National park · Ecuador
Pululahua Geobotanical ReserveReserva Geobotánica Pululahua
Go for the rim view at El Mirador (free, 40 min from Quito) or descend the 1.4 km trail 300 m into the inhabited caldera; arrive before 10:00 on a clear morning, since cloud usually fills the crater by midday.Go for the rim view at El Mirador (free, 40 min from Quito) or descend the 1.4 km trail 300 m into the inhabited caldera; arrive before 10:00 AM on a clear morning, since cloud usually fills the crater by midday.Go for the rim view at El Mirador (free, 40 min from Quito) or descend the 0.9 mi trail 300 m into the inhabited caldera; arrive before 10:00 on a clear morning, since cloud usually fills the crater by midday.Go for the rim view at El Mirador (free, 40 min from Quito) or descend the 0.9 mi trail 300 m into the inhabited caldera; arrive before 10:00 AM on a clear morning, since cloud usually fills the crater by midday.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
34 km²13 sq mi
approximate
Established
1966
Best months
Jun–Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Ecuador ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an Ecuadorian consulate.
- Ecuador ↗The Galápagos has its own entry controls: a transit control card bought at the airport before departure, a national park entrance fee, and inspections for food and plants. Check official Galápagos rules before booking.
- Ecuador ↗Several coastal provinces (including Guayas, where Guayaquil is) are under official warnings and periodic states of emergency; read your government's advice before routing through them.
At a glance
- Country
- Ecuador
- Area
- 34 km²13 sq mi
- Boundary figures vary by source; the reserve covers the caldera and its rim in Pichincha province (check).
- Established
- 1966
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Quito
Pululahua is a collapsed volcano about 17 km north of Quito: a caldera roughly 3 km across whose floor is farmed and lived in, the only one of its kind with working agriculture inside the crater. Ecuador made it a national park on 28 January 1966 — the country's first — and reclassified it a geobotanical reserve on 17 February 1978 for its geology and plant life. Three lava domes, Pondoña, El Chivo and Pan de Azúcar, rise from the floor, and the rim reaches 3,356 m at Sincholagua hill. The practical shape of a visit is simple: the paved El Mirador terrace on the south-west rim gives the classic look down into the crater, and a 1.4 km foot trail drops 300 m from there to the farmland below. Cloud usually fills the caldera by midday, so the view is an early-morning thing. It sits on the same road as La Mitad del Mundo and Calacalí, which makes it a half-day from Quito rather than a trip of its own.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1978Declared a geobotanical reserve for its geology and plant diversity.
Size and age
34 km²13 sq mi · national park since 1966
Boundary figures vary by source; the reserve covers the caldera and its rim in Pichincha province (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Quito.
Why go
- A whole volcanic caldera, about 3 km across, that you look straight down into from the road.A whole volcanic caldera, about 1.9 mi across, that you look straight down into from the road.
- It is the only caldera in the world with farms and a handful of houses on its floor.
- Rim to floor is a 1.4 km trail dropping 300 m — a real walk, not a viewpoint stop.Rim to floor is a 0.9 mi trail dropping 300 m — a real walk, not a viewpoint stop.
- Easy to pair with La Mitad del Mundo and Calacalí on one half-day loop from Quito.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanWet season; cloud often hides the crater
- FebWet; muddy trail down
- MarWet; brief clear mornings
- AprWet tail; green caldera
- MayTransition; clearer mornings
- JunDry, clear; best crater views
- JulDry and windy; strong sun
- AugDry; dust on the dirt road
- SepDry, clear; good walking
- OctCloud builds earlier
- NovShowers return
- DecWet; holiday crowds at the mirador
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud-forest birds (hummingbirds, tanagers)All year · Best in the early morning on the caldera slopes. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Orchids, bromeliads, ferns and mossesNov–May · The wet months are the greenest. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Farmland crops on the caldera floorAll year · Maize, beans, potato, tree tomato and alfalfa are grown inside the crater. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Quito
Drive north past La Mitad del Mundo towards Calacalí; the dirt entrance road is on the right about 500 m past the gas station.
40–60 min
Open the page →
From Quito by bus
Mitad del Mundo bus from Avenida América and 18 de Septiembre; get off at the crater turn-off, then walk 15 min uphill to El Mirador.
1–1.5 h
From El Mirador
1.4 km foot trail descends 300 m to the caldera floor.0.9 mi foot trail descends 300 m to the caldera floor.
30–45 min down
From Northern Andes loop
Combine with La Mitad del Mundo, Calacalí and the road towards Otavalo.
Half day
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| El Mirador rim | Paved-road viewpoint at 2,833 m over the caldera's south-west side. | Open; vendors sell snacks and crafts. |
| Caldera floor | Farmland, the Pondoña and El Chivo lava domes, and a few hostals and homes. | By the steep dirt road or the 1.4 km trail.By the steep dirt road or the 0.9 mi trail. |
| Moraspungo entrance | Recreational area at the reserve entrance on the Quito–Calacalí road. | Open; camping area (check). |
| Cloud-forest slopes | Wet upper forest with mosses, ferns, bromeliads and orchids on the caldera walls. | On foot; trails are rough and unsigned in places. |
Sketch map
- 1El Mirador · Viewpoint≈0.037, -78.467Rim terrace at about 2,833 m.Map ↗
- 2Moraspungo entrance · Gate≈0.045, -78.483Recreational area at the reserve entrance (approximate).Map ↗
- 3Pondoña dome · Summit≈0.038, -78.458Central lava dome (approximate).Map ↗
- 4El Chivo rock · Summit≈0.028, -78.463Southern lava dome (approximate).Map ↗
- 5Sincholagua hill · Summit≈0.050, -78.450Highest point of the caldera rim, 3,356 m (approximate).Map ↗
- 6Caldera hostals · Sleep≈0.033, -78.462Farm stays on the crater floor (approximate).Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reserve entry | Free | person | No gate fee reported at the reserve entrance; some sources mention a small local charge at El Mirador (check). |
| La Mitad del Mundo monument (on the same road) | US$5 | person | 2026 estimate; separate attraction, not part of the reserve. |
| Taxi or private car from Quito, one way | US$20–35 | car | 2026 estimate; agree the fare or use an app. |
| Bus Quito to the crater turn-off | US$0.5–1 | person | 2026 estimate; then 15 min uphill on foot to El Mirador. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Reserve entry no permit
Camping in the caldera permit or guide
Overnight in the caldera no permit
Park rules
- Speed on reserve roads
- Narrow and steep; keep to about 20 km/h and give way on blind bends.
- Water tanks
- Do not touch or foul the tanks that collect cloud-forest water for the caldera community.
- Farms and homes
- The caldera floor is private farmland; stay on tracks and ask before crossing fields.
- Litter and fires
- Carry out all rubbish; no open fires outside the designated recreational areas.
- Camping
- Use the Ministry of Environment areas at Moraspungo or opposite Hacienda Pululahua (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Caldera hostals and farm stays
A few simple places on the crater floor with home cooking and organic produce.
Near the park
El Mirador and Calacalí
Basic rooms and restaurants on the rim road.
Near the park
Quito
Full range of hotels, 40–60 min south; most visitors do Pululahua as a half-day.
Safety
Altitude medium
Steep, slippery dirt trail medium
Cloud closing in low
Getting lost on caldera trails medium
Accessibility
- El Mirador is reached by paved road and is a short, mostly level walk from parking.
- The caldera floor trail is steep and rough; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- Reserve roads are narrow dirt tracks with no pavements.
Visiting lightly
- Buy coffee, maize or beans from caldera families so farming inside the crater stays worthwhile.
- Do not damage the water-collection tanks or the cloud-forest plants around them.
- Take a bus or share a taxi from Quito rather than driving an empty car.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve?
No entrance fee is reported for the reserve itself, so a day visit can cost nothing beyond transport. Some sources mention a small local charge at El Mirador (check). From Quito, a bus to the crater turn-off is about USD 0.50–1, and a taxi or private car is roughly USD 20–35 each way (2026 estimate).
What are the best hikes in Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve?
The 1.4 km trail from El Mirador down 300 m to the caldera floor is the standard walk. Inside the crater, paths lead onto the Pondoña lava dome and to the sharp El Chivo rock, and a short walk reaches the old limestone kilns. Trails are partly unsigned, so ask locally or take a guide.
When is the best time to visit Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve?
June to September is the driest and clearest window, and the crater view is most reliable then. December to April is wetter, with cloud filling the caldera earlier in the day. Whatever the month, arrive before 10:00 for the view.
Can you go inside the caldera?
Yes. A foot trail drops 1.4 km and 300 m from El Mirador to the floor, and a steep dirt road also enters the crater. The floor is farmed and has a few hostals, so keep to tracks and respect private land.
Do I need a guide for Pululahua?
Not for El Mirador or the main rim-to-floor trail. A local guide is worth it for the dome trails and the water-tank route, which are rough and not always signed.
How do I get to Pululahua from Quito?
Drive north past La Mitad del Mundo towards Calacalí and turn right onto the dirt entrance road about 500 m past the gas station, roughly 40–60 minutes. By bus, take the Mitad del Mundo service from Avenida América and 18 de Septiembre, get off at the crater turn-off and walk 15 minutes uphill to El Mirador.
Is Pululahua worth visiting?
Yes if you want a volcanic caldera you can look into and walk down into, close to Quito. It pairs well with La Mitad del Mundo and Calacalí on a half-day, and it is far quieter than the standard Quito day-trip circuit.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go