Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park is a protected natural area in the Amazon region of Ecuador. The park is remote rugged backcountry through rainforests that are regarded as a biodiversity hotspot. The park is centered around an active volcano, Sumaco, which is the highest point in the park at 3,826 meters.

This is a very large park, covering an area of more than 200,000 hectares. The park is very difficult to access, without roads or other infrastructure. It is best explored by travelers with backcountry skills and experience accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide. Treks can be arranged by tour operators in Quito.

Sumaco is an active stratovolcano that is estimated to have last erupted around 1895, though the date is imprecise because the location is so remote that nobody noticed or recorded the event. Sumaco is unlike other volcanoes in Ecuador in that it is away from the cluster of volcanoes in the Andes mountains and analysis of its lava shows that it draws from a different subterranean source and has a different origin than any other Ecuadorian volcano.

The volcano has a broad crater covered in jungle foliage with a small crater lake.

The park was created as part of the Ecuador national parks system in 1994. UNESCO declared the park part of its UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2000.

The park is part of the Amazon basin and is dense jungle surrounding the volcanic peak of Sumaco. Most of the landscape is dominated by lush vegetation with towering trees.

The park is known as one of the most biodiverse places on Earth with thousands of plant species and more than 830 cataloged bird species. High numbers of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and insects are also recorded in the park.

Mammals include big cats like the jaguar and puma as well as endemic species like the giant anteater. Numerous kinds of moneys, from howlers to tamarins, are found in the park and the monkeys seem less timid around humans, few of whom have ever ventured into the park.

The nearest airport with commercial flights is in Quito (UIO ^IATA). The park is 100 km southeast of Quito, 50 km east of the Andes mountains. Although highways surround the park, there is only one practical access point: Pacto Sumaco, which is near El Chaco. Tour operators in Quito can arrange treks to the park that include ground transportation as well as local guides in the park.

From Quito's Terminal Carcelén, a daily bus operated by Cooperativa de Transportes Loja Internacional goes to El Chaco. The 2-hour trip costs about US$10. From El Chaco, local transportation can be used to reach Pacto Sumaco.

From Quito, it is normally a 100 km drive (2-hours) to El Chaco via highway E20. The road is occasionally closed due to landslides. When this happens, the alternate route is a 400 km drive that takes over 7 hours via the Panamericana highway E35, south of Quite, then east and north.

Continue on Carr. Panamericana/Troncal de la Sierra/E35. Take E30, Ecuador 45/E45 and E20 to Via Pacto Sumaco in Napo

There is no fee to enter the park.

Hike.

• Sumaco volcano

• Backpacking
• Birdwatching
• Hiking
• Mountaineering

There are no stores, restaurants, or other businesses in the park. Bring anything you need with you and pack out any trash. Bring at least 2-3 liters of water per day. Water sources within the park are unlikely to be potable so if you plan to drink from them, use filters, chemical treatments, or boil to kill pathogens.

Backcountry camping is allowed but there are no improved camping areas in the park. Follow the advice of your guide regarding site selection and equipment provisioning.

• Cayambe Coca National Park
• Quito