Papallacta is a small village in Ecuador in the Napo province. The village is located at an altitude of 3,300 meters in front of the Eastern Cordillera, on the way from Quito to the Amazon rainforest, and it is known for its hot springs. It is surrounded by wetlands that are home to a variety of flora and fauna, including the Andean Condor and Spectacled Bear, both of which are considered endangered. In coordination with the Municipality of Quito, several works carried out in the municipality of Papallacta, located in the Cayambe-Coca National Park, are providing vital fluids to the Ecuadorian capital, which has more than two million inhabitants. The Chalpi Grande-Papallacta project, which collects water from the Chalpi and Encantado rivers in Napo Province, is expected to provide water to several municipalities in the Metropolitan District of Quito until 2050, in addition to a hydroelectric plant in the area that will support the operation of the Quito Metro transportation system. The main economic activity in the village of Papallacta is tourism to visit the hot springs, which include a public spa owned by the GAD of Papallacta and several private spas, as well as lodging and viewpoints.
Forests and waterfalls at Papallacta Hot Springs in Ecuador (2011)
Small chapel at he highest ridge on Route 28 between Quito and Papallacta in Ecuador (2011)
Forests and waterfalls at Papallacta Hot Springs in Ecuador (2011)
Landscape images at Papallacta Hot Springs in Ecuador (2011)
Images of Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve along Route 28 near Papallacta in Ecuador (2011)