Petrified Forest Puyango is a protected area of 6,571 acres (2,659 hectares), which includes the tropical dry forest ecosystem. The reserve is located along the river Puyango River, which divides the provinces of El Oro and Loja. This is South of Ecuador, near the Peruvian border. The Petrified Forest Puyango has the largest collection of petrified wood in the world. Trees are over 100 million years old. Visitors can observe tree trunks lying on the ground while learning about wildlife and plants. There are two ancient roads that serve as tourist corridor: The Araucarios and the Petrinos road. In addition to petrified wood, the forest has many fossilized creatures such as ammonites, sea turtles, seashells, snails, and fish. Puyango homes over 130 bird species such as partridges, tiles, ravens, parrots, hawks, woodpeckers, and blackbirds.
This forest is a good place to travel with children. The best time to visit is during summer, from May to November. To get to the forest, if you are in Quito or Cuenca, go to the terminal terrestre (bus terminal) and catch a bus to Loja/Alamor. From there, get a bus from Puyango. You can identify the forest's entrance in the military control located on the bridge over the Puyango River. Near the military control, get a taxi or rent a horse to go to the forest's administration office 3 mi (5 km.)
