Papallacta

About this place

Papallacta is a mountain village at 3,300 metres in Napo province, 67 km by road from Quito. It is known for its hot spring complexes and as the main source of drinking water for the capital. High páramo moorland and a blue lake surround it, on the road between the Andes and the Amazon. The name probably means land of potatoes in Kichwa. An old chronicler says the Incas set up an outpost here, and the Spanish took this route in search of the land of gold and cinnamon. The first settlers arrived in 1870, and it became a parish in 1921. Building the road to Lago Agrio in the 1970s led to the first pools, using the hot springs here. The complexes have outdoor pools of hot water steaming in the cold air, facing green slopes. On the road you pass Papallacta Lake, blue among the mountains. The area is good for páramo scenery, where Andean condors and spectacled bears live, though sightings are rare. Snow can fall on the upper road in the cold season. The village is 43.3 km in a straight line east of Quito. The altitude is high, so drink water and take it slowly, and ask your doctor before hot soaking if you have a heart or blood pressure problem. The pools are mixed, with people in swimwear, so choose a quieter time if you prefer. Bring a jacket, as it is usually cold and wet.