Around 1.4 million years ago, a slow but devastating eruptive process, caused that one of the boiler walls of this volcano collapsed, but peculiarly, instead of leaving a sandbank or a lagoon like it happens in most of the cases, The Pasochoa created an ideal habitat for the development of an Andean forest that has stayed perfectly conserved during several thousands of years.

The Volcano Pasochoa 4200 meters high is part of The National System of Protected areas of the Ecuador. With not more than 520 has. It keeps in their perimeter invaluable samples of the flora biodiversity and national fauna.
Near 123 species of birds, 15 of mammals, amphibians, insects and near 250 species of typical plants of the ecosystem they are preserved in this sanctuary.
To get to this place you can departure from Quito early in a morning, the bus takes us from the city until the city of Los Chillos, and where you can take the bus that will deliver you to Amaguaña, a small village near to the entrance of Pasochoa wild life reserve. Driving a pick up, it will take 2 hours to get to the entrance crossing cattleman areas bullfighting raising haciendas. This journey let us feel a little bit about life of the serranía of our country.

Finally, we arrive to the center of environmental interpretation of Natura Foundation, which is the organization in charge of the development of the reserve. From here, you can walk across 8 different self-guides routes trough the forest. Excursion to the summit requires a guide.

The first 3 hours of the walk take us through an Andean forest full with life. The song of the birds and insects accompany us in our adventure. With some luck and a lot of patience we can observe some tangaras species, a traditional bird of the Andean forest. Finally we surpass the forest and the dramatic change of vegetation take us through a thick moor section of the road until the first of the 3 rock walls that must be climbed to arrive to the summit. Once surpassed the second wall the view from that point is incredible. The Antisana toward the occident and the Illniza toward the east escorts this small central volcano. The fatigue and the rain threat distract us of our goal. The final wall requires certain rock climbing techniques of. Once on the summit, the majestic Cotopaxi rises before us as congratulating us for our effort and dedication.
After a brief reflection moment and a light lunch we should begin the quick descent, since in the middle of the forest we wont be able to have a good visibility after 5 pm. With the last sunbeams we enter to the dense forest and after almost 10 hours of walk we return to the center of interpretation where we begin the return toward the city.
This sanctuary of natural life offers a unique place to learn more about the biodiversity of our highland region, it is also a challenge an ideal preparation trek for those who want to reach the highest summits in Ecuador.

Foundation natura is the entity that at the moment this in charge of this refuge. Through the years they have been able to establish the appropriate services for the attention of the visitors. It has 2 housings, interpretation center, signaling of paths, camping site areas with capacity for 80 people, bathrooms and showers are the service available by now for all the adventurers looking to discover the natural mysteries of this volcanic complex, one of the oldest of our country.