Sumaco Napo - Galeras National Park

Localization

Northeast Ecuador, 100 km norheast of Quito (No. 2 in the map of national parks on Ecuador introducing page)

Access

Difficult

Characteristic

2 052 km²; Mountainous region of Napo - Galeras mountain range and the isolated area of Sumaco extinct volcano. Altitude range: 500 - 3732 m. Typical ecosystems - wide range from tropical rain forest and cloud forest up to mountain steppe, alpine and volcanic biotopes. Many rivers, streams, waterfalls and lakes. One of the least frequented national parks. Very little affected by cilivization because of a difficult access - original type of landscape. Transitional zone between Amazonian lowlands and Andes.

Fauna + Flora

Mammals:

81 mammal species 

Primates - New World Monkeys (Cebidae): Brown Capuchin; White-fronted Capuchin; Pygmy Marmoset; South American Squirrel Monkey

- Titis, Sakis and Uakaris (Pitheciidae): Monk Saki; Dusky Titi; Yellow-handed Titi

- Spider Monkeys and Wooly Monkeys (Atelidae): Red Howler Monkey; White-bellied Spider Monkey; Humboldt's Woolly Monkey

- Night Monkeys (Aotidae): Lemurine Night Monkey; Noisy Night Monkey; Northern Night Monkey

Edentata - Anteaters (Myrmecophagidae): Giant Anteater

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

- Armadillos (Dasypodidae): Giant Armadillo

Carnivores - Weasels, Otters, Badgers (Mustelidae): Neotropical River Otter; Tayra

- Bears (Ursidae): Spectacled Bear

- Procyonids (Procyonidae): Mountain Coati

- Dogs (Canidae): Bush Dog; Short-eared Dog

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

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

Even-toed Ungulates  - Peccaries (Tayassuidae): Collared Peccary; White-lipped Peccary

- Deers (Cervidae): Brown Brocket; Little Red Brocket; Red Brocket

Birds:

Tinamiformes - Tinamous (Tinamidae): Black Tinamou; Grey Tinamou

Birds of Prey - Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Kites and Old World Vultures (Accipitridae): Roadside Hawk; Swallow-tailed Kite

- Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae): Orange-breasted Falcon; Buckley's Forest-Falcon

Galliformes - Chachalacas, Guans and Curassows (Cracidae): Salvin’s Curassow; Sickle-winged Guan; Wattled Guan

- Quails (Odontophoridae): Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail

Gruiformes - Rails, Crakes, Coots and Gallinules (Rallidae): Red-winged Wood-Rail

Psittaciformes - Parrots (Psittacidae): Military Macaw; Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet; Spot-winged Parrotlet

Strigiformes - Owls (Strigidae): Cinnamon Screech-Owl; Vermiculated Screech-Owl

Cuculiformes - Cuckoos, Anis, Coucals and Roadrunners (Cuculidae): Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo

Goatsuckers - Oilbirds (Steatornithidae): Oilbird

Apodiformes - Swifts (Apodidae): Spot-fronted Swift; White-chested Swift; White-chinned Swift

- Hummingbirds (Trochilidae): Black-throated Brilliant; Pink-throated Brilliant; Many-spotted Hummingbird; Speckled Hummingbird; Bronzy Inca; Collared Inca; Ecuadorian Piedtail; Emerald-bellied Puffleg; Greenish Puffleg; Napo Sabrewing; Long-tailed Sylph; Brown Violet-ear; Rufous-vented Whitetip; Fork-tailed Woodnymph

Trogoniformes - Trogons (Trogonidae): Masked Trogon

Galbuliformes - Jacamars (Galbulidae): Coppery-chested Jacamar

Piciformes - Toucans (Ramphastidae): Black-billed Mountain-Toucan; Chestnut-tipped Toucanet

- Woodpeckers, Wrynecks and Piculets (Picidae): Rufous-breasted Piculet; Smoky-brown Woodpecker

Perching Birds - Woodcreepers (Dendrocolapidae): Greater Scythebill; Olivaceous Woodcreeper; Olive-backed Woodcreeper; Tyrannine Woodcreeper

- Ovenbirds or Horneros (Furnariidae): Equatorial Greytail; Dusky Spinetail; Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper; Streaked Tuftedcheek

- Antshrikes (Thamnophilidae): Bicolored Antbird; Sooty Antbird; White-plumed Antbird; Undulated Antshrike; Uniform Antshrike; White-shouldered Antshrike; Bicolored Antvireo; Foothill Antwren; Ornate Antwren; Plain-winged Antwren; Stripe-chested Antwren; White-backed Fire-eye

- Antbirds (Formicariidae): Moustached Antpitta; Peruvian Antpitta; Plain-backed Antpitta; Short-tailed Antthrush

- Antpipits and Gnateaters (Conopophagidae): Chestnut-crowned Gnateater

- Cotingas (Cotingidae): Andean Cock-of-the-Rock; Shrike-like Cotinga; Black-chested Fruiteater; Fiery-throated Fruiteater; Green-and-black Fruiteater; Scaled Fruiteater; Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater; Grey-tailed Piha; Olivaceous Piha

- Manakins (Pipridae): White-crowned Manakin; Yellow-headed Manakin

- Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae): Spillmann’s Tapaculo; White-crowned Tapaculo

- Tyrants (Tyrannidae): Black-and-white Becard; White-winged Becard; Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant; Foothill Elaenia; Handsome Flycatcher; Olive-chested Flycatcher; Rufous-breasted Flycatcher; Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant; Ecuadorian Tyrannulet; Red-billed Tyrannulet; Sooty-headed Tyrannulet; Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet; Black-and-white Tody-Tyrant; Black-throated Tody-Tyrant; Buff-throated Tody-Tyrant; White-eyed Tody-Tyrant

- Wrens (Troglodytidae): Chestnut-breasted Wren; Coraya Wren; Sharpe’s Wren; Wing-banded Wren

- Tanagers (Thraupidae): Common Bush-Tanager; Bronze-green Euphonia; Grass-green Tanager; Hepatic Tanager; Magpie Tanager; Olive Tanager

- Vireos (Vireonidae): Rufous-naped Greenlet; Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo

- Warblers (Parulidae): Cerulean Warbler; Citrine Warbler

- Buntings, American Sparrows, Juncos, etc. (Emberizidae): Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch

Reptiles:

58 snake species, 6 turtle species

- Gymnophthalmidae: Cercosaura ocellata; Neusticurus cochranae

- Neotropical Ground Lizards ( Tropiduridae):

- Wood Lizards (Hoplocercidae): Enyalioides cofanorum 

- Colubrids (Colubridae): Chironius monticola; Liophis epinephelus

- Vipers (Viperidae): Bushmaster (Lachesis muta)

Amphibians:

31 toad species

Plethodontoidea - Cave Salamanders (Plethodontidae): Bolitoglossa peruviana

Frogs - Tree Frogs (Hylidae): Lesser Tree Frog (Dendropsophus minutus) and Tree Frogs (Dendropsophus brevifrons, D. sarayacuensis, Hyla lanciformis, H. phyllognatha and Rhaego glaberrimus)

- Microhylidae: Syncope antenori

- Centrolenidae: Centrolene sp.; Cochranella midas

- Dendrobatidae: Colostethus bocagei; Epipedobates nigrovittatus and E. bilinguis; Hyloxalus sp.

- Arornobatidae: Allobates femoralis

- Frogs (Ranidae): Frog (Rana palmipes)

- Toads (Bufonidae): Toad (Bufo margaritifer)

- Eleutherodactylidae: Eleutherodactylus altamazonicus, E. lanthanites, E. nigrovittatus and E. variabilis

Plants:

It is supposed about 6000 vascular plants species

Ferns:

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

Polypodiales - Maiden Ferns (Thelypteridaceae): Broadleaf Maiden Fern (Thelypteris angustifolia)

Hymenophyllales - Hymenophyllaceae: Bristle Fern (Trichomanes cristatum)

Marattiales - Marattiaceae: Danaea sp. 

Conifers:

Podocarpales - Podocarpaceae:  Plum Pine (Podocarpus sp.)

Dicotyledons:

Magnoliales - Magnoliaceae:  Talauma neillii - endemic species

- Myristicaceae: Compsoneura ulei; Otoba glycycarpa and O. parvifolia; Virola sp.

- Annonaceae: Anaxagorea sp.; Cremastosperma gracilipes; Guatteria sp.; Rollinia (Rollinia dolichopetala) - endemic species

Laurales - Lauraceae: Bay (Persea nudigemma) - endemic species

Ranunculales - Papaveraceae: Bocconia (Bocconia integrifolia)

Brassicales - Capparidaceae: Podandrogyne brachycarpa

- Spideflowers (Cleomaceae): Spiderflower (Cleome sp.)

- Tovariaceae: Tovaria pendula

Aquifoliales - Aquifoliaceae: Holly (Ilex sp.)

Caryophyllales - Polygonaceae: Triplaris americana

Santalales - Santalaceae: Acanthosyris annonagustata - endemic species

- Olacaceae: Heisteria sp.; Minquartia guianensis

Malvales - Bombacaceae: West Indian Balsa (Ochroma pyramidale); Matisia bracteolosa

- Sterculiaceae: Sterculia apeibophylla

- Bixaceae: Bixa orellana 

Rosales - Rosaceae: Plum (Prunus herthae) - endemic species

- Moraceae: Brosimum sp.; Fig (Ficus coerulescens); Naucleopsis sp.; Trophis caucana

- Urticaceae: Clearweed (Pilea sp.); Myriocarpa stipitata; Scratchbush (Urera baccifera)

- Ulmaceae: Ampelocera longissima - endemic species; Trema micrantha

- Cecropiaceae: Pumpwood (Cecropia putumayonis); Pourouma sp.

Oxalidales - Brunelliaceae: Brunellia sp. 

- Cunoniaceae: Weinmannia sp.

Fabales - Fabaceae: Abarema killipii; Bauhinia tarapotensis; Brownea sp.; Cedrelinga cateniformis; Hymenaea sp.; Inga ruiziana; Macrolobium sp. - new species; Parkia sp.; Pink Shower (Cassia grandis); Senna ruiziana; Stickpeas (Calliandra angustifolia and C. trinervia); Zygia longifolia

- Polygalaceae: Monnina sp.

Malpighiales - Malpighiaceae: Ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi)

- Passionflowers (Passifloraceae):

- Clusiaceae:  Attorney (Clusia sp.); Tovomita weddelliana; Vismia sp.

- Euphorbiaceae: Alchornea sp.; Conceveiba sp.; Copperleaf (Acalypha sp.); Croton lechleri; Hyeronima macrocarpa; Mabea sp.

- Flacourtiaceae: Palo de Ramon (Banara guianensis)

- Chrysobalanaceae: Hirtella sp.; Licania sp. 

- Ochnaceae: Ouratea sp. 

- Humiriaceae: Humiriastrum diguense

Sapindales - Sapindaceae: Yoco (Paullinia yoco)

- Anacardiaceae: Tapirira sp.

- Hippocastanaceae: Billia rosea

- Burseraceae: Dacryodes olivifera; Protium sp.; Trattinnickia sp.

- Meliaceae: Cedrela fissilis; Ruagea sp.

Myrtales - Myrtaceae: Mountainbay (Calyptranthes ishoaquinico) - new species

- Lythraceae: Adenaria floribunda; Waxweed (Cuphea sp.)

- Melastomataceae: Bellucia pentamera; Blakea repens; Centronia sp.; Clidemia heterophylla; Glorytree (Tibouchina sp.);Graffenrieda sp.; Henriettella odorata - endemic species; Meriania sp.; Ossaea boliviensis; Tessmannianthus heterostemon; Tococa guianensis; Topobea induta - endemic species; Triolena pileoides; Velvet Tree (Miconia calvescens)

- Memecylaceae: Mouriri sp. 

- Vochysiaceae: Vochysia braceliniae

Apiales - Araliaceae: Schefflera sp.

Ericales - Ericaceae: Disterigma sp.

- Clethraceae: Sweetpepperbush (Clethra revoluta)

- Sapotaceae: Chrysophyllum (Chrysophyllum sp.); Pouteria sp.

- Lecythidaceae: Cannonball Tree (Couroupita guianensis); Eschweilera sp.; Grias neuberthii; Gustavia sp.

- Actnidiaceae: Saurauia herthae

- Cyrillaceae: Purdiaea nutans

- Myrsinaceae: Colicwood (Myrsine sp.); Cybianthus sp.

Gentianales - Gentianaceae: Symbolanthus sp.

- Rubiaceae: Alseis lugonis - endemic species; Cappel (Palicourea sp.); Chomelia sp.; Cinchona sp.; Coussarea sp.; Duroia hirsuta; False Coffee (Faramea sp.); Geophila sp.; Guettarda (Guettarda crispiflora); Hoffmannia sp.; Isertia laevis; Rudgea sp.; Scarletbush (Hamelia patens); Wild Coffees (Psychotria bertieroides and P. polyphlebia)

Boraginales - Boraginaceae: Soldierbush (Tournefortia sp.)

- Ehretiaceae: Cordia nodosa

- Iacinaceae: Calatola sp.

Lamiales - Acanthaceae: Aphelandra sp.; Sanchezia sp.; Water-Willow (Justicia sp.)

- Verbenaceae: Petrea sp.

- Gesneriaceae: Codonanthe sp.

- Scrophulariaceae: Basistemon sp.

Solanales - Solanaceae: Brugmansia (Brugmansia candida); Nightshades (Solanum spp.)

Dipsacales - Viburnaceae: Viburnum sp.

Cucurbitales - Begoniaceae: Begonia (Begonia rossmanniae)

Asterales - Asteraceae: Bittervine (Mikania micrantha); Eirmocephala megaphylla; Liabum amplexicaule; Tessaria integrifolia

- Campanulaceae: Burmeistera sp.

Piperales - Piperaceae: Lepianthes umbellatum; Pepper (Piper piluliferum)

- Peperomiaceae: Peperomia (Peperomia sp.)

Monocotyledons:

Alismatales - Pondweeds (Potamogetonaceae):

- Aroids (Araceae): Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia harlingii); Lacelaef (Anthurium sp.); Philodendron sp; Stenospermation sp.

Commelinales - Dayflowers (Commelinaceae): Whitemouth Dayflower (Commelina erecta)

Pandanales - Cyclanthaceae: Cyclanthus bipartitus; Dicranopygium sp.; Panama Hat Plant (Carludovica palmata); Sphaeradenia sp.

Arecales - Arecaceae: Aiphanes sp.; Ammandra dasyneura; Attalea Palm (Attalea sp.); Chelyocarpus ulei; Dictyocaryum lamarckianum; Geonoma sp.; Hyospathe elegans; Iriartea deltoidea; Oenocarpus bataua; Peach Palm (Bactris gasipaes); Socratea exorrhiza; Wettinia anomala and W. maynensis

Poales - Grasses (Poaceae): Chusquea Bamboo (Chusquea sp.); Fescues (Festuca spp.); Guadua angustifolia; Needlegrasses (Stipa spp.); Reedgrasses (Calamagrostis spp.); Wildcane (Gynerium sagittatum)

- Bromeliaceae: Tufted Airplant (Guzmania squarrosa); Livingvase (Aechmea longifolia); Pitcairnia sp.; Racinaea undulifolia; Werauhia haltonii - endemic species

Asparagales - orchids (Orchidaceae): Babyboot Orchid (Lepanthes nummularia); Phragmipedium pearcei

Zingiberales - Heliconiaceae: Heliconia velutina

- Cannas (Cannaceae): Caribbean Canna (Canna jaegeri)

- Marantaceae: Ctenanthe ericae; Calathea gandersii

Possible activities

Trekking - difficult, possible to climb up the volcano summit. Several trekking routes.

Note

Best time to visit X-XII

Picture - source  wikipedia and Photogallery of Albatros Travel and Expeditions