A 40-minute, 17km bus ride from the coastal village of Valdivia will bring you to Loma Alta, a community-protected, 2428-hectare cloud forest (for overnight visits, call several days in advance for planning and coordination). The ride passes through the villages of Sinchal and Barcelona before a final 10km stretch over a rough road leading to the forest. This watershed ecopreserve has howler monkeys and more than 200 species of bird, and is ideal for hiking or taking horses or mules the four to six hours to its simple cabins and camp sites. With a guide, you can also hike from Loma Alta to the village of El Suspiro.
