Hidden up in the mountains, 108,6 miles north of Quito and 37,26 miles north of Ibarra City, lays the last remain of a millenarian Polylepis forest.
The trip from Quito to Ibarra offers the traveler great views of the cultivated valleys and mountains, which seem to be covered by a quilt of many different colors, mostly shades of green, yellow and brown. However, heading towards the north from Ibarra City, the scenery changes drastically as the Chota Valley gets closer. The green mountains turn into dry foothills inhabited only by a few varieties of cactuses, Locust trees, and a few arid climate plants. The scenery combined with the high temperatures make the traveler forget that he is in the Andes.

The ascent to the paramo (high Andean tundra) of El Angel begins just past the town of Mascarilla. This is the point where the province of El Carchi (the northernmost province of Ecuador) begins. From this point on, the temperature drops and the vegetation becomes greener, the air gets cooler and the cultivated fields re-appear.
Up in the paramo of El Angel (Carchi province), at 11.745,68 ft above sea level exists a small valley of glacial origin that covers 12 hectares of the marvelous and unique Polylepis forest that belongs to El Angel Ecological Reserve. Within this area the “Polylepis Lodge” Hostel preserves 6 hectares from being destroyed by the surrounding communities.
The Polylepis tree, also known as Pantza, Colorado, or Paper tree, is famous for its fine bark that is constantly being shed to prevent parasite organisms, such as moss and liquens from adhering to its branches.
Among the different plant species that can be found inside the forest are: la hierba del infante del cerro (Lachemilla orbiculata), Zarcillo Sacha (Brachyotum jamesonii), Cardon Santo (Erymgium humile), different varieties of gentians and orchids, amongst others.
Besides a great variety of plants, many species of birds that can be seen, and there are also mammals, such as foxes and deer, that can be seen if you are lucky. This wildlife reserve is one of the few places in Ecuador where the famous Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) can still be seen flying low looking for carrion to feed on. Within the smaller bird species the observer can see hummingbirds of different kinds, cara-caras, hawks, wild ducks and many others.
The lakes, waterfalls, and the wildlife that inhabits this forest are surrounded by marvelous paramos covered with Frailejones (Espeletia pycnophylla), the emblematic plant of the northern Ecuadorian highlands. This plant is protected in the El Angel Ecological Reserve.
The Polylepis forest is a “must visit” place in Ecuador; it is the only millenarian Polylepis tree forest in the World. Transportation and accommodations can be directly arranged with “Polylepis Lodge”.

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