Getting there
~2 hr east of Quito, on the road toward the Amazon
Best for
High-Andes birding, páramo, hot springs, temperate-forest birds, the eastern slope
The land
High páramo and temperate forest at an Andean pass east of Quito
Good to know
Papallacta's thermal springs sit amid superb high-Andes birding
What it is
Papallacta is a high Andean pass of páramo birding and thermal springs — the eastern gateway between the highlands and the Amazon.
On the eastern Andean slope, the pass of Papallacta combines high páramo and temperate forest with famous thermal springs. Birders find sword-billed and other hummingbirds, mountain tanagers, the rufous-bellied seedsnipe and high-Andes specialities — and a soak in the hot springs to end the day, on the route between Quito and the Amazon.
The reason to come
High Andes and hot springs
Papallacta pairs high-Andes birding with thermal springs.
Páramo birding
Seedsnipe, tanagers and high-Andes hummingbirds.
Temperate forest
Eastern-slope birds along the pass.
Hot springs
Thermal pools amid the high country.
Worth knowing
Birding and thermal springs
Papallacta offers high-Andes birding by day and steaming thermal pools to finish.
When to come — honestly
A high-Andes pass.
June – September
Best
Drier months — the best high-pass access.
Year-round
Good
A year-round high pass.
December – May
Good
Mistier and greener at altitude.
At over 3,300 m it is cold and often misty; the hot springs are a welcome warm-up.
Context
The eastern pass
Papallacta adds high-Andes birding and hot springs on the eastern slope.
It links the highlands to the Amazon.
We add Papallacta for high-Andes birding and its thermal springs, on the route east.
Beyond the obvious
More to Papallacta.
Páramo birding
Seedsnipe and tanagers.
Eastern-slope forest
Temperate birds.
Hot springs
Thermal pools.
Why Wild Voyager
We string together cloud forest, Amazon and islands.
Ecuador packs cloud forest, Amazon and the Galápagos into a small country, but the logistics are fiddly. We handle the lodges, river canoes, flights and cruises so the pieces connect smoothly.
Handpicked stays
We choose the lodge and guides that fit your goals, not whatever is left.
We time it right
We build your visit around the season and the wildlife that delivers.
Journeys
Trips through Papallacta
Where to stay
Where you’ll stay in Papallacta
Luxury Collection
Wildlife you may see
Plan your Papallacta trip.
Bird the high pass and soak in the springs. Tell us your dates and we will build the route around it.
Plan a trip