Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve

Localization

Central Ecuador, 17 km north of Quito (No. 20 in the map of national parks on Ecuador introducing page)

Access

Easy

Description

3 383 ha, Natural attraction - giant crater of extinct Pululahua Volcano. One of the worldwide largest volcano craters, about 500 m deep. Unique microclimate - fog is the only real source of water, because it virtually never rains at Pululahua. Many volcanic activity effects. Altitude 1800 - 3356 m. Typical ecosystems: mountain and volcanic biotopes, cloud forest. Good deal of the reserve is created by an agricultural landscape.

Fauna + Flora

Mammals:

Bats - Vampyre Bats (Megadermatidae): Vampyre Bat

Edentata - Armadillos (Dasypodidae): Nine-banded Armadillo

Lagomorphs - Rabbits and Hears (Leporidae): Forest Rabbit

Rodents - Squirrels (Sciuridae): Red-tailed Squirrel

Carnivores - Weasels, Otters, Badgers (Mustelidae): Long-tailed Weasel

- Skunks (Mephitidae): Striped Hog-nosed Skunk

- Bears (Ursidae): Spectacled Bear

- Dogs (Canidae): Culpeo Fox

- Cats (Felidae): Puma

Even-toed Ungulates  - Deers (Cervidae): Little Red Brocke

Birds:

Tinamiformes - Tinamous (Tinamidae): Curve-billed Tinamou; Tawny-breasted Tinamou

Pelecaniformes - Cormorants and Shags (Phalacrocoarcidae): Neotropic Cormorant

Ciconiiformes - Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae): Snowy Egret

Birds of Prey - American Vultures (Cathartidae): American Black Vulture

- Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Kites and Old World Vultures (Accipitridae): Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle; Plain-breasted Hawk; Red-backed Hawk

- Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae): Peregrine Falcon; American Kestrel

Galliformes - Chachalacas, Guans and Curassows (Cracidae): Andean Guan

Charadriiformes - Wading Birds (Scolopacidae): Imperial Snipe

Columbiformes - Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae): Eared Dove; Band-tailed Pigeon

Psittaciformes - Parrots (Psittacidae): Speckle-faced Parrot

Strigiformes - Owls (Strigidae): Andean Pygmy-Owl; White-throated Screech-Owl

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

Goatsuckers - Nightjars (Caprimulgidae): Band-winged Nightjar

Apodiformes - Swifts (Apodidae): White-collared Swift

- Hummingbirds (Trochilidae): Giant Hummingbird; Speckled Hummingbird; Sword-billed Hummingbird; Tyrian Metaltail; Black-breasted Puffleg; Golden-breasted Puffleg; Sapphire-vented Puffleg; Golden-tailed Sapphire; Great Sapphirewing; Buff-winged Starfrontlet; Shining Sunbeam; Purple-backed Thornbill; Black-tailed Trainbearer; Green-tailed Trainbearer; Mountain Velvetbreast; Sparkling Violet-ear

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

Piciformes - Woodpeckers, Wrynecks and Piculets (Picidae): Bar-bellied Woodpecker; Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Perching Birds - Ovenbirds or Horneros (Furnariidae): Azara´s Spinetail; Lafresnaye's White-browed Spinetail; Streaked Tuftedcheek

- Antbirds (Formicariidae): Chestnut-naped Antpitta; Rufous Antpitta; Tawny Antpitta; Undulated Antpitta

- Cotingas (Cotingidae): Andean Cock-of-the-Rock; Red-crested Cotinga; Barred Fruiteater

- Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae): Ash-colored Tapaculo; Blackish Tapaculo; Ocellated Tapaculo; Unicolored Tapaculo

- Tyrants (Tyrannidae): Smoky Bush-Tyrant; Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant; Crowned Chat-Tyrant; Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant; Yellow-bellied Elaenia; Tufted Flycatcher; Blackish Pewee; Smoke-colored Pewee; Black Phoebe; Tufted Tit-Tyrant; White-banded Tyrannulet; White-throated Tyrannulet

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

- Crows and Jays (Corvidae): Black-collared Jay; Turquoise Jay

- Thrushes and Chats (Turdidae): Glossy-black Thrush; Great Thrush

- Wrens (Troglodytidae): Rufous Wren; Sedge Wren

- Tanagers (Thraupidae): Blue-backed Conebill; Cinereous Conebill; Golden-rumped Euphonia; Superciliaried Hemispingus; Black-chested Mountain-Tanager; Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager; Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager; Hooded Mountain-Tanager; Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager; Blue-capped Tanager; Golden-crowned Tanager; Rufous-chested Tanager

- Cardinals and Grosbeaks (Cardinalidae): Golden-bellied Grosbeak

- Warblers (Parulidae): Spectacled Redstart; Black-crested Warbler

- Buntings, American Sparrows, Juncos, etc. (Emberizidae): Pale-naped Brush-Finch; Rufous-naped Brush-Finch; Slaty Brush-Finch; Stripe-headed Brush-Finch; Tricolored Brush-Finch; Sulphur-throated Finch; Black Flower-piercer; Glossy Flower-piercer; Masked Flower-piercer; Chestnut-bellied Seedeater; Slate-colored Seedeater; Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch; Rufous-collared Sparrow

- Finches (Fringillidae): Lesser Goldfinch

Reptiles:

Lizards and Snakes - Gymnophthalmidae: Proctoporus unicolor

- Neotropical Ground Lizards ( Tropiduridae): Stenocercus guentheri

Amphibians:

Frogs - Amphignathodontidae: Gastrotheca riobambae

- Eleutherodactylidae: Eleutherodactylus w-nigrum

Plants:

Lycophytes:

Lycopodiales - Lycopodiaceae: Clubmoss (Lycopodium sp.)

Selaginellales - spikemosses (Selaginellaceae): Spikemoss (Selaginella sp.)

Epherdopsida:

Ephedrales - Ephedraceae: Jointfir (Ephedra rupestris)

Ferns:

Cyatheales - Tree Ferns (Cyatheaceae):  Treefern (Cyathea pallescens)

Polypodiales - Dennstaedtiaceae: Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum)

Dicotyledons:

Laurales - Lauraceae: Bay (Persea mutisii); Sweetwood (Ocotea sericea)

- Siparunaceae: Siparuna echinata 

Chloranthales - Chloranthaceae: Hedyosmum luteynii

Rosales - Moraceae: Figs (Ficus cuatrecasana and F. subandina)

- Rhamnaceae: Backthorn (Rhamnus sphaerosperma)

- Cecropiaceae: Pumpwood (Cecropia maxima)

Sabiales - Meliosmaceae: Meliosma arenosa 

Oxalidales - Elaeocarpaceae: Vallea stipularis

Fabales - Fabaceae: Sensitive Plants (Mimosa albida and M. quitensis)

- Polygalaceae: Polygala (Polygala sp.)

Fagales - Betulaceae: Alder (Alnus acuminata)

- Myricaceae: Sweetgale (Myrica pubescens)

Malpighiales - Willows (Salicaceae): Abatia parviflora

- Passionflowers (Passifloraceae): Passionflower (Passiflora mixta)

- Euphorbiaceae: Croton (Croton pycnanthus)

Sapindales - Anacardiaceae: Poison Oak (Toxicodendron striatum)

- Rutaceae: Lime Pricklyash (Zanthoxylum fagara)

Myrtales - Myrtaceae: Myrcianthes alaternifolia; Stopper (Eugenia affhalli)

- Onagraceae: Fuchsia (Fuchsia corymbiflora)

- Melastomataceae: Glorytree (Tibouchina lepidota)

Apiales - Araliaceae: Oreopanax confusum and O. ecuadorensis

Ericales - Ericaceae: Cavendishia bracteata; Macleania cordifolia; Pernettya prostrata; Psammisia sp.; Snowberry (Gaultheria insipida)

- Theaceae: Freziera ferruginea

- Actnidiaceae: Saurauia tomentosa

Escalloniales - Escalloniaceae: Redclaws (Escallonia myrtilloides and E. paniculata)

Gentianales - Rubiaceae: Cappel (Palicourea padifolia)

Boraginales - Boraginaceae: Soldierbush (Tournefortia fuliginosa)

- Ehretiaceae: Cordia latanoides

Lamiales - Mints (Lamiaceae): Clinopodium fasciculatum; Sage (Salvia tortuosa); Savory (Satureja stachyodes)

- Gesneriaceae: Alloplectus ichthyoderma; Columnea medicinalis and C. strigosa; Heppiella ulmifolia

- Scrophulariaceae: Escobedia grandiflora; Slipper Flower (Calceolaria sp.); Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja sp.)

- Buddlejaceae: Butterflybush (Buddleja bullata)

Solanales - Solanaceae: Iochroma gesnerioides; Sessea vestita

Cucurbitales - Begoniaceae:  Begonia (Begonia pululahuana)

Asterales - Asteraceae: Baccharis (Baccharis teindalensis); Oligactis sp.

- Campanulaceae: Siphocampylus giganteus

Piperales - Piperaceae: Peppers (Piper carpunya and P. sodiroi)

Monocotyledons:

Alismatales - Aroids (Araceae): Lacefeaf (Anthurium incurvatum)

Liliales - Alstroemeriaceae: Bomarea (Bomarea microcephala)

Arecales - Arecaceae: Ceroxylon Palm (Ceroxylon parvifrons); Sierran Palm (Prestoea acuminata)

Poales - Grasses (Poaceae): Chusquea Bamboo (Chusquea subulata); Pampas Grass (Cortaderia nitida)

- Bromeliaceae: Tufted Airplant (Guzmania jaramilloi) and Airplants (Tillandsia biflora, T. fraseri, T. lajensis, T. omplanata and T. superba); Bromerea hirsuta; Pitcairnia pugens and P. sodiroi; Puya vestita; Racinaea homostachya; Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides)

Asparagales - Amaryllidaceae: Phaedranassa dubia

- orchids (Orchidaceae): about 60 species - Altensteinia virescens; Bletia sp.; Cattleya maxima; Cyrtochilum macranthum and C. serratum; Govenia sodiroi; Lycaste gigantea; Masdevallia sp.; Odontoglossum hallii; Adder´s-Mouth Orchid (Malaxis andicola); Bonnet Orchids (Pleurothallis cordifolia, P. sclerophylla and P. truncata); Butterfly Orchid (Encyclia fragrans); Dancing-lady Orchids (Oncidium cucullatum, O. heteranthum and O. macranthum); Helmet Orchid (Cranichis ciliata); Leach Orchids (Stelis striolata and S. columnaris); Snail Orchid (Comparettia falcata); Star Orchids (Epidendrum capricornu,  E. cochilium, E. diothonaeoides, E. geminiflorum, E. macrophorum, E. medusae, E. quitensium, E. restrepioides and E. secundum); Tiger Orchids (Elleanthus  capitatus, E. gastroglottis, E. gracilis, E. sodiroi, Maxillaria aggregata, M. lawrenceana and M. pardalina); Pontivea sp.; Prosthechea harwegii; Pterichis sp.; Sobralia setigera; Stanhopea sp.; Telipogon sp.; Trichopilia flava; Zygopetalum sp.

Zingiberales - Heliconiaceae: Heliconia impudica

Possible activities

Trekking and walking tourism - many trails enables to climb up and descent down to the crater - best in the morning.

Horseback riding, mountains bikes

Note

Pululahua is one of only two inhabited volcanic caldera in the world and the only one cultivated by its inhabitants. It is believed that it was first settled by the Incas.

Many thermal springs and geological attractions

Picture - source wikipedia and photogallery of Albatros Travel and Expeditions