The Cloud Forest is a specific type of Forest that is found in only relativity high elevations. This type of vegetation is found in tropical zones, even though the temperatures are much lower than in the jungle and forests that are found at lower altitudes.

The Cloud Forest, which its name implies, is most of the time surrounded or covered by clouds. For this reason it’s relative humidity reaches up to 100%, and all of the excess moisture is released onto the vegetation and then drains down to the forest ground. All of theses characteristics, together with the steep nature of the regions hills allow the sunrays to penetrate deeply into the vegetation making a unique ecosystem where it is possible to find thousands of species of plants, birds, insects, amphibians and reptiles.

In Ecuador one of the most interesting Cloud Forest’s to visit is the one that is located in the reserve Bosque Protector Mindo-Nambillo. This reserve has an area of 19,200 hectares, with elevations reaching from 4,870 meters (15,977 feet) and down through the westerns foothills of the Pichincha volcano to 1,400 meters (4,593 feet) above sea level. Here in this paradise of biodiversity it’s possible to find 400 species of orchids and around 500 species of birds. With out a doubt is one of the places that you must visit during your stay in Ecuador.