Pululahua, a name that means ‘Cloud of water or fog’ in Quechua, is a volcano located just 30 minutes outside Quito. One of the best spots for mountain biking in the area, this volcano is the only one in the country designated as a ‘Geobotanical Reserve’ for its geological and biological diversity. It remains a potentially active volcano, and its crater is one of the few inhabited ones worldwide.

The climate is temperate, with temperatures ranging from 0 to 27 °C (32 to 80 °F). During the dry season (June to September), high temperatures are common, although rain is always a possibility. Bringing enough water, food, sunscreen and insect repellent is essential.

Route Summary
The route begins at Calacalí’s Central Plaza, a great spot to stock up on food and water.

After cycling 1.5 kilometres towards Quito on the E-28 road, turn left onto a dirt track A steep ascent leads you to the Moraspungo checkpoint, the entrance to the Geobotanical Reserve. Entry is free, but registration is mandatory. The checkpoint operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Get ready to enjoy an exciting downhill ride with a steep gradient and numerous curves. At kilometre 12.7, at the end of the descent, you’ll come to a junction. Turn left. At kilometre 12.9, there’s another fork. Turn left again.

Continue on a gentler descent until kilometre 17.1, where you’ll come across yet another fork; turn left once more. This marks the start of a 12-kilometre climb to the Yunguilla community. Though challenging, the climb is manageable, and the view at the top makes it worthwhile.

At the top of the climb, you will reach the community of Yunguilla (29 km accumulated). You can savour local cuisine at El Mirador Yunguilla restaurant or continue 800 metres to the community centre.

Take the opportunity to explore Yunguilla to purchase locally-made products. The community is a leader in sustainable tourism in the Chocó Andean Cloud Forest. For more information on community tourism in Yunguilla, call (593)98 021 5476 or (593)99 954 1537, or email [email protected].

For the return journey, it’s best to rent a van due to the heavy traffic of cars, trucks and buses on the road. If you decide to cycle back, stay to the right and ride in a group if possible. The full route back to Calacalí’s Central Plaza covers 36 km.

The lowest altitude is 2,065 metres at the Nieblí turn-off, and the highest is 3,072 metres at the Moraspungo checkpoint.