This reserve forest is huge, and is intended to protect the west Andean habitats. It covers everything from Volcán Cotacachi to the north-western coastal lowlands. Travelling around is pretty hard going here, so don't expect to cover the whole park in just one short trip. You have the option either to go for the lowlands which are easily accessible from San Miguel on Rio Cayapas, or the highlands around the Laguna de Cuicocha. You can easily reach them from Cotacachi by hiring a taxi or pickup.

Sightseeing
There are several places to visit here, including the Laguna de Cuicocha, besides the volcano itself. There is a deep lagoon on the volcanic crater, with some cone-shaped mini islands scattered in the middle, which all grew from later eruptions. You can hike up the mountain to get there, which gives you a breathtaking experience and view of the surrounding landscape. Don't miss the various birds and flowers around here. To get to this crater, you have to drive 18km west from Cotacachi and start off at the trail, which is at the entrance of the reserve itself.