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Sangay was declared a National Park by the Ecuadorian government
(along with the Galapagos Islands) and a Natural Heritage Site by
UNESCO in 1983. The 517,725 hectare Sangay National Park is one of
the most beautiful natural areas in Ecuador and in the world.
Sangay, much the same as its neighbor,
Llanganates National Park, is a place of amazing biodiversity
and shelters an incredibly high number of endemic species,
especially plant species. This spectacular diversity is a direct
result of the Park's geographical and climatic extremes. With
towering peaks rising up to 5,230 meters above sea level and valleys
dipping down into the Amazon Basin as low as 600 meters above sea
level, Sangay has a microclimate ranging from sub arctic to tropical
with average temperatures varying from below freezing to 24 degrees
Celsius.
The Park is home to eight distinct vegetation zones, ranging from
sub artic to tropical lowland forest, with the transition areas
between these distinct zones providing habitats for the area's most
interesting plant species. Notable fauna includes: tapirs, bears,
ocelots, jaguars, otters, humming birds, condors, and deer, many of
which are rare and endangered species.
Moreover, there is no better place from which to access this amazing
ecological wealth than from Baños. As
Tungurahua
volcano sporadic activity
has made access to many parts of the park difficult if not
impossible, we suggest lodging at Luna Runtun "The Adventure Spa" as
it remains safely tucked under Tungurahua eastern flank - one of the
most accessible, safest, and rewarding areas for exploration and
adventure. From Luna Runtun and other lodges in Baños you'll have
access to the Park's wild and beautiful interior, which is home to
towering volcanoes such as Los Altares (inactive, 5,319 meters),
Sangay (active, 5,230 meters), and Tungurahua (active, 5,016
meters), the Park's youngest volcano. |
