Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve

Localization

North Ecuador, 140 km north of Quito (No. 16 in the map on Ecuador introducing page)

Access

Easy

Characteristic

3 066 km2, area of an active volcano, little influenced by human activities, volcanic lake Cuicocha and many others, altitude 30 - 4 990m. The reserve extends from the mountains of the Sierra to the western edge of the coastal rain forest. Typical ecosystems - subtropical dry forest, alpine and volcanic biotopes, cloud forest, lake and river ecosystems, partially rain forest.

Fauna + Flora

 Mammals:

139 mammal species

Bats - New World Leaf-nosed Bats (Phyllostomidae): Lonchophylla orcesi

Primates - Spider Monkeys and Wooly Monkeys (Atelidae):  Brown-headed Spider Monkey

Edentata - Anteaters (Myrmecophagidae): Giant Anteater

- Armadillos (Dasypodidae): Nine-banded Armadillo

Carnivores - Bears (Ursidae): Spectacled Bear

- Procyonids (Procyonidae): Mountain Coati

- Dogs (Canidae): Culpeo Fox

- Cats (Felidae): Jaguar, Margay, Puma

Odd-toed Ungulates - Tapirs (Tapiridae): Baird´s Tapir; Mountain Tapir

Even-toed Ungulates - Deers (Cervidae): White-tailed Deer; Northern Pudu

Birds:

841 bird species

Tinamiformes - Tinamous (Tinamidae): Berlepsch´s Tinamou; Little Tinamou

Podicipediformes - Grebes (Podicipedidae): Pied-billed Grebe; Silvery Grebe

Ciconiiformes - Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae): Cattle Egret; Snowy Egret; Great White Egret; Cocoi Heron; Striated Heron

Anseriformes - Gees, Swans and Ducks (Anatidae): Torrent Duck

Birds of Prey - American Vultures (Cathartidae): Andean Condor; American Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture

- Ospreys (Pandionidae): Osprey

- Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Kites and Old World Vultures (Accipitridae): Great Black-Hawk; Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle; American Harpy Eagle; Black Hawk-Eagle; Barred Hawk; Grey-lined Hawk; Harris´s Hawk; Plain-breasted Hawk; Plumbeous Hawk; Red-backed Hawk; Roadside Hawk; Short-tailed Hawk; Tiny Hawk; Grenada Hook-billed Kite; Swallow-tailed Kite

- Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae): Bat Falcon; Laughing Falcon; Peregrine Falcon; Barred Forest-Falcon; Plumbeous Forest-Falcon; American Kestrel

Galliformes - Chachalacas, Guans and Curassows (Cracidae): Rufous-headed Chachalaca; Great Curassow; Andean Guan; Baudo Guan; Sickle-winged Guan; Wattled Guan

- Quails (Odontophoridae): Tawny-faced Quail; Dark-backed Wood-Quail; Rufous-fronted Wood-Quail

Gruiformes - Rails, Crakes, Coots and Gallinules (Rallidae):  White-throated Crake; Brown Wood-Rail

Charadriiformes - Wading Birds (Scolopacidae): Imperial Snipe

- Plovers (Charadriidae): Collared Plover

Columbiformes - Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae): Eared Dove; Pallid Dove; White-tipped Dove; Blue Ground-Dove; Common Groun-Dove; Ecuadorian Ground-Dove; Plain-breasted Ground-Dove; Ruddy Ground-Dove; Band-tailed Pigeon; Dusky Pigeon; Pale-vented Pigeon; Plumbeous Pigeon; Rock Pigeon; Ruddy Pigeon; Scaled Pigeon; Ruddy Quail-Dove; White-throated Quail-Dove

Psittaciformes - Parrots (Psittacidae): Great Green Macaw; Maroon-tailed Parakeet; Red-masked Parakeet; Blue-headed Parrot; Bronze-winged Parrot; Mealy Parrot; Red-billed Parrot; Rose-faced Parrot; Scaly-naped Parrot; Blue-fronted Parrotlet; Pacific Parrotlet

Strigiformes - Owls (Strigidae): Black-and-while Owl; Mottled Owl; Cloud-forest Pygmy Owl

Cuculiformes - Cuckoos, Anis, Coucals and Roadrunners (Cuculidae): Smooth-billed Ani; Little Cuckoo; Squirrel Cuckoo; Striped Cuckoo; Banded Ground-Cuckoo

Goatsuckers - Nightjars (Caprimulgidae): Lyre-tailed Nightjar; Common Pauraque; Choco Poorwill

Apodiformes - Swifts (Apodidae): Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift; Chestnut-collared Swift; Grey-rumped Swift; Spot-fronted Swift; White-collared Swift; White-tipped Swift

- Hummingbirds (Trochilidae): Band-tailed Barbthroat; Empress Brilliant; Fawn-breasted Brilliant; Green-crowned Brilliant; Buff-tailed Coronet; Velvet-purple Coronet; Andean Emerald; Western Emerald; Purple-crowned Fairy; Baron's Hermit; Tawny-bellied Hermit; White-whiskered Hermit; Ecuadorian Hillstar; White-tailed Hillstar; Giant Hummingbird; Purple-chested Hummingbird; Rufous-tailed Hummingbird; Speckled Hummingbird; Sword-billed Hummingbird; Violet-bellied Hummingbird; Wedge-billed Hummingbird; Brown Inca; Collared Inca; White-necked Jacobin; Tyrian Metaltail; Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer; Black-breasted Puffleg; Golden-breasted Puffleg; Sapphire-vented Puffleg; Booted Racquet-tail; Great Sapphirewing; Buff-winged Starfrontlet; Long-billed Starthroat; Gorgeted Sunangel; Shining Sunbeam; Violet-tailed Sylph; Purple-backed Thornbill; Rainbow-bearded Thornbill; Green Thorntail; Black-tailed Trainbearer; Brown Violet-ear; Green Violet-ear; Sparkling Violet-ear; Purple-bibbed Whitetip; Green-crowned Woodnymph; Purple-collared Woodstar; Purple-throated Woodstar; White-bellied Woodstar

Trogoniformes - Trogons (Trogonidae): Crested Quetzal; Golden-headed Quetzal; Collared Trogon; Masked Trogon; Western White-tailed Trogon; White-eyed Trogon

Coraciiformes - Kingfishers (Alcedinidae): Green Kingfisher

- Motmots (Momotidae): Broad-billed Motmot; Rufous Motmot

Galbuliformes - Jacamars (Galbulidae): Rufous-tailed Jacamar

- Puffbirds (Bucconidae): Barred Puffbird; White-whiskered Puffbird

Piciformes - Barbets (Capitonidae): Five-coloured Barbet; Orange-fronted Barbet; Red-headed Barbet; Toucan Barbet

- Toucans (Ramphastidae): Pale-mandibled Aracari; Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan; Chestnut-mandibled Toucan; Choco Toucan; Crimson-rumped Toucanet

- Woodpeckers, Wrynecks and Piculets (Picidae): Olivaceous Piculet; Black-cheeked Woodpecker; Choco Woodpecker; Cinnamon Woodpecker; Crimson-bellied Woodpecker; Crimson-mantled Woodpecker; Golden-olive Woodpecker; Guayaquil Woodpecker; Lineated Woodpecker; Lita Woodpecker; Powerful Woodpecker; Red-rumped Woodpecker; Scarlet-backed Woodpecker; Smoky-brown Woodpecker

Perching Birds - Woodcreepers (Dendrocolapidae): Red-billed Scythebill; Black-striped Woodcreeper; Montane Woodcreeper; Northern Barred-Woodcreeper; Plain-brown Woodcreeper; Spot-crowned Woodcreeper; Spotted Woodcreeper; Streak-headed Woodcreeper; Strong-billed Woodcreeper; Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

- Ovenbirds or Horneros (Furnariidae): Rusty-winged Barbtail; Spotted Barbtail; Many-striped Canastero; Streak-backed Canastero; Bar-winged Cinclodes; Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner; Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner; Lineated Foliage-gleaner; Ruddy Foliage-gleaner; Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner; Pacific Hornero; Azara’s Spinetail; Red-faced Spinetail; Rufous Spinetail; Slaty Spinetail; Lafresnaye's White-browed Spinetail; Andean Tit-Spinetail; Flammulated Treehunter; Streak-capped Treehunter; Striped Treehunter; Uniform Treehunter; Fulvous-dotted Treerunner; Pearled Treerunner; Streaked Tuftedcheek; Western Woodhaunter; Plain Xenops; Streaked Xenops

- Antshrikes (Thamnophilidae): Chestnut-backed Antbird; Dusky Antbird; Immaculate Antbird; Long-tailed Antbird; Stub-tailed Antbird; White-cheeked Antbird; Great Antshrike; Russet Antshrike; Uniform Antshrike; Plain Antvireo; Checker-throated Antwren; Colombian Antwren; Dot-winged Antwren; Pacific Antwren; Slaty Antwren; White-flanked Antwren; Western Slaty-Antshrike

- Antbirds (Formicariidae): Chestnut-crowned Antpitta; Chestnut-naped Antpitta; Rufous Antpitta; Rufous-crowned Antpitta; Spectacled Antpitta; Tawny Antpitta; Yellow-breasted Antpitta; Black-headed Anttrush; Rufous-breasted Antthrush

- Cotingas (Cotingidae): Andean Cock-of-the-Rock; Black-tipped Cotinga; Red-crested Cotinga; Purple-throated Fruitcrow; Barred Fruiteater; Green-and-black Fruiteater; Orange-breasted Fruiteater; Olivaceous Piha; Long-wattled Umbrellabird

- Manakins (Pipridae): Blue-crowned Manakin; Club-winged Manakin; Golden-winged Manakin; Red-capped Manakin; White-bearded Manakin

- Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae): Blackish Tapaculo; Narino Tapaculo; Ocellated Tapaculo; Spillmann's Tapaculo

- Tyrants (Tyrannidae): Ochraceus Attila; Black-and-white Becard; Cinnamon Becard; One-colored Becard; White-winged Becard; Sierran Elaenia; White-crested Elaenia; Yellow-bellied Elaenia; Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant; Smoky Bush-Tyrant; Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant; Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant; Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant; Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant; Pacific Flatbill; Yellow-margined Flatbill; Black-tailed Flycatcher; Boat-billed Flycatcher; Bran-colored Flycatcher; Cinnamon Flycatcher; Dusky-capped Flycatcher; Flavescent Flycatcher; Grey-capped Flycatcher; Golden-crowned Flycatcher; Ochre-bellied Flycatcher; Ornate Flycatcher; Rusty-margined Flycatcher; Slaty-capped Flycatcher; Social Flycatcher; Strake-necked Flycatcher; Streaked Flycatcher; Tufted Flycatcher; Streak-necked Flycatcher; Tawny-breasted Flycatcher; Vermilion Flycatcher; Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant; Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant; Snowy-thoated Kingbird; Tropical Kingbird; Smoke-colored Pewee; Black Phoebe; Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant; Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant; Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant; Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant; White-tailed Shkike-Tyrant; White-throated Spadebill; Agile Tit-Tyrant; Tufted Tit-Tyrant; Masked Tityra; Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher; Common Tody-Flycatcher; Rufous-crowned Tody-Tyrant; Southern Beardless Tyrannulet; Black-capped Tyrannulet; Brown-capped Tyrannulet; Golden-faced Tyrannulet; Rufous-winged Tyrannulet; Sooty-headed Tyrannulet; Sulphur-rumped Tyrannulet; Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet; White-banded Tyrannulet; White-tailed Tyrannulet; Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet; Masked Water-Tyrant

- Swallows and Martins (Hirundinidae): Grey-breasted Martin; Brown-bellied Swallow; Blue-and-white Swallow; Southern Rough-winged Swallow; White-thighed Swallow

- Crows and Jays (Corvidae): Beautiful Jay; Turquoise Jay

- Thrushes and Chats (Turdidae): Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush; Andean Solitaire; Black Solitaire; Ecuadorian Thrush; Glossy-black Thrush; Great Thrush

- Dippers (Cinclidae): White-capped Dipper

- Wagtails and Pipits (Motacillidae): Paramo Pipit

- Wrens (Troglodytidae): Southern Nightingale-Wren; Grey-breasted Wood-Wren; White-breasted Wood-Wren; Band-backed Wren; Bay Wren; Grey-mantled Wren; House Wren; Mountain Wren; Plain-tailed Wren;  Rufous Wren; Sedge Wren; Sepia-brown Wren; Whiskered Wren

- Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae): Slate-throated Gnatcatcher; Tropical Gnatcatcher; Half-collared Gnatwren; Long-billed Gnatwren

- Tanagers (Thraupidae): Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager; Dusky Bush-Tanager; Yellow-green Bush-Tanager; Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager; Yellow-collared Chlorophonia; Blue-backed Conebill; Capped Conebill; Cinereous Conebill; Blue Dacnis; Scarlet-breasted Dacnis; Scarlet-thighed Dacnis; Yellow-tufted Dacnis; Fulvous-vented Euphonia; Golden-rumped Euphonia; Orange-bellied Euphonia; Thick-billed Euphonia; Plush-capped Finch; Tanager Finch; Black Flower-piercer; Glossy Flower-piercer; Masked Flower-piercer; White-sided Flower-piercer; Superciliaried Hemispingus; Western Hemispingus; Green Honeycreeper; Purple Honeycreeper; Black-chested Mountain-Tanager; Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager; Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager; Hooded Mountain-Tanager; Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager; Bay-headed Tanager; Beryl-spangled Tanager; Black-capped Tanager; Blue-and-black Tanager; Blue-capped Tanager; Blue-grey Tanager; Blue-necked Tanager; Blue-whiskered Tanager; Dusky-faced Tanager; Fawn-breasted Tanager; Flame-faced Tanager; Glistening-green Tanager; Golden Tanager; Golden-chested Tanager; Golden-hooded Tanager; Golden-naped Tanager; Grass-green Tanager; Grey-and-gold Tanager; Guira Tanager; Lemon-rumped Tanager; Lemon-spectacled Tanager; Metallic-green Tanager; Moss-backed Tanager; Ochre-breasted Tanager; Palm Tanager; Rufous-chested Tanager; Rufous-throated Tanager; Silver-throated Tanager; Scarlet-browed Tanager; Scarlet and White Tanager; Swallow Tanager; Tawny-creasted Tanager; White-lined Tanager; White-shouldered Tanager; White-winged Tanager

- Blackbirds, Orioles and Cowbirds (Icteridae): Red-breasted Blackbird; Scrub Blackbird; Scarlet-rumped Cacique; Shiny Cowbird; Yellow-tailed Oriole

- Cardinals and Grosbeaks (Cardinalidae): Blue-black Grosbeak; Golden-bellied Grosbeak; Slate-colored Grosbeak; Black-winged Saltator; Buff-throated Saltator

- Vireos (Vireonidae): Lesser Greenlet; Rufous-browed Peppershrike; Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo; Brown-capped Vireo; Red-eyed Vireo

- Warblers (Parulidae): Tropical Parula; Slate-throated Redstart; Black-crested Warbler; Buff-rumped Warbler; Canada Warbler; Chocó Warbler; Grey-and-gold Warbler; Russet-crowned Warbler; Three-striped Warbler; Spectacled Whitestart; Olive-crowned Yellowthroat

- Bananaquits (Coerebidae): Bananaquit

- Buntings, American Sparrows, Juncos, etc. (Emberizidae): Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch; Rufous-naped Brush-Finch; Stripe-headed Brush-Finch; Tricolored Brush-Finch; White-winged Brush-Finch; Saffron Finch; Blue-black Grassquit; Dull-colored Grassquit; Yellow-faced Grassquit; Plain-colored Seedeater; Variable Seedeater; Yellow-bellied Seedeater; Lesser Seed-Finch; Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch; Plumbeous Sierra-Finch; Black-striped Sparrow; Orange-billed Sparrow; Rufous-collared Sparrow

- Finches (Fringillidae): Hooded Siskin

Reptiles:

111 reptile species

Crocodilia - Alligators (Alligatoridae): Common Caiman

Amphibians:

124 amphibian species

Fish:

39 fish species - all of them endemic

Plants:

More than 2000 vascular plant species

Possible activities

Very good conditions for easy walking even more difficult trekking - many well-marked trails. Posibility of several days trekking.

Mountaineering, canoeing.

Note

Hot springs

Picture - source Photogallery of Albatros Travel and Expeditions