Papallacta Lake District

Beautiful glacially scoured lakes and mountains near Ecuador's best hot springs. The higher ground is gorgeous paramo, with pockets of rainforest lower down.

In the eastern Andes, a mere 2 hours or so from Quito, although technically in the Oriente.

There are plenty of great walks here, from short explorations to multi-dayers. Try:

-Papallacta pass to Papallacta hike (6+ hours)

-Oyacachi to Sigsipamba hike (2 days)

-Hiking to the rocky Las Puntas ridge (26km+, 1-2 days). Lots of opportunities in the area.

This can be tough walking in remote mountains with uncertain weather, where altitude can cause problems. Come fully prepared, including proper acclimatization.

Ecuador Climbing and Hiking Guide - Viva,Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands,has a worthwhile section on this area. Find relevant books by using our Amazon search function:

This page is at an early stage of development. Please help us by recommending your best walks, making suggestions and sending photos! Thank you!