Just a few minutes from Quito, Ecuador, you’ll find a different world: low clouds, cold rivers, amazing hummingbirds, and slow-moving forests. You don’t have to travel far to experience the jungle, paramo, and mist—just leave Valle de Los Chillos, Tumbaco, or Occidental Avenue to reach the heart of the Andean Chocó and its cloud forest, now recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
In this blog, I will introduce you to eight natural reserves in or near Quito: Amagusa, Pambiliño, Maquipucuna, Santa Lucía, Intillacta, Pahuma, Yanacocha, and Verdecocha. Each reserve is unique—with hummingbirds, spectacled bears, orchids, cacao, and local communities—but they all have one thing in common: they are protected homes for nature thanks to the people who work to save the forests. These reserves are part of Ecuador’s larger network of protected areas, including UNESCO Biosphere Reserves like Choco Andino, which help keep the region’s wildlife safe.
Natural Reserves Just Minutes from Quito: Exploring the Cloud Forest
In the northwest of Quito, there are many private, community, and city-run conservation areas in the Chocó Andino corridor. These protect thousands of hectares of cloud forest, paramo, and lowland rainforest, some of the most biodiverse places on Earth.
Many reserves are part of city-protected areas like ACUS Mashpi-Guaycuyacu-Sahuangal, created by Quito in 2010, covering over 17,000 hectares and seven local communities. Others started as private projects that teamed up with foundations, universities, and international groups.
Visiting these reserves gives you more than just a walk in the forest; you’ll experience places where research happens, environmental learning grows, local jobs are made, and responsible tourism is encouraged. Many have marked trails, places to stay, food, and guided tours, while others offer a closer connection to nature.
Most are only 1 to 3 hours from Quito by car—perfect for day trips or weekend escapes. Leave the city after breakfast and be walking among clouds by lunchtime, hearing toucans and watching hummingbirds nearby.
Amagusa Reserve: a hummingbird paradise
Mashpi Amagusa is a private reserve in the heart of the Chocó Andino, well-known among birdwatchers worldwide for its unique hummingbirds and colorful tanagers. It’s a top spot for birdwatching near Quito. Its feeders and viewing areas let you see rare birds up close, like the bright emperor, velvety violet crown, violet-tailed sylph, and brown Inca.
Besides hummingbirds, the reserve has cloud forest trails, making it great for hiking. You can also visit waterfalls and viewpoints with stunning valley views. It’s a must-see for bird photographers or anyone wanting to learn why the Chocó Andino is a global biodiversity hotspot and an important place for nature tourism in Quito.
Pambiliño Reserve: jungle, cocoa, and conservation in balance
Pambiliño Bosque Escuela is more than just a reserve—it’s an educational project focused on conservation and sustainable use in the Mashpi–Guaycuyacu–Sahuangal area, located in Pacto parish, northwest of Quito. This project promotes sustainable tourism and community efforts to protect Ecuador’s natural heritage.
Here, the Chocó rainforest, cocoa farms, and permaculture projects come together. Workshops, student programs, and volunteer opportunities show how to produce sustainably while protecting tropical forests. These programs teach visitors about balancing human activities with nature. You can walk among giant trees, learn about edible forests, and taste chocolate made right here.
Maquipucuna Reserve: Home of the Andean Bear and Eternal Mist
About two hours from Quito, Maquipucuna is one of Ecuador’s most famous cloud forest reserves and has led conservation efforts since the 1980s. It is well known for the Andean bears that come to eat avocado trees near the trails at certain times of the year, making it one of the few places where you can often see these bears in the wild.
Besides the bears, Maquipucuna protects forests that act like natural sponges for Quito’s water supply. The reserve also offers lodging, local food, and walking trails to explore the plants, animals, and culture of the valley. Maquipucuna is home to many other important species, including various orchids and the impressive Andean condor. These animals add to the reserve’s rich wildlife and show why it’s so important for protecting nature. The forests also help keep clean water flowing by managing local water cycles for nearby communities.
Santa Lucía Reserve: a community forest that protects life
The Santa Lucía Cloud Forest Reserve is in Nanegal, about 80 km northwest of Quito. It is run by a local community committed to conservation. The reserve covers around 720 hectares, with 80% being untouched primary forest. Here, over 400 bird species and more than 300 types of orchids have been spotted in Ecuador’s cloud forest.
To get to the main lodge, you walk up a steep trail through the forest, which is part of the adventure. From the lodge, you can visit viewpoints, waterfalls, and trails ideal for birdwatching in the cloud forest. This reserve is a great example of community-based tourism in Ecuador’s cloud forest near Quito.
Intillacta Reserve: Nature and Culture in Balance
Intillacta, often linked with Tucanopy, is an ecological reserve and organic farm in the cloud forest near Mindo. It combines conservation with education about climate change, sustainability, and food independence. This is similar to other projects in Ecuador’s natural reserves like Pahuma Orchid Reserve and Cotopaxi National Park, which also involve local communities in learning about climate change.
Visitors can join guided tours, explore agroecology, walk through crops and forests, and see how healthy soil supports healthy communities. It’s a great place for those who want to experience nature, culture, and learning together. Nearby Quito also offers programs that teach locals and visitors about climate change and sustainable living.
Pahuma Orchid Reserve: Stunning Orchids and Waterfalls
About an hour from Quito, on the way to Nanegalito, you’ll find the El Pahuma Orchid Reserve. This cloud forest covers around 375 hectares and is home to over 300 types of wild orchids.
The reserve has trails that range from short 20-minute walks to longer hikes. These paths pass waterfalls, viewpoints, and forest areas where you might see spectacled bears, Andean cock-of-the-rock birds, and other wildlife from the Chocó region. Guided tours are available to help you spot orchids, and the reserve works hard to protect its rich environment. It also has a restaurant, camping spots, and simple lodging, making it a great place for a weekend trip filled with orchids, water, and mist.
Yanacocha Reserve: Home of the Black-Breasted Zamarrito
Located on the high slopes of Pichincha volcano at about 3,500 meters above sea level, the Yanacocha Biological Reserve is managed by the Jocotoco Foundation. Covering around 1,200 hectares of mountain forest and paramo, it is one of the best places near Quito to watch high-altitude birds. This reserve is the main home of the black-breasted zamarrito, a critically endangered hummingbird and Quito’s symbol since 2005. It’s a must-visit for anyone wanting to see endangered hummingbirds in Ecuador.
Trails like El Inca and La Trocha offer chances to see high-altitude hummingbirds, short forests, and amazing valley views. The weather is cold and damp, so bringing warm clothes and windbreakers is necessary. Yanacocha’s special environment makes it one of the top nature reserves in the Andes near Quito.
Verdecocha Reserve: Trails Among the Clouds
Verdecocha is a protected forest in the Andean Chocó region, covering about 1,270 hectares of cloud forest northwest of Quito. The reserve has trails winding through mossy trees and clear streams, with areas for healing rituals and connecting with nature, according to Pichincha’s official tourism description.
It’s perfect for those looking for a quiet, reflective experience: slow walks, forest bathing, workshops, and activities that blend spiritual and ecological connections, all surrounded by mist.
One popular activity at Verdecocha is forest bathing (shinrin-yoku), where visitors fully immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest to relax and feel better. This helps people connect more deeply with the environment and appreciate the rich variety of life in the cloud forest.
The reserve also offers wellness retreats combining yoga, meditation, and natural healing workshops. These retreats help refresh both body and mind while encouraging care for the environment. By joining these activities, visitors support protecting the reserve and help local communities that depend on sustainable tourism.
Other experiences include guided birdwatching tours to see the area’s many bird species and learn why each one is important for keeping nature balanced. Hiking trails are designed to protect the environment while showing off the beautiful plants found in this special cloud forest.
