Café del Zamarrito – Yanacocha Reserve

Yanacocha Reserve is a perfect destination for families, groups of friends, birdwatchers, and nature lovers. Its well-maintained trail network offers options for all experience levels, allowing visitors to explore unique landscapes, spot iconic bird species, and immerse themselves in the rich biodiversity of the Andean cloud forest.

• Trocha Inca
  6.5 km | Easy
   A great way to begin your adventure. This gentle trail winds through the cloud forest, offering panoramic views of Ecuador’s northwest and the impressive Guagua Pichincha volcano. Midway, you’ll reach the Hummingbird Garden—a dream spot for nature photography.
• Andean Snipe
  0.5 km | Moderate to Difficult
   A short but steep hike that showcases the dramatic shift from cloud forest to high-altitude páramo. Surrounded by tussock grasses and ancient Polylepis trees, this trail rewards hikers with stunning views of Guagua Pichincha on clear days.
• Masked Trogon
  0.75 km | Easy
   Ideal for a quick and enriching walk. Located in the lower part of the reserve, this trail brings you up close to the flora and fauna of the cloud forest.
• Black-breasted Puffleg
  0.3 km | Moderate
   A short, moisture-rich trail that crosses natural springs and teems with life. Great for birdwatching and discovering the lush plant diversity of the area.
• Spectacled Bear Trail
  1.2 km | Moderate
   This trail leads through denser vegetation and offers the chance to spot animal tracks. With luck, you may come across signs of pumas, spectacled bears, or other mammals that call the reserve home.
• Polylepis Forest
  1 km | Moderate to Difficult
   A scenic route featuring centuries-old Polylepis trees, a second Hummingbird Garden, and a spectacular viewpoint facing the Guagua Pichincha volcano.
• Camino de Herradura
  6.8 km | Moderate
   A trail steeped in natural beauty and history. Flanked by enormous Gunnera leave, nicknamed «poor man’s umbrellas» for their size, this ancient stone path was once used by locals to extract charcoal from Polylepis wood. You might even spot chewed-up achupalla remnants left behind by spectacled bears.

Rates are in US dollars

*By reservation

Note: Ask about our special prices.

Yanacocha is located 45 minutes from Quito, on the western slope of the Pichincha Volcano. From Av. Occidental, take the Machala Avenue overpass and enter the Mena del Hierro neighborhood, heading toward Nono. Approximately 9 km into the route, after passing the Rundupamba Church, you’ll see a sign for the Yanacocha Reserve and a stone road that begins on the left side of the main road. Follow this road for 8 kilometers until you reach the Quito Municipal Drinking Water and Sanitation Company (EPMAPS) facilities, then continue for another 2 kilometers to reach the entrance of the reserve.