Papallacta

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The volcano Antisana seen from the hot spring of Papallacta

Papallacta, Ecuador on 16 October, 2011

Papallacta is a small village at an altitude of 3,300 metres (10,827 feet) in Napo Province, Ecuador. The village is off the Eastern Cordilleras, on the road from Quito into the Amazon rain forest.

The drive from Quito to Papallacta passes through several towns and small villages before ascending to a pass at over 4,000 meters tall, from where mountains and glaciers are visible. Descending from the peak to Papallacta, the ecosystem shifts from alpine to tropical jungle.

Several hot springs and spas are located in Papallacta, and several hotels and a spa resort are available for lodging. Many of the local restaurants are known for their steamed trout.

Lake Papallacta and its surrounding watershed previously provided much of the drinking water for Quito. In 2003, landslides in the region and the close proximity of the water pipeline and oil pipeline from the Amazon rain forest led to an oil spill. The contamination affected Papallacta's use of the lake for recreation and as a source of clean water.^[1]

Many animals live near the village. The following species have been recorded in the vicinity of the village:^[2]

• Order Paucituberculata (shrew opossums)
  • Caenolestes fuliginosus
• Order Didelphimorphia (opossums)
  • Didelphis pernigra
• Order Eulipotyphla (insectivores)
  • Cryptotis cf. montivagus
• Order Carnivora (carnivorans)
  • Culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus)
  • Pampas cat (Leopardus colocola)
  • Conepatus semistriatus
  • Long-tailed weasel (Neogale frenata)
  • Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus)
• Order Cetartiodactyla (even-toed ungulates and whales)
  • Hippocamelus antisensis
  • Odocoileus virginianus
  • Northern pudu (Pudu mephistophiles)
• Order Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)
  • Mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque)
• Order Rodentia (rodents)
  • Akodon latebricola
  • Akodon mollis
  • Anotomys leander
  • Chilomys instans
  • Microryzomys altissimus
  • Microryzomys minutus
  • Neusticomys monticolus
  • Phyllotis haggardi
  • Reithrodontomys mexicanus
  • Thomasomys aureus
  • Thomasomys baeops
  • Thomasomys cinnameus
  • Thomasomys erro
  • Thomasomys paramorum
  • Thomasomys rhoadsi
  • Thomasomys silvestris
  • Thomasomys ucucha
  • Coendou quichua
  • Mountain paca (Cuniculus taczanowskii)
• Order Lagomorpha (hares, rabbits, and pikas)
  • Tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis)

See also[]

• List of highest towns by country

References[]

Coordinates: 0°22′01″S 78°07′58″W / 0.36694°S 78.13278°W / -0.36694; -78.13278

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