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Excursions in and around Papallacta

Excursions in and around Papallacta

Walking tour Sendero de la Isla

This short trip (an hour’s walk) is a must for anyone visiting the hot springs of Papallacta. Before you enter the thermal baths, it is good to get acquainted with the beautiful nature here at 3300 meters above sea level. Near the entrance to the public baths of Papallacta you walk up the stairs for a short while and you will arrive at the guard house of the private reserve Loreto Papallacta.
A local English-speaking guide will accompany you on this short tour that follows a loop along both sides of the Loreto mountain river.

Walking tour Agua y Vida

This walking tour of 5 to 6 hours runs between 4300 and 38300 meters above sea level. We leave Quito in the morning by car and drive to “La Virgen”. The hike starts here at its highest point: from here we slowly descend to Papallacta. On clear days you have a view of some snowy volcanoes: the Cotopaxi, Antisana and Cayambe. On the way we look out for the spectacled bear, the mountain deer, the mountain tapir, paramo wolves and small mustelids. You will find partridges, the chimborazo hummingbird, the Andean gull, ducks, eagles and curiquingues, even condors and other species typical of this ecosystem. A little after noon we arrive at the hot water baths of Papallacta, where you can regain your strength. Here is a great restaurant. By evening, a car will pick you up in Papallacta and take you back to the hotel in Quito.

Hiking to the Baños lakes

This hike takes about 3 hours and starts at the entrance of the thermal baths in Papallacta. By car we drive steeply up the mountain for 15 minutes to the entrance of the Cayambe-Coca National Park at 3800 meters above sea level. From here we walk to the lakes of Baños. In clear weather you have a beautiful view of the Antisana volcano. On the way we look out for the spectacled bear, the mountain deer, the mountain tapir, paramo wolves etc.
Included: local guide with limited knowledge of English, return transport by private car from the entrance of the thermal baths.

Hiking Sendero de la Chorrera

This tour takes about 3 hours and starts at the guard’s house next to the public baths of Papallacta. This trail is located in the buffer zone of Cayambe Coca National Park and the Thermas Papallacta Private Reserve. It is a beautiful mix of high mountains and cloud forest, ideal for nature photography. At the end of the tour you will come to a waterfall that forms in the course of the Pailón river.