Llanganates National Park

Llanganates National Park is a rugged protected area in the central Ecuadorian Andes, located in Tungurahua Province. It is notable for its steep, often mist-shrouded mountains, cloud forests and high páramo plateaus.

The park contains a mosaic of montane forest, páramo and glacially influenced terrain with numerous lakes and steep peaks; many routes are remote and physically demanding. Scientists and experienced trekkers visit for high-altitude ecology, birdlife and the area’s challenging backcountry hiking.

The Llanganates massif has been sparsely populated and difficult to traverse historically, and it became a focus of formal protection to conserve its unique high-Andean ecosystems. The area is also embedded in regional lore related to Inca-era movements and lost treasure.

The park sits on the eastern slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes in Tungurahua Province, transitioning from high mountains toward the Amazonian foothills to the east.

• Inca treasure legend: Local legend links the area to lost Inca treasure, which has long attracted explorers and added to the region's mystique for visitors and researchers.
• High-altitude terrain: Trails and access are remote and can be technically demanding; many routes rise above 4,000 meters, so proper high-altitude preparation is essential.