Ecuador Travel

La Poderosa cascade in Podocarpus, Zamora

Overview

The Podocarpus National Park is found in the Southern part of Ecuador’s Andean region, though part of it also stretches as far as the Amazon Basin. It is located across three of Ecuador’s provinces – Loja, Zamora and Morena Santiago.

The park is unusual because it is home to Ecuador’s only indigenous Andean coniferous plant, which can be seen in the park. In addition to the conifer, the park has a truly spectacular landscape that should not be missed. There are in excess of 100 glacial lakes and there are a number of large waterfalls.

The park’s wildlife is one of its major attractions. The area is so diverse that it has become very important for research. Within the park, birdwatchers might be lucky enough to see the elusive Cock of the Rock, toucans and parrots. Those who want to see an Andean Spectacled Bear might be in luck, though these creatures are extremely shy. There are also mountain tapirs to be found here.

While in this area of Ecuador, it is worth a trip to Zamora. On the way to Zamora from Loja, there are a number of waterfalls to be found. These include: Cascada Manto de Novia, Cascada Chorillos, Cascada La Gentil and Cascada La Rapida. Within the city itself, there are a number of pretty parks and some interesting buildings, including the Cathedral of Zamora.

Highlights

Hiking – the Podocarpus National Park offers countless opportunities for hiking and trekking to the traveler who enjoys this pursuit. For those interested in a day trip, there are a number of marked trails that can be taken. It is also possible to take multi-day trips here to trek across a wider area of the park and enjoy more of its spectacular scenery first hand.

Camping – for those trekking, or others who like the good old outdoors, camping is a possibility in the Podocarpus National Park. Awakening in a tent surrounded by the outstanding natural beauty of towering waterfalls or glacial lakes, is a treat for the outdoorsy visitor. Travelers who want to camp should be aware that it does get cold here at night. They should be prepared with all of the pertinent equipment such as an appropriate sleeping bag and warm clothes, including a hat and gloves.

Bird watching – the area of the Podocarpus National Park is known for its amazing selection of bird life that calls it home. Birders should bring their binoculars and a bird book to identify their finds. One of the most interesting birds to be found here is the Cock of the Rock. Viewing this bird usually requires an early start to the day. It is recommended to go with a guide to find the best spots for birding in the park.

Photography – with such outstanding beauty, the Podocarpus National Park lends itself very nicely to those who enjoy photographing spectacular scenery. Choose from the dark blue lakes that litter the park’s landscape, or thundering waterfalls. Alternatively, get some interesting shots of the area’s gnarled cloud forest, or giant hills. It is not hard to take great pictures here with such a natural backdrop.

Horseback riding – a very popular activity in the Podocarpus National Park is horseback riding. This can be arranged with operators from either Loja or Vilcabamba. Be aware that safety standards are not the same as back home—for example, you will not be provided with a riding hat. Operators will usually match you with a horse that fits your level of riding experience. From the back of a horse you will get excellent views of the scenery, and be able to take in more distance than if you were hiking.

Flora and Fauna – the Podocarpus National Park is known for its interesting range of flora and flora, and it is extremely bio diverse. Of particular interest, Andean Spectacled Bears roam the park, and visitors who are extremely lucky might get to see one. There are also mountain tapir, and these are also difficult to spot, though some travelers may be rewarded with a sighting. Located in Andes and Amazon, the park has a large variation in flora too.

Getting There

To get to the Podocarpus National Park, the traveler first needs to head to either Loja or Vilcabamba. It is possible to go via bus or via airplane from Quito. By bus, the traveler should head to the Quitumbe bus terminal to the south of Quito. This will cost $0.25 and take one hour or more on public transport, or approximately $10 and will take around 30 minutes in a taxi.

Once in Quitumbe, the visitor should take a bus to Loja. Buses leave daily at fairly regular intervals. The journey to Loja will take in a great deal of Ecuador’s portion of the Pan American Highway. Journey times vary due to the vast distance covered, but will likely be approximately 16 hours. From Loja, those travelers wanting to head to Vilcabamba should take a bus headed there, which will take one hour and cost $1 to $2. The bus will pass by one of the entry points to the Podocarpus National Park.

By airplane, the visitor should take a flight to Loja. There are three flights per day on most days, and the main operator to Loja is TAME, a domestic airline. Flight times are approximately 50 minutes, and the cost will be $75 to $90. From Loja airport which is somewhat outside of the city of Loja, the traveler will need to take a taxi to the Loja bus terminal (40 minutes at a cost of approximately $10). Those travelers wanting to head to Vilcabamba will need to take a bus from here (one hour at a cost of approximately $1.50). Alternatively travelers can head from Loja airport all the way to Vilcabamba in a taxi. The cost of this is $30-$40, depending on if the visitor is willing to share a taxi with others.

From Loja or Vilcabamba, the journey time to the park is approximately 30-45 minutes. It is recommended to go with a guide, though there are marked walking trails too.