Ecuador Walking on Clouds

Yes, it is possible at one of Ecuador’s many cloud forests. For the size of country it is, Ecuador has a lot of protected forest, some of which is actually in the clouds. Four major reserves are within 2hr. of Quito: Reserva Geobotánica Pululahua, the Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve, Reserva Maquipucuna, and Reserva Los Cedros. All of these reserves have—you guessed it—cloud forests. These only exist above 1500m, terri¬tory usually reserved for hardier plants and animals due to the harsher, drier environment. Around the equator, however, the climate is so wet that a much lusher evergreen environment thrives. Definitely spend a day—or a month—wandering through the forests. You may just fall in love with them and decide to stay for a year, volunteering to preserve these havens of biodiversity.

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