Ilalo Hiking Trails
Description
El Ilalo is this almost legendary mountain for athletes who live in the valleys around Quito. It's not that it's a tall or very impressive mountain; but it is that beloved hill where all hikers and cyclists climb over and over again to gain physique and enjoy a relaxing day. It's really a pleasure to climb these forests and sometimes arid slopes, which offer so many different landscapes in one place. The weather is usually very temperate and it's easy to climb at any time with what you have on you. Talking about Ilalo is talking about corn fields, plowed fields waiting to be planted, eucalyptus forests, thicket-filled ravines, and impressive views of the valleys and mountains that surround Quito.
Data Table
| Place | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tumbaco | 2335m |
| El Tingo | 2440m |
| La Merced | 2580m |
| Ilalo Summit | 3188m |
Photos
View of the Pichinchas
Going up the Ilalo from Tumbaco
Tilled and crops
Flora
Rubus sp (wild blackberry)
- How to get
- Distances
- Recommendations
How to get
In the middle of the inter-Andean alley; 8 kilometers in a straight line east of Quito.
- Approach to the Ilalo: The Ilalo is located in the middle of the main valleys that surround Quito. The people of Quito, and especially the inhabitants of the valleys of Cumbayá, Tumbaco, Los Chillos, Alangasí, and La Merced, have always found a way to climb it, starting from any point at the base of the mountain. Many are private lands, and in this case access can be difficult; but there are also some ballasted roads for cars and trails that have been used for a long time. In the Tumbaco Valley, the road to “Cruz del Ilalo” begins at the Pacha Mama College sector. There is also another vehicle path, widely used by cyclists, which goes up almost to the top from the La Morita sector. Other typical trails start at El Tingo, Alangasí, and at La Merced, in the Los Chillos Valley.
