Podocarpus National Park

Podocarpus National Park spans 1,462 square kilometers across mountain ranges, featuring diverse ecosystems from rainforests to high-altitude elfin forests and over 100 lagoons.

The establishment of this protected area in 1982 came after artisanal mining activities began in San Luis, leading authorities to safeguard the region's natural resources.

Before European colonization, indigenous groups including cuxibambas, zhucos, motupes, and chinguilanchis inhabited the Loja basin within the current park boundaries.

Visitors can access the park through two main entrances: Cajanuma for high-altitude environments and Bombuscaro for lower montane forests, both offering trails and accommodation.

The intersection of four ecological systems creates a megadiverse zone containing 560 bird species, representing 6 percent of global bird diversity.

Location: Zamora Chinchipe

Location: Loja Province

Inception: 1982

Elevation above the sea: 2,583 m

Website: http://ambiente.gob.ec/parque-nacional-podocarpus

GPS coordinates: -4.28333,-79.00000

Latest update: May 27, 2025 08:43