Sangay National Park

Localization

Central Ecuador, 160 km south of Quito (No. 6 in the map of national parks on Ecuador introducing page)

Access

Quite difficult

Characteristic

5 177 km², Central Andes - mountainous area with two active volcanoes (Tungurahua and Sangay). Altitude 900 - 5319 m. Typical ecosystems: from tropical rain forest and cloud forest to alpine and volcanic biotopes, mountain steppe (páramo) and tundra. Several rivers and lakes.

Fauna + Flora

Mammals:

Insectivores - Shrews (Soricidae): Ecuadorean Small-eared Shrew

Rodents - Guinea Pigs (Caviidae): Brazilian Guinea Pig

Carnivores - Weasels, Otters, Badgers (Mustelidae): Giant Otter

- Bears (Ursidae): Spectacled Bear

- Dogs (Canidae): Culpeo Fox

- Cats (Felidae): Jaguar; Margay; Ocelot; Puma

Odd-toed Ungulates - Tapirs (Tapiridae): Mountain Tapir; South American Tapir

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

Birds:

400 - 500 bird species

Anseriformes - Gees, Swans and Ducks (Anatidae): Torrent Duck

Birds of Prey - American Vultures (Cathartidae): Andean Condor; King Vulture

- Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Kites and Old World Vultures (Accipitridae): Swallow-tailed Kite

- Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae): Carunculated Caracara

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

Psittaciformes - Parrots (Psittacidae): Military Macaw; Golden-plumed Parakeet; White-necked Parakeet; Red-faced Parrot; Speckle-faced Parrot; Spot-winged Parrotlet

Strigiformes - Owls (Strigidae): Rufous-banded Owl

Goatsuckers - Nightjars (Caprimulgidae): Band-winged Nightjar

- Potoos (Nyctibiidae): Andean Potoo

Apodiformes - Hummingbirds (Trochilidae): Ecuadorian Hillstar; Giant Hummingbird; Viridian Metaltail; Ecuadorian Piedtail; Glowing Puffleg; Napo Sabrewing; Buff-winged Starfrontlet; Rainbow Starfrontlet; Little Sunangel; Purple-throated Sunangel; Tourmaline Sunangel; Rainbow-bearded Thornbill ; Rufous-vented Whitetip; Little Woodstar

Trogoniformes - Trogons (Trogonidae): Masked Trogon

Galbuliformes - Jacamars (Galbulidae): Coppery-chested Jacamar

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

- Woodpeckers, Wrynecks and Piculets (Picidae): Bar-bellied Woodpecker; Powerful Woodpecker

Perching Birds - Ovenbirds or Horneros (Furnariidae): Spectacled Prickletail; Azara's Spinetail; Streak-capped Treehunter; Pearled Treerunner

- Antshrikes (Thamnophilidae): Bicolored Antvireo; White-spotted Antvireo

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

- Cotingas (Cotingidae): Andean Cock-of-the-Rock; Chestnut-bellied Cotinga; Barred Fruiteater; Fiery-throated Fruiteater; Dusky Piha

- Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae): Spillmann's Tapaculo

- Tyrants (Tyrannidae): Barred Becard; Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant; Cinnamon Flycatcher; Rufous-breasted Flycatcher; Black-throated Tody-Tyrant; White-banded Tyrannulet

- Swallows and Martins (Hirundinidae): Brown-bellied Swallow

- Crows and Jays (Corvidae): Turquoise Jay

- Thrushes and Chats (Turdidae): Chestnut-bellied Thrush; Great Thrush

- Wrens (Troglodytidae): Mountain Wren; Plain-tailed Wren; Rufous Wren

- Tanagers (Thraupidae): Black-backed Bush-Tanager; Plush-capped Finch; Black-headed Hemispingus; Superciliaried Hemispingus; Black-chested Mountain-Tanager; Hooded Mountain-Tanager; Masked Mountain-Tanager; Golden-crowned Tanager; Red-hooded Tanager

- Blackbirds, Orioles and Cowbirds (Icteridae): Mountain Cacique

- Vireos (Vireonidae): Black-billed Peppershrike

- Warblers (Parulidae): Black-crested Warbler; Citrine Warbler; Russet-crowned Warbler

- Buntings, American Sparrows, Juncos, etc. (Emberizidae): Pale-naped Brush-Finch; Stripe-headed Brush-Finch; Black Flower-piercer; Glossy Flower-piercer; Masked Flower-piercer

Plants:

More than 3000 species of vascular plants

Lycophytes:

Selaginellales - spikemosses (Selaginellaceae): Spikemoss (Selaginella sericea)

Ferns:

Cyatheales - Tree Ferns (Cyatheaceae): Tree Fern (Cyathea caracasana)

- Dicksoniaceae: Diamondleaf Fern (Lophosoria quadripinnata)

Conifers:

Podocarpales - Podocarpaceae: Plum Pine (Podocarpus oleofolius)

Dicotyledons:

Laurales - Lauraceae: Bay (Persea sp.); Sweetwood (Ocotea sp.)

Chloranthales - Chloranthaceae: Hedyosmum luteynii

Ranunculales - Papaveraceae: Bocconia sp.

Malvales - Bombacaceae: West Indian Balsa (Ochroma pyramidale)

Rosales - Rosaceae: Hesperomeles obtusifolia; Osteomeles spp.; Polylepis tomentella

- Moraceae: African Teak (Chlorophora spp.); Figs (Ficus  spp.)

- Cecropiaceae: Pumpwood (Cecropia montana)

Oxalidales - Cunoniaceae: Weinmannia sryadifolia

Fabales - Fabaceae: Erythrina edulis; Inga sp.; Otholobium muyense

- Polygalaceae: Monnina crassifolia and M. obtusifolia

Fagales - Betulaceae: Alders (Alnus acuminata and A. jorullensis)

Malpighiales - Clusiaceae:  Clusia flaviflora

Sapindales - Meliaceae: Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata) and Cedrelas (Cedrela montana and C. rosei)

Crossosomatales - Staphyleaceae: Turpinia sp.

Myrtales - Myrtaceae: Myrcianthes rophaloides; Myrtle (Myrtus communis)

- Melastomataceae: Brachyotum sp.; Johnyberries (Miconia ochraceae, M. salicifolia, M. theazeans and M. tiniifolia)

Apiales - Araliaceae: Oreopanax sp.

Ericales - Ericaceae: Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.); Ceratostema alatum; Disterigma acuminatum; Macleania loesoneriana; Pernettya prostrata; Snowberry (Gaultheria foliosa)

- Theaceae: Freziera microphylla

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

Gentianales - Rubiaceae: Arcytophyllum timifolium

Boraginales - Ehretiaceae: Spanish Elm (Cordia alliodora)

Lamiales - Buddlejaceae: Butterflybush (Buddleja incana)

Asterales - Asteraceae: Baccharis teindalensis; Pollalesta discolor; Ragworts (Senecio lloensis and S. vaccinoides)

- Campanulaceae: Centropogon trachyanthus - endemic species to this area

Piperales - Piperaceae: Pepper (Piper ecuadorensis)

Monocotyledons:

Poales - Grasses (Poaceae): Aulonemia sp.; Chusquea Bamboo (Chusquea lechmanii); Fescue (Festuca spp.) - dominant species of alpine steppes; Nuerolepsis sp.

- Bromeliaceae: Puya sp.

Possible activities

Good conditions for walking and trekking - several trails

Mountaineering - climbing up the volcanoes summits (difficult)

Note

The park has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site 

Hot springs

Picture - source wikipedia and Photogallery of Albatros Travel and Expeditions