- Mache Chindul Reserve
- Sangay National Park
- El Cajas National Park
- Cuyabeno Forest Reserve
- El Condor National Park
- Galapagos Marine Reserve
- Galapagos National Park
- Limoncocha Reserve
- Podocarpus National Park
- Puyanop Petrified Forest
- Sumaco Napo Galeras
- Llanganates National Park
- Chimborazo Forest Reserve
- Pasochoa Wildlife Refuge
- Antisana Ecological Reserve
- Cayambe Coca Reserve
- Cotacachi Cayapas Reserve
- Cotopaxi National Park
- El Angel Ecological Reserve
- Pululahua Reserve
- Illinizas Ecological Reserve
- Machalilla National Park
- Manglares Churute Reserve
- Mindo Nambillo Reserve
- Yasuni National Park
Podocarpus National Park
In the southern region of Ecuador you will find the 360,000-acre (146,300-hectare) Podocarpus National Park. The park is made up of two primary areas: the upper pre-montane section with tropical cloud forests and the lower subtropical section. You will also find large areas of virgin forest containing three specific species of genus Podocarpus. You will definitely feel like you have just found paradise as you discover the lush and plentiful plant species contained here. Throughout the park you can find 3,000 species of vascular plants that provide unimaginable beauty which is hidden away for you to discover.
The Podocarpus Park has the highest bio-diversity that you can find contained in one area, with many endemic species of flora and fauna occurring due to the high range of elevation which ranges from 1000m to 3690m. So for example in one hectare you will be able to count up to ninety different tree species. What is also so fascinating is that much of the flora and fauna found here can be found nowhere else in the world except in this park. During your visit you will be taken through cloud forests, a bird watchers delight, and through grasslands where you can follow a trail. There is also the other extreme where visitors can be exposed to volcanic rock.
Apart from the varying bio-diversity you will also be able to view an array of exciting animal species if you keep on the watch. Attempts to spot speckled bears, pumas, the Andean fox, giant armadillo, jaguar, mountain tapirs, Pudú, the smallest deer in the world and a huge variety of exotic birds (as many as 500 registered species) will keep you busy. Throughout Ecuador there are many bird species threatened by extinction, but up here at the Poducarpus National Park these birds have healthy numbers. An example of these birds is the coppery-chested jacamar, the Equatorial graymails, Peruvian antpitta and the bearded guan. The great variety of animal and insect life does not stop here - there are also approximately 260 different types of spectacular butterfly and 1,200 moth species for you to view at your leisure.
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