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| Other sites of Interest |
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 El Boliche National Recreation Area
This zone is located only 63 km from Quito, in the Province of Cotopaxi, and covers an area of 990 hectares. It was created to introduce the white tailed deer
and the program has been quite successful. The fauna is similar to that of the Cotopaxi area, with condors, rabbits, pumas, gazelles and bears, among other animals. Pine trees brought from North America can be found amid the vegetation. There are hills and valleys and rivers in the area. Tourists have resting places and camping zones, hotel services and an administrative center.
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 Limoncocha Ecological Sanctuary
The Limoncocha Lake and surrounding terrain cover an area of 5 261 hectares situated 368 km from Quito, in the Province of Napo. The Sanctuary possesses 347 species of birds, such as ducks and falcons, together with alligators, turtles, fish, insects and marsupials. The vegetation is typical of the blossoming period and includes aquatic and semi-aquatic plants that are the habitat for a large number of birds. Microscopic algae give the lake water its distinctive yellow green hue and are responsible for the high density of fish in this preserve area.
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 Churute Mangrove Swamp Ecological Sanctuary
This park covers an area of 35 043 hectares and is located 40 km from Guayaquil in the Province of Guayas. Its noteworthy animal life includes turtles and aquatic birds, particularly the canclon. Inside the park there are ducks, herons, woodpeckers, sloths, shrimp, crabs and mollusks. The mangroves are the most prevalent vegetation, although there are also balsa and laurel, typical of dry forests, and orquids and Bromelials.
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 Pululahua Geobotanical Preserve
Situated in an area covering 3 382 hectares in the Province of Pichincha 40 km from Quito, this park has numerous species of birds, such as toucans, dorals and hummingbirds. There are also mammals like armadillos, ocelots, squirrels and gazelles and the park has a varied and exotic insect population, as well. Its flora is characteristic of mountainous areas, including laurel trees, ferns and walnut trees, as well as lovely orchids. The “Ventanilla” lookout affords a view right into the center of the volcano’s crater, which tourists can visit, and from the mountaintops geological formations and thermal springs can be spied.
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The abundant biodiversity of each of Ecuador’s four regions has produced thousands of plant and animal species amid fertile natural environments. There are about 1 640 types of birds, with nearly 500 varieties in the protected Mindo-Nambillo forest northwest of Quito alone. Butterfly species number close to 4 500, reptiles 345, amphibians 358 and mammals 258, among others. This is why Ecuador is considered among the 17 countries with the world’s largest biodiversity. National Parks like Machalilla dot the landscape from north to south and east to west. There are tropical forests, lakes and beaches within the over 20 areas protected by the State.
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Access |
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Inasmuch as each of the National Parks is situated in a different part of the country, their location is given in terms of their proximity to the capital city of Quito. Most have well marked roads that make them easy to visit.
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Tourist attractions |
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 El Cajas.
Located 520 km from Quito in the Province of Azuay, the park covers an area of 28 808 hectares and ranges in altitude from 3 000 to 3 500 meters. The Park is home to a large variety of birds living at high altitudes, like the mountain toucan, blackbird, aquatic cockerel, and condor. Among the mammal population are wolves, gazelles, pumas, bears and rabbits. The lake is filled with trout and other fish. As for the park’s vegetation, it consists of the plants typical to this altitude: quinoa, valerian and wild rose, among others. There are 275 lakes of glacial origin, geological formations and caverns that complement the cold, foggy landscape. The area has basic tourist services and infrastructure.
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 Machalilla.
This park is located 500 km from Quito in the Province of Manabi and covers an area of 55 000 hectares. The animal life in the area includes tropical carnivorous primates and a variety of herbivorous species, such as pacas, monkeys and bears. Sea and continental birds like pelicans, cranes, frigate birds and small falcons inhabit the area, together with a series of reptiles. The vegetation can be classified into three categories: tropical forest, dry forest and very dry forest. The most prolific plants are the crecopias, balsam, palms, cacti, and silver thatch. Basic infrastructure is available for tourists and in the coastal region there are archeological sites, beaches and islands to be visited.
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 Yasuni.
This 697 751-hectare biosphere preserve exhibits Ecuador’s most plentiful biodiversity. Located in the Province of Napo, the western area of the Park is situated 306 km from Quito. Its animal life includes a large variety of fish, such as piranhas and ornamental fish; reptiles like anacondas, boa constrictors, crocodiles and turtles, and a variety of amphibious, invertebrate and insect species. Its assorted birds include colorful parakeets. The vegetation is varied: river, flooded forest, and hard-ground forest, among others, with balsa, cecropia, palm and capirona species, as well as a number of vegetables, can be found there. The Huaorani Indians live within the Park boundaries.
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 Sangay
This park 280 km from Quito has an area of 271 000 hectares and covers the Provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua and Morona Santiago. Sangay is an active volcano that still erupts, while mountain climbing is practiced on the nearby mountains and areas equipped with basic tourist infrastructure are available for camping. The park’s fauna includes a variety of species, such as tapirs, bears, jaguars, gazelles, hummingbirds, gallos andinos and condors.
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 Podocarpus.
Extending over an area of 146 235 hectares straddling the Provinces of Loja and Zamora, the park is located 700 km from Quito and offers basic tourist services. The area is known for the large variety of species it shelters and one can find mammals such as pumas, anteaters and wolves and birds like toucans, parakeets and hummingbirds. Orchids and wildflowers grow abundantly in the park.
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 Reserva de Reprodución de Fauna Cuyabeno.
This park filled with a considerable number of aquatic and land habitats, as well as a large bird population, is located in Sucumbios Province 318 km from Quito. Its 655 525 hectare area is inhabited by animals like wild turkeys, herons and arpías, but those that are encountered most frequently are tapirs, jaguars, ocelots, monkeys and manatees. The Cuyabano tropical forest is heterogeneous and multifaceted because it possesses both abundant aquatic and land vegetation, such as chambira, capirona and vegetable ivory nuts, as well as different kinds of wild roses and grapes. Navigating down the Aquarico River by canoe, visitors can view the Cuyabano and admire the intricate lake system where the Siona Indians live.
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