Visit Purace National Park
Purace National Park is a starkly beautiful region of volcanoes, lagoons and cloud forest.
In a country, nay a continent, bursting with a plethora of stunning national parks, Purace is surely one of the most impressive and well worth a day-long visit at least. The jewel in the crown of this chilly high altitude protected area (most is over 3,000m) is Purace volcano; at 4,646m it can be conquered on a strenuous guided climb.
The park comprises not just aces of wind-scarred rough páramo (tundra) grasslands but also jagged snow-capped peaks, hidden waterfalls, bird-filled lagoons and pools of bubbling sulphur. Not many people live in this harsh environment but spectacled bears and mountain tapir roam freely and there is a wealth of interesting vegetation, including battalions of frailejon, a shrub which can grow to heights well taller than a man, which sports bright yellow blooms in September and October.
On a guided day trip you can see plenty of this, and your experience will be enlivened by the sight of condors which come down to feed near the entrance. You also may also have the chance of a country-style lunch at a friendly local farm.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
