(149000 hectares, 800-5263 meters above sea level)
The reserve of the Ilinizas has its name by the two main peaks that are called Iliniza Sur (5263 masl) and Iliniza Norte or Tioniza (5126 masl). According to the local traditions Ilinizas means hill male and female hill Tioniza. It is common to see one with more snow than the other and generally one is covered with clouds and the other cleared. This makes them interpret them as dual or male and female.
In addition to having these great peaks, the reserve has many climates and plant formations. From subtropical forests, through cloud forests to Andean forests and páramos. You can find temperature variations from a few degrees below zero in the height to 24 degrees Celsius in the lower parts.
The diversity of climates means that there is a great diversity of plants and animals. In the reserve there are spectacled bears, páramo wolves, pumas, rabbits, white tail deer, cervicabras, squirrels, foxes. Birds such as condors, sparrows, pigeons, chilies, buzzards, charcoal burners, tiles, brown cows and parrots also inhabit.
It also houses plants such as the palm of branches (in danger of extinction). In the lower area we find: red trees, sande, cedar, drago blood and husk. In high Andean areas we find trees of pumamaqui, quishuar, sacha capuli and yagual, along with bushes and flowers like chuquirahua and sacha chocho.
Among the main attractions of the reserve are the Ilinizas Norte and Sur. You can walk to the refuge. However, to climb to the summits and requires technical equipment and knowledge of mountaineering. Other attractions are: the Quilotoa Lagoon, Cunugyacu Waterfalls and Springs, Cerro el Corazón, The Toachi Canyon.
TO CLIMB THE ILINIZAS VOLCANOS:
To climb the Ilinizas it is necessary to go in a 4WD especially in rainy seasons or rent a van-taxi ($ 15, 30 min) in Chaupi to the parking lot called the Virgin. You can negotiate for the taxi to pick you up in the afternoon, however, just pay one way and when you return to pick them up pay the other one. Otherwise, most taxi drivers will not return in the afternoon.
The checkpoint and entrance is 10 minutes from the town of Chaupi by a third order road. it is necessary to register. Open from 8am to 5pm. Then continue the trip with the same truck for 20 more minutes to the parking lot called the Virgin.
To get to Chaupi you can take a bus from Machachi ($ 0.35, 40 min). There are buses every 30 minutes from 5:30 to 8:00.
To get to Machachi you can take a bus from Quito (La Marín Station) ($ 0.40, 45 min).
TO GET TO THE QUILOTOA AND THE TOACHI CANYON:
The main city closest to the Quilotoa lagoon is Latacunga. However, you can take a daytrip ($ 50- $ 90) from Quito at La Mariscal travel agencies that includes transportation, food and bilingual guide. The Toachi River canyon is between Zumbahua and Quilotoa (8km before Quilotoa). Therefore it is a stop to the Quilotoa of all the tours.
BY BUS:
Route 1: From Latacunga to Zumbahua (14Km to any) $ 2, 2.5 hours. There are buses from the Latacunga land terminal from 6am to noon. From Zumbahua you can rent vans or taxis for $ 5, 30 min or take a bus on the road.
Route2: From Latacunga to Chugchilán. The bus goes through Zumbahua around 1:30 pm and costs $ 1, 45min. Transportes Illiniza leaves at 12pm from Latacunga to Chugchillán. The bus goes through Quilotoa around 2pm.
TO ARRIVE AT THE TERMAS AND CASCADA DE CUNUGYACU:
You can rent a van from Pastocalle ($ 15, 30 min) that leaves you in the parking lot. From the parking lot you walk for 5 minutes on a signposted path and you reach the waterfall. Then we return and continue the main trail for about 10 minutes until the small pool where a jet of hot water falls.
There is a way to get to the entrance of the Ilinizas where you have to walk from the Virgin to the refuge of the Ilinizas (4700msnm) then continue the path on the left towards a lagoon and skirting in a clockwise direction to Iliniza Sur. a sandy area. The thermal baths are right at the bottom of the sandy area. This is a spectacular road with a sunny day with great views. However, it is little known and transited so it is easy to get lost. It is advisable to go with a guide as it gets cloudy and it rains frequently.
Cascada río Pita Friday 21 February 2025
Tourism
