Pululahua Reserve
General
The reserve includes the Pululahua crater and
the valley below. The flat terrain inside the
crater (8,200 feet) has been transformed into
agricultural areas, but the steep slopes are
still covered by dense Andean cloud forest rich
in bromelias and orchids. The area is normally
cloudy but very rewarding as a trekking and bird-watching zone.
Access
The reserve is only 20 miles from Quito and is easily reached from the Quito-Calacalí
road. There is a good dirt road to drive all the way down the crater. From the Mitad
del Mundo there is a "mirador" where you can park your car and walk down to the crater.
Species
The area is not very rich in large animals because it has been hunted for centuries,
but armadillos, deer, rabbits, black-chested buzzard-eagles, american falcons, band-winged
nightjars are common.
Plants
The most common species are laurel, nogal, pumamaqui, guarumo, alyssum, achupalla, quishuar and
romerillo.
