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Podocarpus National Park, Ecuador
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| View Partner Program Profile |
Established in 1982 with the goal of protecting three species of Podocarpus, the only gymnosperms native to Ecuador, this national park is the only one in the southern part of the country.
Ecotourism in Action
Fundación Arco Iris, with the support of the ecotourism Program has developed a small eco-lodge, conservation center and trail network. The center includes a park ranger station, visitor center and shop, simple accommodations for small groups, a meeting space, a kitchen and a campsite. The extensive network of trails allows visitors to explore deeper into the park and surrounding areas. The center is intended to attract a diversity of visitors, from local area residents to international birdwatchers. The operating expenses of the center and ranger station are funded from the income generated by ecotourism.
Natural Attractions
Located in an ecological transition zone, the park ranges in elevation from 1,000 to 3,500 meters and includes cordillera, cloud forest, Andean lakes and lowland Amazon forest. It is the only area in southern Ecuador with large tracts of undisturbed forest continuous from upper tropical to temperate climates.
The fauna of the park is little known, but numerous terrestrial species have been observed including jaguar, puma, mountain tapir, and spectacled bear. This park is one of the richest ornithological areas of the world, with over 560 bird species identified so far. It is believed that further studies will increase that number to as much as 700. Many species already identified are threatened or endangered and several are endemic to this region. Likewise this area of southern Andean Ecuador possesses a high level of plants found nowhere else and the park protects the center of origin for quinine.
View our map of ecotourism sites in South America
