Upper
Sector
The
most
common
access
routes
are
those
originating
in
Cayambe
and
less
commonly,
Ibarra,
both
of
which
are
served
by
the
Pan-American
highway.
Only
the
most
important
access
routes
are
signposted.
One
can
take
the
road
from
Cayambe,
which
passes
through
Olmedo
and
arrives
at
the
indigenous
community
of
Chimba
and
the
area
known
as
Piedra
Colorado.
From
there
a
pathway
descends
towards
Lake
San
Marcos.
The
entire
journey
from
Cayambe
takes
approximately
two
hours
due
to
the
poor
quality
of
the
roads.
There
is
also
a
road
from
Cayambe
leading
to
the
Piemonte
area
where
one
can
pass
through
a
checkpoint
to
access
the
Reserve,
eventually
arriving
at
the
Volcano
Cayambe
refuge.
It’s
also
possible
to
arrive
at
the
towns
of
Cangahua
and
Oyacachi
from
Cayambe
via
a
better
quality
and
well-maintained
highway.
Arrival
at
the
Northern
part
of
the
Reserve,
or
more
specifically
Lake
Puruhanta,
is
possible
by
taking
the
terrestrial
road
from
Ibarra,
which
leads
to
the
village
of
Nueva
America,
passing
through
towns
Pimampiro
and
Mariano
Acosta.
From
there
arrival
at
the
lake
is
only
possible
by
foot
and
takes
approximately
another
six
hours.
Lower
Sector
The
majority
of
the
attractions
in
this
area
are
accessible
via
the
Interoceanic
Highway.
One
such
route
joins
the
towns
of
Papallacta
and
Nueva
Loja
(Lago
Agrio).
The
road
passes
by
the
site
in
Papallacta
where
the
Virgin
figurine
is
encased
in
glass,
situated
at
an
altitude
of
4,000
metres.
The
road
descends
towards
Baeza
and
El
Chaco
over
the
south-eastern
border
of
the
Reserve
before
passing
through
the
region
of
Volcano
Reventador,
where,
situated
some
five
kilometres
from
the
road,
is
another
Virgin
figurine.
A
third
access
control
point
is
located
near
to
the
Lumbaqui;
a
pathway
from
the
roadside
leads
to
the
Chuscuyacus
Quichua
community,
where
there
is
yet
another
Virgin
statue
on
the
banks
of
the
River
Aguarico.
The
indigenous
Cofan
de
Sinangue
community
is
accessible
either
by
boat,
which
takes
around
three
hours
or
overland
to
La
Bonita
before
crossing
the
River
Aguarico
towards
the
village.
Last
Updated
17th
July
2006
