Pululahua is an isolated and quiet area near the city of Quito. Every afternoon clouds laden with moisture arrive from the Pacific coast. It is the only protected area in the country that has the category of “Geobotanical Reserve”.This says a lot about its raison d’être, since its geology and volcanological history are very particular. In addition to the richness of the flora that grows on the slopes and the reserve protects something unique in the world: a volcanic caldera inhabited by almost half the world.
Inhabited by almost half the world. Undoubtedly, a place where the energy of the earth is felt in every rock and every cloud. is felt in every rock and every cloud that arrives and leaves the Pululahua.
The great caldera is the result of the collapse of rocks and earth accumulated by the successive eruptions of the Pululahua volcano. eruptions of the Pululahua volcano. The Pondoña, El Chivo and Pan de Azúcar hills (technically called volcanic domes) were generated by later eruptions. Pondoña and Pan de
Pan de Azúcar have small craters on their summits. It is estimated that the last eruption
last eruption of Pululahua occurred 2,300 years ago. The ancient settlers were attracted by the fertile soils and abundant humidity. In the interior of the caldera there are several towns such as Nieblí, Los Reales and Pululahua. During the colonial times, the lands that today form the reserve were given to the Dominican order, who established the Pululahua hacienda.who established the Pululahua hacienda. With the liberal revolution, the hacienda passed to the State in 1905.The Asistencia Social administered it until 1979 and due to the agrarian reform, the land was given to the former workers of the hacienda. Pululahua was known for its agricultural production and for being a source of lime used in the construction of houses in Quito.
The lime was used in the construction of houses in Quito.An interesting fact is that thanks to the tenacity and effort of the scientist Misael Acosta Solís (1910 – 1994), Pululahua was known for its agricultural production. Pondoña National Park, thus becoming the first protected area in continental Ecuador. In 1978 it was Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve. The abundant fog that enters the crater originates diverse microclimates and the development of exuberant vegetation on its slopes. Among the most common plant groups are bromeliads and orchids, of which about 100 species have been recorded, including the small purple maigua, which is very common in the reserve. You can also see zagalitas, zapatitos, colcas, colcas, colcas, zapatitos, colcas, colcas, colcas, zapatitos, colcas, colcas, colcas zapatitos, colcas, colcas, sigses, pumamaquis, wild taxa and allpa chocho, among others. 180 species of birds have been recorded, including the black-chested eagle or guarro, the quilico, the blackbird, the huirac, the huirac, and the black-chested eagle.
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Other sites of interest
• Community of Pululahua. Located in the agricultural area of the caldera. There you can
perform various recreational activities.
• Viewpoint Windows. It is the closest and most easily accessible place to observe the landscape of the reserve.
• Lime kilns. They are old facilities located in El Bucal.
Visita Ecuador (s,f)