There is cloudforest of such beauty that with every new visitor the park grows a little bigger; not just in the hearts of the people who have visited, but the actual size of the park as it continues to inspire volunteer grassroots. This place is Reserva Las Gralarias, located in the Mindo region of the Ecuadorian Andes. In 1998 with the purchase of a small 19 acre farm, birders began to visit the area and discovered that a number of uncommon and rare bird species endemic to the Chocó biogeographic zone resided in the area. In the following years new scientific surveys were taken of the area where it was discovered that 9 species of rare frogs live there and 6-7 species of frogs live there which had never been seen by science. In addition the park is home to Spectacled Bears, coatis, Kinkajous, white-faced capuchin monkeys, pumas and a variety of hummingbirds, tanagers, fruit eaters, antpittas, toucans and many other tropical birds. Now combining 7 different parcels of land, the park is now at 1063 acres (425 hectares) and counting, with 7 miles of hiking trails and a plan for a research center in the works. Just one visit and you’re bound to fall in love with this wonderful park!

Masked Flowerpiercer by Dusan Brinkhuizen

Plate-billed Mountain Toucan by Luke Seitz