• Area: 505.114 acres (204.420 ha)
• Date of Creation: August 28, 1968
• Altitude: 115 — 16.205 ft (35 — 4.939 m)

The Cotacachi — Cayapas Reserve covers an area that starts in the lowlands of the west and climbs to the Andes mountain range. This makes Cotacachi — Cayapas the reserve with the greatest number of different life zones, about ten, ranging from a humid tropical forest to the sub-alpine paramo. The lower zone is characterized by wide rivers crossing the rainforest, while in the highlands there are many natural lakes.