Podocarpus National Park, Loja is one of the chief tourist attractions in Loja in Ecuador. A visit to the Podocarpus National Park, Loja will make your sightseeing in Loja a memorable experience.
One of the greatest Loja tourist attractions, Podocarpus National Park is one of the highest bio-diversity regions in the world. It is also home to a variety of indigenous species of flora and fauna, rarely found anywhere else on this earth.
The chief reason behind the high bio-diversity can be ascribed to the region's geographical features and combination of the Amazonian and Andean climatic features. This as a consequence has led to a mixing of elements of a micro climate and a high amount of rainfall which has furthered its growth.
Spread across 146,300 hectares, Podocarpus National Park, Loja has little elevations varying from around 1000m to 3690m. This makes the Podocarpus National Park in Loja perfect for the growth of a variety of plant life. About 90 tree types can be seen in a single hectare. Other species feature the Podocarpus range of plants.
The natural vegetation makes it a conducive for the habitat of a variety of animal species. Some of major animals that live in the park include the popular species of the Andean speckled bear, the Andean fox, pumas, mountain tapirs and a colorful array of exotic avian species.
The Podocarpus National Park, Loja is divided into two principal zones, an upper pre-montane section and a sub-tropical section. The upper pre-montane section has beautiful walking routes. You can also indulge in some memorable sightseeing here. The lower subtropical section includes verdant forests and indigenous species of flora and fauna.
The Upper pre-montane section in the Podocarpus National Park, Loja can be accessed via the Loja road. It takes around a 16 kilometers drive by bus from Vilcabamba to Cajanuma. This follows a -3 hour hike to the station center, which is replete with accommodation and dining facilities. Don't forget to carry warm water proof clothes.
The Subtropical section in the Podocarpus National Park, Loja is reached via Zamora into Bombuscara via taxis. It takes around 30 minutes to reach the camping spot.
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