Welcome to Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve

Zone Description

Located in the Provinces of: lmbabura, Pichincha, Napo and Sucumbios
Established: November 17, 1970 Decree number 818
Area: 403,103 hectares - 996,053.87 acres
Altitude Range:
Upper region: 3,100 - 5,790 meters above sea level
Lower region: 600-1,600 meters above sea level
Life Zones: bsPM, bsMB, bhM, bhPM, bhMB, bmhM, bmhPM, bmhMB, bmhSA, Nival

Description of the Region:

The upper region includes the western part of the reserve leading up to Papallacta; it is located in the provinces of Pichincha and lmbabura. The Cayambe, Saraurco and Puntas mountains are found here. Also found here are the Paramo, several lake systems, and the Oyacachi community. The lower region is located in the provinces of Napo and Sucumbios, towards the eastern spur of the mountain range. The volcano Reventador, the San Rafael waterfall and the Amazon Cofán community of Sinangué are all found in this region.

Many rivers of the Oriente (the Ecuadorian Amazon) originate here from the snow thawing off the mountains of Cayambe, Saraurco and Antisana. Also Cayambe and its neighboring mountain chains divide the area along a watershed: one side forms the hydrographic system Napo-Marañón-Amazonas that flows into the Atlantic Ocean, and the other flows west creating the Mira and Esmeraldas river system. These important rivers are part of hydroelectric projects that produce drinking and irrigation water.

Among the highest peaks of the reserve is Cayambe, a snow- and ice-covered volcano. the mountains of Cayambe, Saraurco and Antisana

PAPALLACTA PASS:
This is the highest easily accessible point on the Andes Cordillera. The driving time from Quito to the pass itself will be about two hours and a half, however, the road offers scrub, grassland, Polylepis forest and paramo, meaning a full day of birding.

Andean Condor, Curved-billed Tinamou, Carunculated Caracara, Black-chested Eagle, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Rufous-nape Brushfinsh, Cinereous Conebill, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe.