The small town of Mindo on the western slopes of the Andes, just 40 km [25 miles] northwest of Quito as the condor flies, is a mecca for cognoscenti bird-watchers. In the dense surrounding cloud forest some 450 species have been observed, including such trophies as the fabulous scarlet-crested Andean cock of the rock, the toucan barbet, the plate-billed mountain toucan and the velvet-purple coronet.

About 32 km [20 miles] north of Mindo, on the same western slopes of the Andes, is the Maquipucuna Biological Reserve, most of which is primary cloud forest. In this wildlife-rich area, species of close to 2,000 plants, of some 322 birds, more than 200 butterflies and 45 mammals have been recorded. It's no wonder that Maquipucuna attracts naturalists like moths to a flame. For information about lodgings, prices and transport to the area contact Fundacion Maquipucuna tel.: [022] 507200 or 507202 fax: [022] 507201 e-mail: abi@maqui.ecx.ec; in Quito at Baquerizo 238 and Tamayo, PO Box 17-12-167.

|Article contributed by Dominic Hamilton|||