Exploring Ecuador’s Northern Highlands: El Angel Ecological Reserve and Otavalo

Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America, but at the same time it offers a great biological diversity and multicultural and exotic people.

High above the town of the same name is Ecuador’s premier ‘páramo’ (moorland) reserve. Created in 1992, the El Angel reserve is spread across some of the most pristine high-altitude country in Ecuador. Throughout the reserve’s 15,700 hectares you’ll see the spiky heads of the ‘frailejón’ (giant daisies) plant for which El Angel is famous. Locals use it for various curative purposes, including relief of rheumatism. Filled with the solitude of ‘polylepis’ forests (‘paper’ trees), the El Angel Ecological Reserve breathes an air sense of serenity and peace.

Otavalo is an Indian town located in a beautiful mountain region, north of Quito on the Pan-American Highway. The Indians of this region are famous for the weaving of textiles, which has a history of 4000 years. It boasts of South America’s largest indigenous market, where you can buy some of the most exquisite handcrafted artefacts. The town is surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks and lakes.

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