Pululahua Volcano & Geobotanical Reserve

Pululahua Volcano is inactive but its past eruptions, the last around 2500 years ago, have left a huge crater full of fertile soil. At 34 square kilometres, the volcanic crater is one of the largest in the world. The lava dome in the middle rises around 500 metres above the crater floor and is covered in lush cloudforest vegetation.

Pululahua is one of only two inhabited volcanic caldera in the world and the only one cultivated by its inhabitants. It is believed that it was first settled by the Incas. The small agricultural communities here grow various crops in the rich soil of the fields around the floor of the crater.

Pululahua is Quichua for "Smoke of Water" or "Cloud of Water". This probably refers to the fog or "neblina" which rolls in around midday every day and fills the crater. The fog is the only real source of water for the crops cultivated here, because it virtually never rains at Pululahua. The crops thrive in the fog but tourists generally don't, so visit in the morning to see the fantastic views and photograph the attractive scenery.

The unique microclimate of Pululahua is caused by the form of the volcanic crater and lava dome. It supports cloudforests and many orchids and other types of plants on the crater walls and the peaks of the central lava dome, as well as the fertile farmland below. For this reason, Pululahua was declared a Geobotanical Reserve in 1966 and is regulated by Ecuador's Ministry of the Environment.

Starting our hike into the Pululahua (Ketchwa language) crater.

Looking down into the crater that has been farmed for hundreds of years.

Another view of the crater. We went in the dry season. It never rains here. The clouds and fog and blow into the valley in the afternoon provide the needed moiture.

The stairs were very uneven and high so it was easier to walk on the side.

Going down! It was so steep in many places I had to hold onto Dad!!

A bug that walked across the trail. In the wet season you can see butterflies and orchids along the way.

We met an old couple on their way to market to sell their chicken. Look at the horse's tongue. He's having a hard time getting up the trail.

The little old lady wanted a dollar to take her picture so I paid her!

A view looking back up at the steep hillside.

Fenceposts that are growing into trees!

A huge bromeliad growing in the tree.

A house at the bottom of the trail. How would you like to live there?

We thought this sign was interesting. In the middle of no where they will take our credit card to stay at a hostel.

A huge yucca plant. You can see how long the stem is by the shadow in the ground!

Another photo of the couple we met on the trail. He was behind her all the way, being a gentleman walking while she rode!

Another home in the valley.

A caster bean plant. Silk worms use this plant for food in Ethiopia.

Look how steep the hill is. The edge of the calderon where we hiked was almost straight down.

An old delapidated hacienda.

A view of the valley.

A water source at one of the houses. No indoor plumbing here!!

Here we are on our way up the hill and who should we meet but this cute old lady!

We stopped and visited with her. She lives on the other side of the valley on one of the mountainsides. She had already taken her produce to market that morning and was now on her way home. We asked her how old she was and she showed us her identification. She is 85 years old and climbing up and down that hill!! AMAZING!!

That little old lady gave us the energy to keep going!!

Here she is again. Sorry that the pics are out of order!

On our way back to the bus there was this road side chapel. Drive by worship!

On our bus ride home we passed the equator. We will go back another day for a visit there.

A street sweeper. She is all bundled up and we were hot in our shirt sleeves!

On the bus back to Quito. The man at the door is the one that takes the money. He also yells out at each stop where the bus is going. We had to pay 40 cents each for the 2 hour bus ride back to the city! Buses are very cheap here.