Cotacachi — Cayapas Ecological Reserve

General Information

• 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.

Flora and Fauna

Of all the endemic vascular plants found in the country, 20% belong to Cotacachi — Cayapas. In the lower zone there are trees like the mahogany and the laurel, together with ficus trees, bromeliads, ferns and orchids. Tapirs, anteaters, boas, and jaguars are common big animals in this zone. In the higlands, paramo wolves, deer and rabbits live among the pumaqui, quishuar and romerillo trees.

Tourism

The higher zone is much more easily visited, since it is accessible by car through the detour for the town of Cotacachi near the city of Ibarra, two hours north of Quito. The most visited site is the Cuicocha Lake, twenty minutes after Cotacachi town. The lake has restaurant facilities, two islands that can be visited, and a trail to hike around it. After the lake lie Cotacachi volcano, the hot springs of Apuela town and the paramo lakes of Piñán. The Lachas and Toisán mountain ranges offer hikes through pre-montane forest. One can reach the town of Charco Vicente, in the lower zone, by boat in the Cayapas River, starting in Borbón. Trails venture into the rainforest from there.