This reserve, founded in 1972 by George and Harriet Powell, is the better known of the two cloud forest reserves. In 1975 the initial 328 hectares of the reserve were increased with the addition of the Quaker communities 554 hectare water shed preserve.

The reserve now covers around 10,500 hectares. Elevation ranges from 600 meters above sea level to 1800 meters on isolated peaks. This reserve, under the administration of the Tropical Science Center, is known world wide for its biodiversity and is visited each year by many tourists and scientists. In the tourism high season this reserve can be somewhat crowded, although there are supposedly rules as to the number of people that are allowed access at one time. Trails are in excellent condition with railings on the steps and in some cases slices of tree trunks creating a lily pond like path to keeps people from walking through mud.