Scenic Drive - Cayambe-Coca NP | Tourist Attraction

April 29th, 2024 by reddwalitzki

I tried this again going North to South, and it was possible on a moto. Buy the permit at the tourist office, motos $3/autos $5. Then the rangers will let you pass. It took about an hour to 1.5 hours on the bike, but has to have some of the best scenery anywhere in the country. Empty well maintained gravel road, stunning views, absolute highlight! Should be fine for any vehicle, but if you’re on a big bike with street tires you should be comfortable with gravel (some sections were fresh and a bit loose and it’s more downhill)

February 25th, 2024 by poudredescampette.com

Beautiful track, in good condition despite some potholes. Be careful to drive here you have to get a permit at the Oyacachi tourist office which is located next to the thermal baths. The cost is US$5. In addition, this track is one-way, you can only take it from North to South. FYI, the paths that go to the lagoons are not accessible or authorized (SalvaFaccha or Mogote). The landscapes are pretty, you ride in the middle of the Páramo. Too bad the path follows the electric wires and the installations for the dams...
The exit from the track is quite strange, there is first the ranger barrier, then a gate when arriving at the Balneario Termas Papallacta and finally the barrier of the paid parking lot at the thermal baths, you will have to explain each time that you come from Cayambe in order for you to be allowed through.
I recommend the hike in the middle of the Páramo to go to Laguna Baños, it’s very pretty.

January 25th, 2024 by desertfalcon

The valley and the views of the volcanos Cuyambe and Antisana are great. The gravel road is regularly graded, but there are always some sections with potholes.

August 17th, 2019 by wu-tour.de

we drove from cayambe/sun dial equator monument here to. it is asfalted until cochapampa, then cobblestone paved or dirt road. scenic driving. you dont have to pay going to oyacachi, but 2$ in oyacachi to get the permission to go to papallacta.

January 18th, 2019 by instagram.com/quebuenahonda

to clarify: for Otavalo to oyacachi you don't need a permit and there are no gates.

January 18th, 2019 by instagram.com/quebuenahonda

it is possible to drive from otavala to papallacta through the national park, at least on 2 wheels. after the turnoff to oyacachi I read that you theretocally need a permit but on a motorbike you can just sneak through next to the gate.
I saw some trucks on the way and locals so maybe it is even possible to do this drive officially.
on the papallacta side the np gate was open but you end up in the parking lot of the thermals so there is another gate, again on a bike you can just go around.
the road coming from otavala to the turnoff to oyacachi is a mix of cobblestone and packed gravel. sometimes a bit bumpy but definitely doable with 2wd.
after the turnoff to papallacta it is gravel with potholes but not to bad.
did the whole drive with a heavy bike two people up and luggage in around 4.5 hours.
it is a very nice drive and you go through different landscapes.