Antisana Ecological Reserve
General
The most important feature of this reserve is
the Antisana volcano (18,715 feet), the fourth
highest mountain in Ecuador, surrounded by
extensive, well-preserved paramos. This is
the only area where condors are still common
in Ecuador. The reserve is connected with the Cayambe-Coca Reserve and the Sumaco-Galeras
National Park, forming one of the largest protected areas in the country. The Antisana
volcano and the paramos provide water to Quito and other cities in the Central Valley.
The Reserve includes the extremely rich area of the Guacamayos Cordillera, well-known by
bird-watchers.
Access
The volcano can be access from Pintag by car, but a permit is needed to go though the
hacienda Pinantura. Recently the road has been improved to make the area accessible to
cars and trucks working in the Quito water project. From Papayacta there are trails leading
to the Antisana, but you can continue to Cotopaxi. The lowest part of the reserve can be
accessed by road.
Species
Species in this reserve include spectacle bear, white-tailed deer, Andean tapir, paramo
rabbit, carunculated caracara and condor.
Plants
The vegetation is also very diverse, including paramo grasses, chuquiragua and gentians.
