Being immersed in a cloud forest and breathing so much oxygen was always on my bucket list. There is something magical about the many shades of green and glimpses of the forest as the fog drifts through.
The rich biodiversity and unique animals of the Ecuadorian rainforest makes it a prime destination, a few hours northwest of Quito.
Key Information
- Location: Maquipucuna Reserve and Ecolodge, Quito, Ecuador – 2 hour drive from central Quito bus station
- Trip Date: January 2016
- Highlights: exploring the UNESCO Designated Biosphere Reserve
- Transportation: Organize a tour with an accredited operator in Quito. Read reviews online to get a good idea ahead of time. The access road is rural/gravel and steep in places. Buses will take you directly to the lodge.
Health and Safety
Be sure to wear long sleeve clothing to avoid insect bites and check with the CDC if any medications are required for your visit. My visit to the cloud forest did not require additional medications or vaccinations than what was required to enter Ecuador. The air is humid and full of moisture.
This location is high-altitude at 4,265 feet, so you may experience mild altitude sickness if not acclimated to this elevation (coming directly from sea level the same day).
Visiting Maquipucuna on a tour felt very safe. But as with any developing country, use common sense and don’t take unnecessary valuables or leave your belongings unattended.
Other Tips
I did not stay the night at the lodge, but the lodges are a great basecamp for hiking and wildlife watching. Bird watching in these parts is some of the best in the world.
Maquipucuna has an established/maintained trail network where the paths wander amongst the largest leaves I have ever seen! Many of these leaves are more than 4 or 5 feet long with unique patterns.
The cloud forest often leads itself to using a telephoto lens (100 to 300mm) to capture details in the distant forest landscape.
I wish I would have brought a macro lens. But I shot photos only with a wide angle throughout the day.
The covered bridge with the winding forest road and Amazon jungle was a perfect composition for a wide angle lens, so be sure to bring it along.
This was shot at 17mm on a Canon 17-40mm L lens.
The intricate cobblestone steps lead to plenty of hammocks to relax in. While I visited in January, the year round warmth was great! Nothing beats a warm breeze while reading your favorite mystery book (or whatever genre you prefer haha).
For all the aviary fans in this world, a trip to Ecuador will be amazing to you. The rich flora supports hundreds (if not thousands) of bird species. They seem to be communicating to each other using a variety of noises.
Anyway, really beautiful place and a great day trip excursion from Quito, Ecuador.
