17 km north of Quito is the Pululahua Volcano. Pululahua means in Quichua
“Smoke of Water .” It is a collapsed volcano which erupted 2 500 years ago.
Because of it’s great biodiversity, it was dedicated as Geobotanical Reserve.
We spent one night and one full day in this area.
Pan de Acucar, a lava mound inside the crater
The garden of the Pululahua hostal was a favorite place for Hummingbirds.
They were flying with incredible speed from flower to flower.
Pululahua Hostal
We started our hike at the bottom of the crater. The area looked lonely and
abandoned. Many of the forty families who lived here left the area. The land
they own was too small to live from. The only school was closed. We sneaked into
the school area and looked through the window – schoolbooks, drawings, teaching
material and even the school bell was left. It seemed that they all escaped a great
catastrophe.
Abandoned school house
Even the cow seemed to look lonely and sad
Like everywhere on our hikes, there were no signs for orientation. Also, there was
nobody to ask. We got lost and climbed up on one of the lava mounds. The detour
was worth while. The most gorgeous flowers and orchids were blooming there.
The Pululahua crater contains more than 2000 different kind of flora and 60
different kinds of orchids. It was paradise.
The path to the rim of the volcano was leading through the most dense vegetation.
Plants are fighting for light and space. The amount of shades of green was almost
unreal.
After endless seeming spirals, on a steep and wet path, we reached the top. Thick fog
covered the whole area. Instead of a view, we were compensated with the most
brilliant blooming flowers.
– Text and pictures contributed by Garyo –