Área nacional de recreación El Boliche, Protected natural area in Cotopaxi Province, Ecuador.
Área nacional de recreación El Boliche is a protected recreational area in the mountains between 3,484 and 3,726 meters high, combining pine and cypress forests with native grassland vegetation. The grounds are arranged across zones, some with thick woodland and others with open mountain meadows.
The first pine trees were planted in 1928 at Romerillos hacienda to restore eroded mountain soils. This early planting marked the start of transforming the area into a protected forested zone.
The El Boliche railway station gives this area its character, as trains from Quito arrive here and bring visitors into the protected space. The station serves as a living link between urban travelers and the mountain environment beyond.
You reach the area via the Panamericana Sur highway, driving about 39 kilometers to Machachi and then 15 kilometers further to the Romerillos market entrance. The high altitude means visitors should prepare for thinner air and changeable weather throughout the day.
The Sunfana viewpoint trail offers vistas across multiple volcanoes strung along the Avenue of Volcanoes. White-tailed deer roam freely through the pine forests, giving visitors glimpses of wildlife moving through their natural habitat.
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