The Illinizas Ecological Reserve it is located 55 km south of Quito. Its main attraction are the Illinizas which are two snow caped volcanoes: South Illiniza 5 248 meters and North Illiniza 5 126 meters, is an ideal place to learn mountain climbing techniques combining rock and ice

Location:
Pichincha and Cotopaxi
Creation:
December 1996.
Area:
149 900 hectares.
Altitude Range:
3 820 up to 5 248 meters.

The Illinizas Ecological Reserve it is located 55 km south of Quito. Its main attraction are the Illinizas which are two snow caped volcanoes: South Illiniza 5 248 meters and North Illiniza 5 126 meters

The Quilotoa Lagoon it is another attractive place of the area, with its unique color resembling an esmeralda inlaid in a crater. The Quilotoa is a salty lagoon from a volcanic origin with 3 kilometers of diameter. There is a difference of 440 meters from the border of the crater down to base of the lagoon. Near the Quilotoa it is located the famous indigenous community of the Zumbahuas with their famous handicrafts.

The Illinizas are the main source or the river basin of the Esmeralda River, formed by the rivers Toachi, San Pedro and Pilaton.

The Illinizas Ecological Reserve has 30 800 hectares of paramo (moorland) and 119 100 hectares of cloud and subtropical forest.

The accessibility is very difficult and that helps for its conservation, it is divided in 3 main areas:

1. Zarapullo and Tenefuerte mountain range, the mountains Illinizas and Corazon and the Toachi river.
2. To the south 23 600 hectares of paramo and subtropical and cloud forest
3. The Quilotoa Lagoon in 800 hectares.

For more information about trips to the Illinizas visit the link Quito mountain climbing tours

Flora and Fauna in the Illinizas Reserve

Within its flora we can appreciate the Polylepis or "paper tree" forest, pajonales, chuquiraguas, frailejones, frailejones, chochos de monte, puyas and small yellow and purple flowers. Other species are the arrayan, quishuar, walnut tree, chinchin, guaba, guatusas, retama, floripondio, laurel, lechero, sangre de drago, pumamaqui and romerillo.

In the Illinizas Ecological Reserve we can find some small mammals as the chucuris, raposas, fox, guantas, X snake, huiracchuro, white tail deer, squirrel, cuy and other small animals.

How to reach Illinizas Ecological Reserve?

Taking Panamericana Sur Highway, going through Machachi and close to the Jambeli Bridge, you take a detour that goes to El Chaupi. From there follow a small sandy road till the base of the Illinizas.

Recommended Lodging:

Hostal La Llovizna
Cost per night $10.00
Aditional Services:
Hot water, cable TV, sport activities and restaurant.

Refugio
Cost per night: $4.00 / foreign $12.00
Additional Services
Horse and mule rental and excursions around the area.