Parque Metropolitano Guanguiltagua

Right behind Michael & Erica's apartment complex in Quito runs the largest urban park in South America at 1,376 acres (compare to New York's Central Park at 843 acres). The park is located on the hill of Bellavista and is well suited for mountain biking, walking and running.  First let me just say that when you're at 9,500+ foot elevation the initial 1/3 mile uphill climb just about killed me every time!

Throughout the park are these signs for both hiking and biking.



Most of Parque Metropolitano is eucalyptus forest crisscrossed with numerous trails. 

 

The park has four sites that can be used for picnics or barbecues and the eastern section has a view of Cotopaxi, Antisana, and the Guyallabamba river basin.

I wasn't able to capture on camera the yellow butterfly species that were flitting throughout the park, but I did manage to capture this brown variety landing on some of the fallen eucalyptus leaves.  But you'll see many more beautiful butterflies in another post.





We went to the park twice for really nice hikes.

 



Here is one of the bridges we crossed over during one of our hikes

 

.And, we took our first selfie on one of the hikes!

In the next blog I'll cover our taxi trip to the Quicentro (shopping mall) area of downtown Quito.

 

 



Psalms 43:3-4
O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling places.  Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.