Maestra

This natural area, located in the northwest of the country, is a place of exotic landscapes, waterfalls and natural lagoons formed in an environment of undisturbed forests. But behind the scenerylies the most interesting element of the Mache-Chindul Reserve, the surprising variety of plants and animals that the visitor can find in this enchanted part of Ecuador.

The Mache-Chindul Reserveprotects some of the last remaining tropical dry and rain forests of the Ecuadorian coast, and is considered to be an international biodiversity hotspot due to the enormous variety of plants andwildlife, including high numbers of species found nowhere else. In certain parts of the forest, each hectare may contain up to 1,420 individual plants, with trees reaching up to 80 to 100 feet (25-30m) inheight. In total some 1,434 plants have been identified here.

Of the 136 species of mammals that inhabit the Reserve, 38 are endangered, and the protection of this region with its unique environmentsis vital for their conservation. An astounding 491 species of birds have also been registered, including the white mustached hermit hummingbird, the brown woodpecker and the Chocó toucan.

On theEastern limit of the Reserve is the The Bilsa Biological Reserve, a privately owned 3,000 hectares forest managed by the Jatun Sacha Foundation. The forest is a biological corridor connected to theanimals and plants of Mache-Chindul. The Bilsa Reserve has accommodation for visitors, students and scientists, and here guests can get a real idea of the species in the Reserve.

Visitors toMache-Chindul will also get a chance to see the area’s many natural pools and waterfalls, such as the 60-meter high Mono Waterfall to the far East of the Reserve and Cube Lagoon, one of the area’s majorattractions, declared a wetland of global importance in 2001. At the Cube lagoon there is accommodation for students and visitors.

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