world reviewer
Mainland Ecuador has three general regions - the Amazon, the mountains and the Pacific Coast. Heading up from the coast and over the Andes toward the Amazon Basin, you pass through a range of ecosystems, including sub alpine Paramo system. The cloud forests occur on both sides of the Andes and contain incredible biodiversity, especially of birds.
They are lush verdant forests, with much of the precipitation coming in the form of mist, and although close to the equator, have a mild temperature year round. And apart from the birds, there are fantastic displays of orchids.
Best time: during the dry season (June to December)
Written by 
Cam Walker.
Comments, reviews and questions
Wildlife of the Cloud Forests
Most famous for its unique cathedral like cloud forest flora, Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is also home to a range of unusual animals. Jaguars, Tapirs, Ocelots and the upside-down Olingos thrive amid the undergrowth of ferns and fresh water supply, while the reclusive Resplendent Quetzal and the Bare-necked Umbrella Bird watch on from high in the canopy.
90% of the reserve is virgin forest, and there are 2,500 different species of plant in the park, including 420 different orchids.
As well as trails on the ground there is also a 2km sky trek along suspension bridges high up in the canopy. The best time to visit the Cloud Forest is in the dry season between December and April, though visitors should still be prepared for humidity and rain.
Add a comment, review or question
Sponsored ads
Ecuador Highlights
Exclusive & unique trip through Andean countryside, coastal lowlands, & Galapagos Islands. Enjoy all the highlights of Ecuador. 12 days from £3838.
www.yampu.com
Galapagos Legend Cruises
Book two passengers on board and the second passenger gets a 50 percent discount. The promotion is valid for new 2009 bookin…
www.ewaterways.com
Kapawi Ecolodge and Reserve
Explore Ecuador’s exuberant rainforest, a land rich in flora & a wide variety of wildlife, from Kapawi Ecolodge and Reserve.
www.canodros.com
Tour Latin America
Engaging,authentic discoveries of the South American continent, from scenic Patagonia to the pampas, from Lima to La Paz…
www.tauck.com
Mountain Bike Ecuador
Enjoy great biking & an amazing exploration of Ecuador with its array of cultures, architecture & volcanic landscapes. 15 days from £1535.
www.skedaddle.co.uk
Advertise here
Who's been here
Similar experiences
The Daintree
While thousands of people visit the Daintree, in far North Queensland, you can still escape from it all and experience the anci…
The Amazon Rainforest
A huge moist leaf forest covering a great swathe of the top of South America, the Amazon spreads into nine countries, but is mo…
Alaska's Back Country Rainforests
For vast back country rainforest, it is hard to go past the tangle of forests that line the western seaboard of North America n…
What's nearby
Nocturnal Flamenco Bullfighting Festival
As you travel around Ecuador join the annual November bullfighting festival in Quito's Plaza de Toros Belmonte. During the fest…
Quito
'Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and stands at an altitude of 2,850…
Riding high in the Ecuadorian Andes
Riding in the Ecuadorian Andes is always a breath-taking experience, not only because of the height but also the beauty of the …
