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Overview
The Pululahua Crater is a Geobotanical reserve that was the first to be declared such, not just in Ecuador but also in South America. The park was designated in 1969. The park sits on the inactive volcano of Pululahua, which last erupted around 2500 years ago and there are 21 different species of animal and 53 different plant species within its bounds. These species are protected in the Pululahua Crater, because this is a geobotanical reserve, specifically designed to do this. The crater is approximately three kilometers wide, and at first glance is a sea of greenery—both forests and farms contribute to this.
Just about half an hour outside of Quito, the Pululahua Crater is located very close to the Equator and the Mitad del Mundo government complex. The distance is approximately 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Quito. If only a brief trip to the crater is required then both can be easily visited in a day trip from the city. The name of the crater, Pululahua is translated into Quichua as “smoke of water”. Mainly, the weather is warm and sunny here; however, it is worth bringing some warm clothes as the weather can change very quickly.
Early settlers in the crater were the Inca. The land has been used for many centuries for agriculture, and after the Inca, in the first quarter of the 19th century, the Dominican Monks settled here. In addition to using the land for arable purposes, they hunted for treasure and extracted lime from the land. Later, in the early 20th century, the government took the land and did not return it to the farmers until the late 1970s.
The Pululahua Crater is a pleasant place for visitors to spend a relaxing couple of days. There are many different activities to keep the traveler occupied here, particularly for those who enjoy nature and the outdoors. The active may want to hike, camp, mountain bike or horseback ride around the crater, exploring the different ecosystems. There are some hot springs in the vicinity for the traveler to hike to, or alternatively there are several hills to hike up, including Pondoña, Lulumbamba and El Chivo. Meanwhile, those who like wildlife may enjoy a spot of bird watching within the crater area.
Services for tourists in the crater have increased over the past few years. There are now a couple of hostels (one with hot tub!) and there is a horseback riding tour operator. However, if there’s anything in particular that the traveler thinks they will need during their stay in the crater, they should take it with them – there’s not a lot going on here.
The Pululahua Crater is a pleasant place for visitors to spend a relaxing couple of days...
Highlights
Hiking – the Pululahua crater provides a multitude of hiking possibilities for those who enjoy this activity. From the Ventanillas viewpoint, it is possible to hike down into the crater and start from there. There is the Moraspungo part of the crater, from which visitors can enjoy cloud forest and views, and there are a number of hills to climb, including Pondoña, Lulumbamba and El Chivo.
Bird watching – within the bounds of the crater, bird watchers will enjoy the opportunity to spot some birds that are normally difficult to find. Birds that have been spotted here include the Rusty-breasted Antpitta, the Burrowing Owl and the Green-tailed Trainbearer. Lucky bird watchers might also get to see the Ondulated Antpitta. Some of these birds are only found here and in the Southern part of Ecuador.
Camping – there are several great places to camp in the crater, from which it is possible to enjoy the natural surroundings and unique scenery. There are a couple of hostels which provide space for camping for a small fee, and these places also allow use of the hostel facilities – some can even rent camping equipment. Those who camp should bring warm clothes – it can get chilly at night here.
Wildlife – the Pululahua crater supports a wide variety of wildlife. Within the area it is possible to find 21 different animal species and more than 50 different kinds of flora. Animals that may be observed include rabbits, lizards, frogs, wolves, chucuris, raposas and bats. The crater area is also particularly good for seeing many different kinds of butterflies, especially at the Pondoña Hill on sunny days.
Horseback Riding – the Pululahua crater offers the tourist excellent opportunities for horseback riding. The different landscapes that vary between lush green agricultural pastures, cloud forest and rougher, uncultivated and wild terrain provide the rider to take in a variety of scenery in just minutes. Operators can provide horses for beginners through to advanced levels of ability.
Mountain Biking – with its wide network of trails and ups and downs, the Pululahua crater is excellent for those who enjoy this activity. Participants can enjoy the spectacular and unusual landscapes while also keeping fit, cycling up small, steep hills, or careering down the other side.
Getting There
The best way to get to the Pululahua Crater is to take a bus in the direction of Mitad del Mundo, which is the government’s Equator monument complex. The cost will be approximately $1. Buses heading in this direction can be taken from La Ofelia northern bus terminal. Depending from at which point along the avenue this bus is taken, the journey time will be around 30 to 45 minutes.
From the Mitad del Mundo complex, it is possible to walk or take a bus the four further kilometers to the turn off for the Reserva Geobotanica Pululahua. Heading up the hill, after about one kilometer, the traveler will reach the entrance point to the crater, where there is parking and a restaurant. From here, it is possible to walk down into the crater. The walk will take approximately 30 minutes going down, and more like double that to climb back out again.
There is another entrance to the crater which is found further along the road from the Mitad del Mundo complex. The turn off for the crater is found approximately one kilometer before reaching the town of Calacali.
