Llanganates National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Llanganates) is a protected area in Ecuador located in the Cotopaxi Province, Napo Province, Pastaza Province, and Tungurahua Province. Inside the park is Cerro Hermoso, which means "beautiful mountain" in Spanish. This mountain is 4,570 meters (14,990 feet) high and is a well-known place for hiking. The park is known for the Treasure of the Llanganatis.

People can reach the park from many directions, but most visitors arrive through towns such as Salcedo, Patate, Pillaro, Baños, and Rio Verde.

Ecology

The park is split into two areas: the western zone and the eastern zone. The western zone is located in the Andean páramo, which is high above the eastern zone. This area has a landscape with mountain peaks and high valleys. It is mostly home to South American camelids, such as vicuñas, llamas, and alpacas.

The eastern zone is found on the eastern side of the Andes. This area has montane forests with many different types of plants and animals. These forests are twisted and part of the upper Amazon region. The area is very hard to reach and is usually crossed only by walking. Many rivers flow from the Andes here, making it difficult to travel through. In recent years, scientists have discovered several new plant species in this area, including some rare types of Andean Magnolia.

Exploration

In 2013, expedition members from Ecuador, Britain, France, and America found a structure that is 260 feet tall and 260 feet wide. The structure is made of hundreds of stone blocks, each weighing two tons. They think there may be other similar structures covering an area about one square mile in size. The discovery site is located 20 miles from the town of Baños, but reaching it requires an eight-hour journey through swampy and mountainous jungle. The area is at an altitude of 8,500 feet above sea level and is part of a cloud forest.