Parque Nacional Podocarpus | Established Campground

December 20th, 2023 by stouph.moustache(instagram)

We are on a bicycle trip. Great places for the bivouac. They have shelters open to sleep with or without the tent. Space to cook. Friendly Guardians.
If you want there are huts for 3$ pppn

October 30th, 2023 by muellers_valley

Amazing super quiet place with everything you need. Friendly Rangers, free super fast WIFI. The last 1.5 km could be challenging for a 2WD when wet. And the long hike is challenging as well - avoid if you are scared of heights! And when it’s foggy. Always go up to the first Mirador!

September 21st, 2023 by Family4rêveurs

Very quiet and safe place. There is toilets very clean and place for 2-3 campers. Road is ok for big rig but unpaved and good condition. We are 8 m. Trekking are very nice but can be windy and rainy. Ranger are very helpful and friendly.

September 17th, 2023 by rosieland

Beautiful place to stay! Our 2wd managed the track up (on a dry day).
We arrived at the park entrance around 3:30pm and when we got to the refugio nobody was there - so be sure to get the wifi password at the entrance gate if you need it. Later in the evening some friendly park workers arrived and gave advice about the trails. Everything is well signposted.

September 13th, 2023 by ad.gainie

Highly recommended. We slept two nights in tents under a roof. You have toilets, shower (cold) and an area where you can cook (but need to have your own gear and food, they do not supply). Possibility also to sleep in hut.

July 22nd, 2023 by Blåvarevogn

Nice spot to camp, at the refugio. They have water, banos, Wi-Fi, and some nice trails. There is a good level spot where you could probably fit 4 campers or more. There is also a covered rustic kitchen. And it’s free! It’s about 8 km up from the gate to the campsite/refugio, a dirt road and doable with our camper van.

December 18th, 2022 by robjansenphotography.com

Still a nice place to visit and overnight and for free. The gate is open till 17:00. At the gate they want some contact details, give you an explanation about the trails and the WiFi password.
Enjoy!

November 22nd, 2019 by landroots

Good place with trakkings. We have a rustic kitchen is possible to use.
free.

September 28th, 2019 by foucro

Very Nice spot.
Clean and large toilets.
Flat área to camp.
Free for campers and vehicules. 12$ to sleep in a Hut.
Nice Wi-Fi.
And the hike is amazing, but really often there are clouds at the Very top

September 17th, 2019 by Naszprychowani

Still free, still nice
Wifi: works and it's quite fast!
Kitchen: only firewood (provided). But everlasting humidity makes its hard to fire (we couldn't...). So be prepared to use your own stove.
Tent: free and there is veery nice roof you can use.
Huts with beds are for 3$
Shower is cold. But toilets are very nice (without paper).
Walks around are very nice to.
Be prepared to push your bike 3 hours to make it to the top :)

September 14th, 2019 by instagram.com/differentdaydifferentway

Still all the same. Really nice spot with kitchen shower WiFi water beautiful walks. The shower is in the bathroom between the two main buildings.

September 5th, 2019 by wu-tour.de

second time we stayed here for 2nights. as described before. free, clean baños, very good walks. please take along your waste. this time we had sometimes a week claro internet reception.

May 28th, 2019 by glauciamalan

La entrada es por el km 13 de la ruta Loja-Vilcabamba. Lindo lugar, muy tranquilo, y sin costo.

May 2nd, 2019 by sunflower_hanna

We arrived at 5.30 and the gate at the registration point next to the highway was closed. Opening hours are 8am - 4pm. But after talking to 2 locals and waiting 2 hours the super friendly rangers came back (one lives at the house) and we were allowed to drive up :)

May 2nd, 2019 by phonography.world

very quiet and spectacular park. Cloud forest style. Free entrance, Free camping. 3 different hike.
staff is very nice.

February 1st, 2019 by happywithoutblog

The road is spectacular! Was no problem with our front wheel drive ducato even in wet conditions.

January 15th, 2019 by wu-tour.de

no problem to come here with our mercedes sprinter campervan (2x4). we stayed three very quiet nights and enjoyed the nature and the very good paths. toilets and water clean. there is a cold shower at the first cabana. wifi (numer password) worked only for emails and whatsapp (incl. phonecalls). no claro internet reception.

August 29th, 2018 by andreakforist

Could not make it up the last 1/2 k of road with our 2wd Volkswagen kombi. Combination of being steep and uneven dirt road made it impossible.

We spent 2 cold & windy nights at the flat-ish turn around point before the last uphill and walked 10-15 mins up to the refuge to hike and use WiFi during the day.

August 22nd, 2018 by foodailleurs

ok to come here with our 24 feet RV with propulsion drive , wonderfull view.

Nous avons réussi à monter ici sur ce chemin pendant de forte pluie avec notre camping car de 7 m , propulsion arrières et jumelées . forte montées à prévoir et chemin parfois très etrois sur bord du précipice . Magnifiques vues . D'après le rangers il y a quelques chances de croiser l'ours andins sur la montée au refuge... ;)

June 27th, 2018 by viajandoporlatierra.com

Lugar recomendable con varios senderos para recorrer, hay que entrar 8km hasta el rufugio, el camino es de tierra pero esta muy firme y en buen estado nosotros entramos un dia de mucha lluvia con una renault trafic año92 sin ningun problema . La clave del wifi es [Password removed by Moderator.]

April 30th, 2018 by johnandmandi

Thought we might have made a mistake when we found out it was a long holiday and there were over 70 visitors, but most only stay an hour or so. Very quiet night, only the sound of the wind. Facilities as detailed below, WiFi still good, streamed videos. Did the short hike to the first mirador and around both of the small loops, views were a little fogged in but the forest is beautiful and the trail wasn’t too muddy.

April 29th, 2018 by estebanur

I'm glad I found this place thanks to a tip from an ecuadorian friend, didn't spot it when I was looking for a place at the app. Whole cabin for myself, wifi, energy, nobody around, just the one guy staff... A very luxurious "tent" for half the price of a regular stablished campsite!!!

January 13th, 2018 by stefinicoandchico

No dogs allowed. We has to leave.

No se permiten perros, tuvimos que irnos

November 9th, 2017 by carrothospital

Not a bad spot to camp in general but both days we were there busloads of hundreds of screaming kids showed up for field trips. Not that we have problems with kids, but having kids (and bus drivers) climbing on our van, rocking it, and just being loud in general made it not the most relaxing experience. At night though it's pitch black and quiet. The facilities are nice though and the staff is super nice. However, if it's not a clear day and if it has rained recently, the mirador loop isn't worth it. It is really steep and gets really slippery/muddy. If it's not super clear you can't see anything once you reach the top (3400 meters) anyway so unless you're just looking for some exercise, I'd skip it, or just do the short hike to the first mirador, which is short and easy.

July 17th, 2017 by instagram.com/slowcookingsalmon

A great place to spend the night! Everything as previously mentioned. Even wifi password still works in the kitchen area. The 9km dirt road off the main road was in good conditions and easy to drive without 4x4 or high clearance

May 15th, 2017 by 4runner4adventure.com

What a great free place to camp. Clean bathroom with toilet seat! Flat parking and kitchen provided. We went on the mirador hike, but it was more strenuous than we thought. 6km in total and amazing views.

January 19th, 2017 by gviejo1

Great place ! The trek El mirador is nice but quite difficult moreover of you have vertigo !

December 12th, 2016 by www.practicingforretirement.com

Lovely place to relax. have power outlet in the carpark but didnt ask to plug in. really nice ridge hike took us 2:45 but we rushed it. the internet was fine when we were here. i think the whole region can have problems st times

December 9th, 2016 by danielavkl

the place is nice. But we cant reach the mark. is really dificult if you dont have 4x4. the problem is the last 400mts with the dirty road. we just spent the day// no pudimos llegar al refugio. nuestra Renault Trafic no pudo subir xq se resbalaba x el camino resbaladizo. si tenés motor grande o 4 x 4 no va a haber problema

November 20th, 2016 by contato

A good place to spend many days, have bathroom all day long, shower but cold, very cold, internet, electricity and friendly guard!

July 17th, 2016 by ycgfwcge

Great place!! Beautiful trails, very quiet (we were there on a Sunday afternoon until Monday). We parked in front of the refugio and were totally alone during the night. Outdoor kitchen (there was no gas in the stove when we were there) with sink and wood stove and great sitting area. On the way to the outdoor kitchen is a very clean bathroom. Also, if you walk up to the first cabin, you find a small house with a toilet and a shower.
Free entrance, free camping, very nice.

June 28th, 2016 by mattp1260

Kitchen is sorta useless. Has sink and table at least. Great camping spot - they have a covered deck for tents. Internet wifi is also useless

June 5th, 2016 by theultralife.com.au

I rode my bicycle up to the refugio. The road is in good condition. Beautiful spot. Free is the best part.

April 4th, 2016 by verfolgtuns.blogspot.com

In our point of view the road is in good condition in comparison to the mountain roads we have seen in Peru, Bolivia a.s.o no need for 4x4.
As we arrived at six pm nobody was there, but toilets, shower are open and the kitchen is outside, everything there but no gas. We gladly could use everything.
WiFi password is still working.
The water comes from the mountains, they say it's not treated but good. They drink it so we did as well and had no problems.

February 25th, 2016 by facebook.com/lachataporamerica

Nice place. Difficult way up to the refugio for comun cars.
Imposible to enter with dogs. You can pass the first control but in the refugio are people that will make you go out because of the dog (our case)

January 24th, 2016 by domogalla3

Water, Parking lot with cabins and free! Wifi isn't working too great but who needs it out here anyways.

December 13th, 2015 by erg-adventure.blogspot.com

Wifi yes:: [Password removed by Moderator.]

December 4th, 2015 by facebook.com/megamacaqueiros

Nice place to camp. There are cabins, costa U$ 3 p/ person. There is eletricity.

November 3rd, 2015 by glob3trotters

Nice place , very quiet in the middle of the forest . 8.5 km track OK if not raining .

February 19th, 2015 by lasupervanita.wordpress.com

Very nice place to camp next to the trails. Free and with water and toilets available.

October 1st, 2013 by norbertontour.com

Parking at the Refugio of the P.N. Podocarpus.

Price:free