Podocarpus
National Park
Andes (Loja/Zamora Chinchipe)Designated in 19821,462 km²
Nicknamed the "botanical garden of the Americas" for its exceptional orchid diversity, with more than 4,000 plant species recorded
Area
1,462 km²
Protection category
IUCN II
Parque nacional —
Designated in
1982
Declared in 1982, Podocarpus takes its name from the podocarp, the only conifer genus native to Ecuador, which the park protects. Nicknamed the "botanical garden of the Americas" by 19th-century naturalists, it holds more than 4,000 catalogued plant species, including a concentration of orchids among the highest documented in any protected area in the world, favoured by its position at the meeting point of the Andes and the Amazon basin.
Location
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1 dive site within 300 km is also shown.
Podocarpus: 21 documented species
Mammals10Birds10Amphibians1
Threatened:
Flora and ecosystems
Ecosystems found in Ecuador, where Podocarpus lies.
Tropical rainforestMarine / coastalTundra / polar
Experiences in this park
Diving and snorkellingBirdwatching
Nearby dive sites
Where can I dive near here?
205 km away
Wildlife you can see now
What is worth looking out for this month in Ecuador?
Now is a good time: Whale shark and hammerhead aggregation at Darwin and Wolf (June to November (cool season))
Now is a good time: Whale shark and hammerhead aggregation at Darwin and Wolf (June to November (cool season))
Similar parks
Which other parks are like this one?
Same country: Ecuador
Same country: Ecuador
Same country: Ecuador
Same country: Ecuador
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about this park.
Ecuador
