Ecuador's Cloud Forests: Tropical, Not Temperate

Despite the cool, misty feel, Ecuador's cloud forests are unequivocally tropical ecosystems.

Why "Tropical"?

• Latitude: Ecuador straddles the equator. The Andes intercept moisture-laden trade winds from the Amazon, creating cloud forests on both slopes (1,200–3,500 m elevation).
• Temperature: Mean annual 12–18°C (54–64°F) — cool for tropics, but no frost, no winter. Diurnal variation > seasonal.
• Biodiversity: Hyper-diverse, high endemism — classic tropical signature (epiphytes, hummingbirds, tanagers, orchids, amphibians).
• Productivity: Year-round growth, no dormancy. Constant moisture (cloud drip = 2,000–4,000 mm/yr effective precipitation).

Why They Feel Temperate

• Cool temperatures (especially at night/higher elevations).
• Moss-draped, fern-rich structure resembles temperate rainforests.
• Absence of lowland tropical heat/humidity.

Contrast: True Temperate Rainforests

Found in Chile (Valdivian), New Zealand, Pacific NW (USA/Canada), Japan, UK. Experience winter dormancy, frost, snow, distinct seasons. Cloud forests do not.

Ecuador's cloud forests are tropical mountains wearing a cool, wet sweater—biologically tropical to the core.