Created in 1982, Podocarpus National Park protects more than 140,000 hectares between Loja and Zamora Chinchipe provinces, from about 900 to almost 3,700 metres above sea level. Around 560 bird species have been recorded —nearly 40% of Ecuador’s— along with more than 4,000 plants.
From Loja you enter through the Cajanuma sector, about 8 km south on the Vilcabamba road: short cloud-forest trails and a climb to a viewpoint start at the ranger station, through dwarf forest and páramo. The Lagunas del Compadre, at the heart of the park, require a two-day trek.
On the Zamora side, the Bombuscaro sector offers humid montane rainforest and La Poderosa Waterfall. We organise visits to both sectors and help with the authorisation the park requires for groups.
Photo 1 / 8
