Papallacta is a small village in Ecuaor located at an altitude of 3,300 m in the Andes just off the Eastern Cordilleras on the road from Quito which leads into the Amazon jungle. The scenic drive from Quito to Papallacta passes through several towns and small villages before ascending to a peak of over 4,000 m where views of mountains and glaciers are visible. Descending from the peak to Papallacta, one passes through the portal where the ecosystems transform from alpine to tropical jungle.