Antisana Ecological Reserve is a newly created reserve located at about 12,000 ft elevation in the eastern Andes of Ecuador. The reserve is located on the slopes of Antisana Volcano about an hour's drive from Quito and has been preserved as an important ecological corridor between Antisana, Cayumbe Reserve above Papallacta Pass, and lower elevation reserves on the east slope. It features lagoons, cloud forests in the ravines, and paramo tundra.
Antisana is the best place in Ecuador to see Andean Condors. While there are no guarantees, the chances of seeing a condor there are substantially better than at Papallacta Pass because the area is less visited and less disturbed. Another target bird we won't see elsewhere is Black-faced Ibis, a rare and very locally distributed species best found at Antisana. Antisana Reserve also offers closer views of Silvery Grebe, Andean Teal, Andean Ruddy-Duck, Andean Coot, and Andean Gull than are typically possible at Papallacta Pass. Many other higher elevation specialties are also to be found there, although not Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, which is best found at Cayumbe Reserve above Papallacta Pass.
