Maquipucuna, Nature reserve in Pichincha, Ecuador
Maquipucuna is a protected forest reserve covering thousands of hectares of cloud forest in the Andes mountains. The area has numerous trails through different forest zones, river valleys, and woodland at varying elevations.
The reserve was founded in 1988 to protect threatened cloud forests in the continental Andes. Its creation was an early step in organized conservation efforts for this mountain region.
Local people from nearby villages are involved in conservation and education programs that protect the forest while keeping their traditions alive. Visitors can see how communities work together to care for the land they depend on.
The reserve offers lodging options ranging from camping areas to comfortable huts, many built near the river. Visitors should prepare for wet and changeable weather conditions at this elevation.
The reserve is home to over 400 bird species and protects a population of Andean bears. These large carnivores use the forest as a critical survival corridor in the region.
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