live in the reserve. El Angel was created in 1992 to protect these unique species that were threatened by pesticides, fertilizers and vegetation burning from agricultural activities. Due to the creation of El Angel, these threats have been significantly lessened, though they still do pose some problems.
El Angel is dotted with numerous stunning lakes, waterfalls and lagoons. A couple of small rivers originate in the reserve and form basins at the El Angel and El Mira rivers. Additionally, the native grasslands, which have high water-retentive abilities, transform the reserve into a sponge-like region, providing water to all of the Carchi province.
El Angel Lagoons
Some of the lagoons worth visiting are Lagunas El Voladero, Laguna Potrerillos, Laguna Razococha and Lagunas Verdes. El Valadero is made up of three lagoons in a glacier valley and is surrounded by tons of frailejones, deer, wolves and ducks. Potrerillos is located two hours to the north of El Valadero by foot. Laguna Razococha is a bird refuge where hundreds of species of birds can be spotted including the condor. The entire lagoon is encircled by dense forest and the lagoon is teeming with rainbow trout. Lagunas Verdes are green-colored lagoons at the foot of the Chilis volcano. The lagoons are green due to large amounts of algae and sulfur. In addition to the beautiful lagoons, the reserve's Mirador de Sacavones, Quebrada de Baos and thermal waters are all worth a visit. The mirador offers a scenic overhead view of the reserve, while the quebrada has thermal waters with healing qualities. More thermal waters, like La Calera, can be found near the town of El Angel. Puente Ayora is another popular site of thermal waters. Puene Ayora's main feature is that the water flows together with natural gas here, creating jets that have therapeutic properties.
El Angel Reserve location
El Angel Ecological Reserve is 170 kilometers (105.6 miles) north of Quito. To get there, simply follow the Panamerican highway north from Quito until the town of El Angel. If you veer left and drive through the towns of Libertad and San Francisco, you will eventually arrive at the entrance to the reserve. You can also take a bus to El Angel from Quito. Trans Espejo runs a frequent service via Ibarra, which is four hours long and costs about $2.70. If you do not have your own car, you will either have to hire a pick-up truck from the town center of El Angel or find a 4x4 to take you to the reserve. Tours to the reserve can be organized in the village of El Angel through Fundación El Angel. This organization, which is a good source of information about the reserve in general, is located at José Grijalva 04-26. Some tour companies in Quito also offer guided tours of the reserve, often times in combination with other longer tours. Booking a tour is a good alternative to hitching a ride there, and a guide in the reserve can maximize your experience by assuring you hit up the important parts and by providing historical and ecological context. Admission to the reserve costs $10.
If you are looking to spend the night in the area, your best bet is to hole up in one of the hosterías in El Angel, about 17 km (10.5 mi) away. There are a few cheap accommodations available in the town for budget-seekers, but there are also some more luxurious lodges outside of town. One such lodge is the Polylepis. There are also some cheap restaurants in El Angel where you can fill up on some fixed-priced lunches and dinners. Most of the food is Ecuadorian, but you can find some Mexican staples like burritos and enchiladas, or some salads and sandwiches as well.
La Gruta de La Paz:
La Gruta de La Paz, or the Grotto of Peace, is a rock cave formed by the Apaqui River about 23 Km (14.2 mi) from the town of San Gabriel in the Carchi province. The natural rock formation doubles as the sanctuary to Our Lady of Peace, or the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Roman Catholic Church. Since it has been dedicated to Our Lady of Peace, thousands of pilgrims come weekly to pay respects, pray and bathe in its thermal waters from its surrounding natural springs. The image of the Virgin is carved into the stone by famous sculptor Daniel Kings. By the temple, there is a restaurant, local artisans and some lodging. On weekends and during holidays, there is a transport service to La Gruta de La Paz with Buses de la Cooperativa Cristóbal Colón, which leave from the park in San Gabriel.
