Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve

There’s no shortage of amazing places to visit in Ecuador.  For wildlife my favorite mainland spot, hands down, is the Tandayapa Valley and Bellavista Cloud Forest reserve. Here on the Pacific slope of the Andes, and 7,000 feet above sea level, the habitat is primarily verdant cloud forest. I don’t count myself as a “real” birder, but even the most casual birder can’t help but be amazed here! These photos were all captured one morning in July 2024.

And just maybe, if you’re really lucky, you might see a spectacled bear! This one was lolling the foggy morning away high in the treetops after a night of foraging.