Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tion to orchid gardens and various nature trails - one leads to the ma-
jestic 295-foot-high Shunguyacu Waterfall - the reserve offers a
nice visitor's center with a restaurant and private accommodations.
There is habitat for rare birds and there have even been sightings of
the endangered spectacled bear. Simple overnight bunks are also
available at the “Bear's Den” cabin and the reserve itself is becoming
an attractive day excursion fromQuito, especially for school groups.
Bellavista Reserve
I think that Bellavista is the best close escape fromQuito. The reserve
offers a unique and beautiful nature retreat, including a cozy and pic-
turesque ecolodge set atop a ridge, overlooking forested valleys in all
directions. The reserve itself is in a high-altitude cloud forest that en-
compasses several hundred acres of primary and secondary forest.
Much of this area was previously logged, but efforts to reforest it have
been underway for several years now. The owners are constantly
working to conserve and expand the reserve, promoting scientific re-
search and local environmental education. They also work with uni-
versity groups and international students abroad. See Where to Stay
(pages 246-48) for specifics about the ecolodge.
You can reserve through Quito tour agents or contact Richard Parsons,
9-490-891, www.ecuadorexplorer.
com/bellavista, bellavista@ecuadorexplorer.com. While in Quito, call for
directions to the lodge, as the best route depends on road conditions.
Driving on the Puerto-QuitoHighway north of the city, pastMitad del
Mundo and toward the coast, turn left at the bridge (Km 52) just be-
fore the small town of Nanegalito. Head up the gravel road to
Tandayapa and drive on through the village until you see the signs at
the top of the ridge. Or take the old road to Mindo via Tandayapa.
/fax 2-2232-313 or 2-2901-536,
Maquipucuna Biological Reserve
This reserve is approximately 45 miles northwest of Quito. Operated
by Fundación Maquipucuna and originally purchased by the Nature
Conservancy, the reserve serves to further conservation, scientific re-
search, environmental education, and community development
based on ecotourism. The successful preservation of this 9,880-acre
reserve (and its 24,700-acre buffer zone) can be attributed in part to
its rugged topography of steep slopes and deep valleys.
Maquipucuna is in the headwaters region of the Río Guayallabamba.
The reserve includes intact and biologically rich premontane and
montane cloud forests and a variety of life zones at elevations from
just over 3,270 to 9,800 feet. Some 80-90% of the area is primary for-
est; the rest is secondary forest and overgrown pastures. The reserve
Search WWH ::




Custom Search