Puyango Petrified Forest

National Park

By Christopher Minster

Minster

The largest field of exposed petrified wood in the world is found just south of the Ecuadorian city of Loja, not far from the Peruvian border: its name is El Bosque Petrificado de Puyango, or the Puyango Petrified Forest.  Massive stone logs, 80 million years old cross the trails, fallen giants from a bygone age.  Petrified forests are rare: wood usually decomposes once it dies, and Puyango is considered a very significant source of information by scientists, especially as most of the trees are in the Araucarias family, which are rarely fossilized.  There are marine fossils in the park as well, a remnant of a time even before the trees, when the area was a shallow sea. 

There is more to Puyango then petrified wood. In the local language, Puyango means “dry, dead river,” and for good reason. The region is considered a dry tropical forest, a rare ecosystem as most forests in the tropics tend to get a good deal of rain. The area is a protected national park, and features a diverse ecosystem with interesting wildlife. There are more than 130 species of birds that are home there during all or part of the year, and it is also known for being home to many pretty species of butterflies.

For some, the best part will be the fact that Puyango is well off the gringo trail: it’s very remote, and the nearest city of any size is Loja, about four hours away.

Some facts: The Park is 2569 Hectares, or about 6570 acres. The oldest fossils in the park are marine fossils estimated to be about 500 million years old; the area was once underwater. The tree fossils are considered to be about 65-80 million years old. The park is open from 8 am to 4 pm every day. Good local guides are available. Entrance to the park costs $1.

The nearest town with any sort of tourist facilities is Alamor. The nearest big city is Loja, about four hours away. It’s possible to day trip from Loja, but it’s a long day.

From December to May is the rainy season, and the dry season is from June to November. It’s preferable to visit during the dry season. It is suggested to bring water, hat, light clothes and sunscreen. There are decent trails through the park. It is possible to camp in the park; ask about it at the information center.