If you can find a map with Los Cedros on it, you might be suprised by how close it is to Quito. If you’ve ever made the trip, you will be extra suprised. Although only 60 kilometers northwest of the capital as the quetzal flies, the journey can be quite a journey. From Quito an early morning bus will take you past a succession of big green mountain views and bustling mountain towns until you reach the town at the end of the line. Mid-day meals are available at a cheerful hotel. You will be met by the mules who are prepared to haul your things, and any other rations sent from Quito, up the mountain. The majority of this five hour hike is walking alongside and above the clear-blue Rio Magdalena. During the day, you pass small family-run farms, creep underneath bamboo canopy, and eventually curve up into the clouds. Somewhere towards the top of all that splendor you might find Reserva Los Cedros, a little piece of paradise for thousands of species, including yourself.

Some specifics:

There are recent changes in the bus route to the reserve. First of all the new bridge is open across the Guyabamba river to Chontal so everyone now arrives in Chontal.

The bus station for Transportes Minas has also moved but not very far and is now located in a much safer location with it´s own large patio and waiting rooms. It is located on Calle Los Rios near the Ayora Maternity Hospital close to where the street begins. There are four buses a day to Chontal but the important one is the 6:00am bus which gets into Chontal at 9:30am. This gives you the rest of the day to hike or ride to the reserve.

So once in Chontal you find the hostal with no sign run by Ramiro Nogales and Alicia Rodriquez and you can usually wait right there for the mules. Everyone in Chontal knows about Los Cedros so if no one is home at the hostal just ask around.