Llanganates National Park

Localization

Central Ecuador; 30 km northeast of Ambato (No. 5 in the map on Ecuador introducing page)

Access

Quite difficult

Characteristic

2 197 km²; Remote and vaste mountain range (1200 - 4571 m) of Central Andes. The highest mountain of the par is Cerro Hermoso. Typical ecosystems: mountain and alpine biotopes, rain forest, cloud forest, mountain steppe (páramo). Many rivers, lagoons and waterfals. High level of endemism.

Fauna + Flora

Mammals:

51 mammal species

Marsupials - Opossums (Didelphidae): Opossums (Didelphis pernigra and Marmosa sp.)

- Shrew Opossums (Caenolestidae): Common Gray Shrew Opossum

Insectivores - Shrews (Soricidae): Cryptotis equatoris

Bats - True Bats (Vespertilionidae): Small Big-eared Brown Bat; Black Myotis; Hairy-legged Myotis; Silver-tipped Myotis

- New World Leaf-nosed Bats (Phyllostomidae): Striped Hairy-nosed Bat; Silky Short-tailed Bat; Geoffroy´s Tailles Bat; Tailed Tailles Bat; Bidentate Yellow-shouldered Bat; Bogota Yellow-shouldered Bat; Hairy Yellow-shouldered Bat; Little Yellow-shouldered Bat; Micronycterys megalotis; Sturnira oporaphilum; Vampyressa thyone

Primates - Night Monkeys (Aotidae): Lemurine Night Monkey

Edentata - Sloths (Bradypodidae): Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth

Lagomorphs - Rabbits and Hears (Leporidae): Forest Rabbit

Rodents - Mice (Muridae): Highland Grass Mouse; Soft Grass Mouse; Beady-eyed Mouse; Paramo Oldfield Mouse; Rhoads´s Oldfield Mouse; Ecuadorean Rice Rat; Forest Small Rice Rat; Highland Small Rice Rat; Thomasomys erro

- Squirrels (Sciuridae): Red-tailed Squirrel

- Agoutis and Acuchis (Dasyproctidae):  Black Agouti

- Pacas (Agoutidae): Mountain Paca

- New World Porcupines (Erethizontidae): Stump-tailed Porcupine

Carnivores - Weasels, Otters, Badgers (Mustelidae): Greater Grizon; Neotrpoical River Otter; Long-tailed Weasel

- Skunks (Mephitidae): Striped Hog-nosed Skunk

- Bears (Ursidae): Spectacled Bear

- Procyonids (Procyonidae): South American Coati

- Dogs (Canidae): Culpeo Fox

- Cats (Felidae): Jaguar; Margay; Puma

Odd-toed Ungulates - Tapirs (Tapiridae): Mountain Tapir

Even-toed Ungulates - Deers (Cervidae): Little Red Brocke; White-tailed Deer; Northern Pudu

Birds:

194 bird species

Tinamiformes - Tinamous (Tinamidae): Curve-billed Tinamou

Anseriformes - Gees, Swans and Ducks (Anatidae): Andean Duck; Torrent Duck; Yellow-billed Spintail

Birds of Prey - American Vultures (Cathartidae): Andean Condor; American Black Vulture; Turkey Vuture

- Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Kites and Old World Vultures (Accipitridae): Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle; Black-and-chestnut Eagle; Broad-winged Hawk; Red-backed Hawk; Roadside Hawk

- Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae): Carunculated Caracara; Aplomado Falcon; Orange-breasted Falcon; Peregrine Falcon

Galliformes - Chachalacas, Guans and Curassows (Cracidae): Andean Guan; Sickle-winged Guan; Wattled Guan

Gruiformes - Rails, Crakes, Coots and Gallinules (Rallidae): Slate-colored Coot

Charadriiformes - Wading Birds (Scolopacidae): Spotted Sandpiper; Andean Snipe; Imperial Snipe; Noble Snipe; Greater Yellowlegs

- Plovers (Charadriidae): Andean Lapwing

- Gulls (Laridae): Andean Gull

Columbiformes - Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae): Band-tailed Pigeon; Ruddy Pigeon; Ruddy Quail-Dove; White-throated Quail-Dove

Psittaciformes - Parrots (Psittacidae): Maroon-tailed Parakeet; Pionus seniloides

Strigiformes - Owls (Strigidae): Rufous-banded Owl; Short-eared Owl; Rufescent Screech-Owl; Vermiculated Screech-Owl

- Barn and Grass Owls (Tytonidae): Barn Owl

Cuculiformes - Cuckoos, Anis, Coucals and Roadrunners (Cuculidae): Squirrel Cuckoo

Goatsuckers - Nightjars (Caprimulgidae): Band-winged Nightjar; Lyre-tailed Nightjar

Apodiformes - Swifts (Apodidae): White-collared Swift

- Hummingbirds (Trochilidae): Fawn-brested Brilliant; Tawny-bellied Hermit; Ecuadorian Hillstar; Speckled Hummingbird; Sword-billed Hummingbird; Bronzy Inca; Collared Inca; Tyrian Metaltail; Viridian Metaltail; Emerald-bellied Puffleg; Glowing Puffleg; Golden-breasted Puffleg; Sapphire-vented Puffleg; Booted Racquet-tail; Great Sapphirewing; Buff-winged Starfrontlet; Tourmaline Sunangel; Shining Sunbeam; Long-tailed Sylph; Blue-mantled Thornbill; Rainbow-bearded Thornbill; Mountain Velvetbreast

Trogoniformes - Trogons (Trogonidae): Golden-headed Quetzal; Masked Trogon

Coraciiformes - Momots (Momotidae):  Momotus aequatorialis

Piciformes - Barbets (Capitonidae): Red-headed Barbet

- Toucans (Ramphastidae): Black-billed Mountain-Toucan; Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan; Emerald Toucanet

- Woodpeckers, Wrynecks and Piculets (Picidae): Crimson-mantled Woodpecker; Powerful Woodpecker

Perching Birds - Woodcreepers (Dendrocolapidae): Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger; Brown-billed Scythebill; Olive-backed Woodcreeper; Strong-billed Woodcreeper; Tyrannine Woodcreeper

- Ovenbirds or Horneros (Furnariidae): Spotted Barbtail; Many-striped Canestero; Streak-backed Canastero; Bar-winged Cinclodes; Stout-billed Cinclodes; Lineated Foliage-gleaner;  Azara´s Spinetail; Rufous Spinetail; Lafresnaye's White-browed Spinetail; White-chinned Spinetail; Flammulated Treehunter; Streak-capped Treehunter; Pearled Treerunner

- Antbirds (Formicariidae): Chestnut-crowned Antpitta; Chestnut-naped Antpitta;  Crescent-faced Antpitta; Ochre-breasted Antpitta; Rufous Antpitta; Tawny Antpitta; Undulated Antpitta; White-bellied Antpitta

- Cotingas (Cotingidae): Andean Cock of the Rock; Chestnut-bellied Cotinga; Green-and black Fruiteater; Dusky Piha

- Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae): Paramo Tapaculo; Spillmann's Tapaculo; Tapaculo (Scytalopus latrans)

- Tyrants (Tyrannidae): Smoky Bush-Tyrant; Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant; Crowned Chat-Tyrant; Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant; Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant; Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant; White-crested Elaenia; Fulvous-breasted Flatbill; Cinnamon Flycatcher; Dusky-capped Flycatcher; Handsome Flycatcher; Orange-crested Flycatcher; Streak-necked Flycatcher; Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant; White-browed Ground-Tyrant; Smoke-colored Pewee; Black Phoebe; Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant; Torrent Tyrannulet; White-throated Tyrannulet; Agile Tit-Tyrant; Tufted Tit-Tyrant

- Swallows and Martins (Hirundinidae): Blue-and-white Swallow; Brown-bellied Swallow

- Crows and Jays (Corvidae): Green Jay; Turquoise Jay

- Thrushes and Chats (Turdidae): Great Thrush; Andean Solitaire

- Dippers (Cinclidae): White-capped Dipper

- Wagtails and Pipits (Motacillidae): Paramo Pipit

- Wrens (Troglodytidae): Cinnycerthia olivascens; Grey-breasted Wood-Wren; Chestnut-breasted Wren; Mountain Wren; Plain-tailed Wren; Rufous Wren; Sedge Wren; Wren (Troglodytes musculus)

- Tanagers (Thraupidae): Ashy-throatedb Bush-Tanager; Black-backed Bush-Tanager; Grey-hooded Bush-Tanager; Blue-backed Conebill; Cinereous Conebill; Golden-rumped Euphonia; Orange-bellied Euphonia; Plush-capped Finch; Black Flower-piercer; Glossy Flower-piercer; Masked Flower-piercer; Black-capped Hemispingus; Black-headed Hemispingus; Superciliared Hemispingus; Black-chested Mountain-Tanager; Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager; Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager; Hooded Mountain-Tanager; Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager; Masked Mountain-Tanager; Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager; Bay-headed Tanager; Beryl-splanged Tanager; Black-capped Tanager; Blue-and-black Tanager; Blue-browed Tanager; Blue-grey Tanager; Blue-necked Tanager; Flame-faced Tanager; Golden Tanager; Golden-crowned Tanager; Grass-green Tanager; Magpie Tanager; Red-hooded Tanager; Saffron-crowned Tanager; Summer Tanager; White-capped Tanager; Tanager (Tangara vasorii)

- Cardinals and Grosbeaks (Cardinalidae):  Black-backed Grosbeak

- Blackbirds, Orioles and Cowbirds (Icteridae): Mountain Cacique; Scarlet-rumped Cacique; Yellow-billed Cacique; Russet-backed Oropendola

- Vireos (Vireonidae): Brown-capped Vireo

- Warblers (Parulidae): Slate-throated Redstart; Spectacled Redstart; Blackburnian Warbler; Black-crested Warbler; Citrine Warbler; Russet-crowned Warbler; Thrtee-striped Warbler

- Buntings, American Sparrows, Juncos, etc. (Emberizidae): Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch; Slaty Brush-Finch; Stripe-headed Brush-Finch; Black-backed Bush-Finch; Pale-naped Brush-Finch; White-rimmed Brush-Finch; Slaty Finch; Plain-colored Seedeater; Plumbeous Sierra-Finch; Rufous-collared Sparrow

Amphibians:

Plethodontoidea - Cave Salamanders (Plethodontidae): Bolitoglossa palmata

Frogs - Amphignathodontidae: Gastrotheca riobambae

- Toads (Bufonidae): Osornophryne bufoniformis

- Eleutherodactylidae: Eleutherodactylus curtipes, E. galdi, E. ganonotus, E. incomptus, E. nigrogriseus, E. orcesi and E. quaquaversus

Plants:

800 vascular plant species

Ferns:

Cyatheales - Tree Ferns (Cyatheaceae):  Treefern (Cyathea sp.)

Polypodiales - Blechnaceae: Midsorus Fern (Blechnum auratum)

Dicotyledons:

Chloranthales - Chloranthaceae: Hedyosmum sp.

Santalales - Lorantahaceae: Aetanthus longebracteatus

Rosales - Moraceae: Fig (Ficus sp.)

Myrtales - Melastomataceae: Johnyberry (Miconia sp.)

Apiales - Araliaceae: Oreopanax sp.; Schefflera sp.

Lamiales - Gesneriaceae: Alloplectus sp.

Asterales - Asteraceae: Baccharis sp.; Chuquiraga sp.; Espeletia pycnophylla; Gynoxis sp.

Piperales - Piperaceae: Pepper (Piper sp.)

Monocotyledons:

Alismatales - Aroids (Araceae): Elephat´s Ear (Xanthosoma sp.); Laceleaf (Anthurium sp.) 

Poales - Grasses (Poaceae): Bengrasses (Agrostis spp.); Peruvian Feathergrass (Stipa ichu); Fescues (Festuca spp.); Pampas Grasses (Cordateria spp.); Reedgrasses (Calamagrostis spp.)

- Bromeliaceae: Airplant (Tillandsia sp.); Puya sp.

Possible activities

Trekking - more of less difficult

Fishing.

Note

Beautiful landscape.

Greater part of the park is poorly mapped or unmapped

Legend says it that Atahualpa's ransom in gold was hidden here hundreds of years ago.

Best time to visit XII-I.