Have you heard about the magical beauty of the Pululahua Volcano, which is located in Ecuador, near the monument that symbolizes the middle of the world; just about 10 minutes in vehicles that are rented in the facilities of this emblematic and wonderful place, where you feel and breathe a special, magical and energetic atmosphere.
This famous volcano has an extraordinary natural beauty, and its surroundings have an impressive plant and animal diversity; in fact, it is one of the two inhabited volcanoes that exist in the world; the other is located on the small island of Aogashima in Japan. For these reasons, on February 17, 1978, it was declared a Geobotanical Reserve, as a measure of protection and preservation of more than 2,000 species of Andean flora, among which are the striking and valued orchids and bromeliads.
This nature reserve is made up of 3,383 hectares, thanks to the work of Misael Acosta Solís, a botanist and scientist who dedicated himself to studying the diversity and biological richness of this wonderful area that represents both Ecuador and the world, so The process of creating the reserve began, which was finalized in 1978, but previously it had already been created as a national park on January 28, 1966.
This beautiful volcano owes its name “Pulu¬lahua”, to the Kichwa term that means “cloud of water” or “fog”; because it is almost always cloudy, but at a certain time of day the clouds clear the view and you can see beautiful landscapes from above that impact tourists who usually go there after visiting the famous monument of the middle of the world and take their respective photos.
This volcano according to the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School (IGEPN) is different from most of the other 79 that Ecuador has, because it is made up of a set of lava domes, which are scattered over an area of approximately 40 square kilometers and around the crater, whose diameter measures 3 to 4 kilometers in diameter, which does not give it the conical shape that other volcanoes usually have.
But, if you have time and dare to take a tour to marvel at the magical beauty of the Pululahua volcano, there are several options for tourists, such as the fascinating walks from the top to the crater where the San Isidro community lives, In whose route you can enjoy the magical nature of the place, as well as horseback riding, mountain biking and even rappelling classes in a natural environment with a temperature that ranges between thirteen and fifteen degrees Celsius, which provides a truly wonderful setting to practice. any sport and enjoy the stay to the fullest.
Upon reaching the crater of the volcano where there are plots that are owned by a hundred families that have inhabited the volcano for centuries, you will find lava domes that adorn the landscape, where you can enjoy the magical silence of the environment, one of its main attractions. , of an exuberant nature, of the mist that wets the face, and that is the reason for the name of the volcano, which had its last eruption about 2,200 years ago.
And you can get to the Pululahua volcano in an easy way, you can even take public transport that will take you to the Middle of the World city, which is located only about 20 kilometers north of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, and get to know one of the main tourist attractions of this country, which you can see from the Ventanillas viewpoint, which is reached by rented car or on foot from the Middle of the World monument, but there are not many who decide to go down and enter the that exotic silence that is the main protagonist of the magical beauty of the Pululahua volcano.
In the settlement of the community of San Isidro in the crater of the volcano, its few inhabitants sow crops such as: corn, carrots, beans, broad beans, among others, once a year. The community has piped water, as well as electricity, a church and a school, which is currently closed.
But, if you are one of those adventurous tourists, who love contact with nature and exercise, then you can reach the community of San Isidro from the viewpoint, taking a walk downhill for approximately 90 minutes, even upon arrival you can find an area that was prepared by the Ministry of the Environment so that tourists can camp, but if you prefer more comfort, you can rent a room in a picturesque hostel that is located in the crater.
On the other hand, in the Pululahua volcano, there are different attractions, starting with the domes that are impressive from the flat area of the settlement, and which can be reached after a few hours of walking. Likewise, you can practice hiking, by using some of the routes or trails that are generally explored by tourists, among which are:
El Chivo Hill: known as the water trail, it takes the hiker almost to the top of the mountain, where one of the lava domes that surrounds the crater is located.
Pondona: It is the central lava dome and is located about 2,960 meters above sea level. Tourists try to get as close as they can as it is quite high.
Lulumbamba: This trail takes tourists to the cloud forest, through which, if you wish, you can walk «for a whole day», in contact with exuberant nature, within which a great variety of orchids and bromeliads stand out.
Baths: It is a path that can be reached, first surrounding the Pondoña or central dome. There you can enjoy a thick and magical forest, which has thermal-mineral waters.