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Mindo Ecuador Travel Guide + Best Things To Do in the Cloud Forest

Tags: mindo

The Mindo Cloud Forest is a unique eco-system in Ecuador that’s known worldwide for its biodiversity and birding. The lush subtropical forest provides a mystical environment to roam around, pursue adventure, and find many species of birds. It’s birdwatching in Mindo that tends to be a major draw to the area. Yet there are so many more incredible things to do in Mindo that even non-birding travelers can have several days’ worth of fun.

This Mindo travel guide was published with the intent to inspire trip ideas, help plan travels, and to simply lay out all the best things to do in Mindo Ecuador. We traveled to Mindo with a mission to investigate every activity and adventure we could find in the area. This detailed travel guide now reveals all of the best highlights from what we found in Mindo.

Mindo Travel Guide: Table of Contents
Intro to Mindo
Mindo Ecuador Map
10 Best Things To Do in Mindo
Drinking in Mindo
Eating in Mindo
Mindo Travel Tips
What To Pack for Mindo
Where To Stay: Hostels & Hotels
How To Get To Mindo

What is the Mindo Cloud Forest?

Mindo Ecuador: Fast Facts

Mindo Location: In Pichincha Province, located a 2-hour drive from the capital city, Quito

Mindo Elevation: 1,250 meters (4,101 feet)

Mindo Environment: Subtropical cloud forest

Mindo Weather: Rainy and cloudy with lows around 60°F (15.5°C) overnight, warming up to about 75°F (24°C) in the day

Mindo, Ecuador is part of a cloud forest ecosystem, which is characterized by the persistent low-lying clouds that deliver lots of moisture and hence thick plant growth. Located along the lower slopes of the Pichincha Volcano, Mindo’s dense and misty forest canopy is full of life and particularly birds!

Mindo, Ecuador, is one of the premier birding destinations in the world! More than 500 different types of birds have been spotted here in Mindo. In fact, Mindo regularly holds the annual world record for the most bird species counted within a 24-hour period.

Yet the biodiversity in Mindo doesn’t end with its many bird species. The Mindo Cloud Forest is also known for its numerous butterflies, orchids, and bromeliads. Meanwhile, Andean bears, capuchin monkeys, and even rare pumas all call Mindo their home.

With the cloud forest’s many accolades, it is a great place to add to any Ecuador travel itinerary. Yet Mindo is a must-visit travel destination in Ecuador for nature lovers.

Mindo Ecuador Map

This map contains all of the attractions and places listed within this Mindo Ecuador travel guide. Read on for all the details and ideas for things to do in Mindo. Then come back and use this Mindo Ecuador map to help plot out everything. Note that a few activities, such as tubing and canyoning, are not plotted on this map because the departure points are in Mindo town. (You may need to zoom in, depending on your browser.)


10 Best Things To Do in Mindo Ecuador

Mindo’s cloud forest setting provides for an incredibly scenic backdrop for the many adventure activities that abound here. Ziplining, river tubing, mountain biking, and canyoning are just a few thrills that adventure seekers can partake in.

It’s not all adrenaline-inducing action though. Mindo’s calmer activities such as touring a chocolate factory, visiting a butterfly farm, night walks, and, of course, birdwatching, provide for more tranquil reprieves that can be great excursions for families too. Really, there’s something for everyone. But Mindo is not just for the birds!

Activities and Mindo can appeal to all budgets too. Something that really stands out about Mindo’s attractions is how budget-friendly they are! Mindo boasts some of the best value excursions we’ve encountered anywhere in the world. For example, an hourlong zipline tour is only $20, tube rafting runs only $6, and night walks start at just $5. On the other end of the spectrum, there are some fine luxury experiences to indulge in at the upscale lodges throughout the cloud forest.

Yet Mindo can be very conducive to budget travel. As such, all of the Mindo tour prices are outlined below to better grasp exactly what a trip to Mindo may cost.

So without further ado, here are the best things to do in Mindo, Ecuador!

1) Go Birdwatching in Mindo, Even If Not into Birding

Birdwatching in Mindo is the premier activity in the region, given the biodiversity of birds that flourish in this area. There are hundreds of species of birds found throughout the Mindo Valley! Even for those not into birding, Mindo can be a perfect place to give it a try. Some birds people travel to Mindo to find include many varieties of toucans, parrots, quetzals, and even umbrellabirds!

Yet one of the most sought-after birds to spot in Mindo is the Andean cock-of-the-rock, also known locally as gallo de la peña. This unusual bird has looks that are just as interesting its name. The cock-of-the-rock is particularly known for its early-morning lek, which is when the males perform a competitive courting ritual to impress the females. To actually witness this, it’s almost necessary to join a cock-of-the-rock birding tour, in which a local expert can bring visitors to secret spots where these birds are known to hang out.

Taking birdwatching tours in Mindo is truly the best way to actually find many of these coveted bird species. These professionals not only know where to look but also bring along high-powered telescopes to see these birds that are often way up in a tree or flying high overhead.

Birding tours start at around $50 per person for a 3-4 hour morning tour. For those who really want to see Mindo’s birds, taking a birding tour is a must. Birding tours can be easily booked after arriving in Mindo at the many agencies around town.

DIY birding in Mindo for Travelers on a Budget

Do-it-yourself birding in Mindo is also possible, as a more viable option for those traveling to Mindo on a budget. Arriving to Mindo armed with a pair of travel binoculars and a bit of local knowledge may lead to getting lucky with spotting some of the area’s sought-after bird species.

Arguably the best DIY birding trails accessible by walking from Mindo town are those at the Yellow House, AKA Casa Amarilla or Hacienda San Vincente. There is a great network of well-maintained trails spanning several kilometers, in which wannabe birders can access for $6 in an unguided attempt to spot some of Mindo’s avian life. The number of people allowed on these trails each day is limited and we only saw two other couples all morning long. A hand-drawn map of the trails reveals common hangouts for cock-of-the-rocks, black guans, and choco toucans.

During our four-hour hike of the Yellow House trail, we managed to spot toucans, parrots, hummingbirds, and other small bird species, but were evaded by the cock-of-the-rock. In addition to birds, there are also capuchin monkeys and even Andean bears (not dangerous) that visitors have spotted up in the trees eating bromeliads. We searched high and low for the bears, to find Mindo’s smaller mammals like agoutis and red-tailed squirrels.

The Yellow House trails provide for a good hike, with a fair amount of uphill trekking, and a rewarding viewpoint of the Mindo Valley. It’s also a nice way to attempt DIY birding, walkable from Mindo town, and without spending on pricier tour. But we’d be doing a disservice by leading travelers here without reiterating that a Mindo birding tour will result in seeing many more birds.

If You Go: Birding at Yellow House Trails in Mindo
Price: $6 per person.
Hours: Go as early as possible for best birding. Plan to get the Yellow House around sunrise.
Time spent: About 4+ hours if hiking all trails. More time if pausing often for birding.
Location: From Mindo’s central plaza, it’s a 5-10 minute walk. Located here. Use a flashlight if walking there in predawn hours.
Official Website: here

2) Take the Tarabita to the Nambillo Waterfall Sanctuary

Taking the Tarabita to cross the river valley can be one of the best things to do in Mindo. The half-kilometer long ride carries passengers in a basket-of-sorts that whisks high above the Mindo Cloud Forest. Those brave enough to look over the side may be able to spot the Nambillo Waterfall, about 150 meters (~500 feet) way down below.

The Mindo tarabita spans more than half-kilometer over the river valley and the ride lasts a few minutes. It’s great fun, a scenic ride, and a family-friendly activity for those with fearless kids. While the tarabita itself is a worthwhile attraction in Mindo, it’s what’s found on the other side of the river that adds to the experience.

Tarabita passengers exit the basket and can hit the trails! This is a reserve full of so many waterfalls. But it takes some effort hiking across varying terrain to reach them.

There is said to be at least fifteen different waterfalls within this Mindo waterfall sanctuary. Seven of them are named and marked on the sanctuary’s map. The largest waterfall is the 50-meter (164 foot) Cascada Reina (Queen Waterfall). Yet it also takes the most effort to reach, as it’s a 1½-2-hour roundtrip trek to get to from the tarabita’s exit. For those who are up for it and have the time, it’s a beautiful hike through the Mindo Cloud Forest.

Closer to the tarabita, a 15-minute one-way hike leads to the 15-meter (49-foot) Nambillo Waterfall. Better yet, continue on towards to a series of five waterfalls, each within a 5-10 minute walk of each other. That entire trek can take up to two hours to pursue roundtrip, which includes some river crossings that forces trekkers to get wet when water levels are high. It could prove to be a good idea to wear a bathing suit, as some of the waterfalls form natural pools below that can be waded in. Take a dip!

 
 
 
 
 
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If You Go To: Mindo Tarabita and Waterfall Sanctuary
Price: $5 per person, includes entrance to the Nambillo Waterfall Sanctuary
Hours: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.
Time spent: The tarabita only takes a couple of few minutes, but plan several hours if also visiting the waterfalls, discussed next.
Location: It’s located here, about a 20-minute drive uphill from Mindo town, in which taxis charge $6 each way. It can also be accessed via the Minjoy chairlift, covered separately in this guide.

 

3) Tubing / Rafting Through the Mindo Cloud Forest

Is it tubing or is it rafting? It’s really both at the same time and shooting down the rapids through the cloud forest is a uniquely exhilarating experience! This isn’t a tranquil “lazy river” type of tubing. In Mindo, this is extreme tubing!

Mindo’s rivers are too shallow and rocky for whitewater rafting. Yet the rapids are also too strong to simply float down in a single inner tube. The solution is the formation of a raft using several inner tubes tied together. We’ve never seen anything like this anywhere in the world. And it’s an awesomely thrilling thing to do in Mindo!

Hold on tight! There are no paddles here. Just hang on and enjoy the ride. A tubing guide hops on the raft to help navigate the river, maneuvering through the rocks and down the drops.

Recent rainfall and water levels dictate exactly how thrilling of a ride this tube run is. February-April tends to bring more rain and hence a more extreme ride. It’s during these higher water levels that tubers get whisked down the river in less than a half-hour. During drier periods, around July-September, the Mindo tubing can be calmer and more prone to getting stuck on rocks, prolonging the trip to 45-minutes or so. This video gives a glimpse as to what tubing on the Mindo River is like.

Most visitors go tubing on the Mindo River, which has a drop-off point just a few minutes’ drive from town. But there are two longer tubing options available on other rivers in the area. These other tubing routes can be too dangerous to pursue when water levels are high. Instead, it’s best to consider them for a more thrilling experience when the Mindo River is running low.

If You Go: Tubing in Mindo
Price: $6 per person with 4-person minimum, or $24 total for the raft. Price includes transportation, guide, tube raft, helmet, and life vest. The lengthier river runs are priced at $24 per person.
Hours: Anytime during the day.
Time spent: The river run lasts 20-45 minutes. Plan an hour for the entire experience.
Location: Tubing in Mindo departs from town, as a truck picks up tubers.

4) Get Swarmed by Butterflies at the Mindo Butterfly Farm

Mindo may be known for its birds, but the cloud forest here also boasts thousands of butterfly species. And this Mindo butterfly farm contains many of them!

There are a few dozen butterfly species that can be found throughout the Mariposario de Mindo. At any given time at this butterfly garden, there are said to be over a thousand butterflies fluttering about, amidst the orchids and flowering trees.

Dishes of bananas are left about the butterfly farm, which the butterflies love. Those dishes are there for visitors to rub a bit of banana onto their hands to attract butterflies to land on them. But even without using the bananas, butterflies randomly land shoulders and heads.

Another interesting feature at this Mindo butterfly garden are the cocoons. It’s possible to watch butterflies complete their metamorphosis process and slowly emerge from their cocoons as a beautiful butterfly.

Behind the main butterfly farm, there’s also a very short trail through a bamboo forest that leads to lookouts amidst the tall bamboo. It’s adjacent to the outdoor garden that attracts both wild butterflies and hummingbirds.

The butterflies here are said to be most active in the mid-morning and when it’s sunny. Yet we’ve also visited Mariposario de Mindo during a rainy afternoon and found many fluttering about. So don’t let such a timing deter a visit to Mindo’s butterfly farm.

If You Go To: Mariposario de Mindo Butterfly Farm
Price: $7.50
Hours: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Time spent: 30-60 minutes.
Location: From Mindo’s central plaza, it’s a 30-45 minute walk (2.8 km) or a cheap taxi ride. Located here.
Also consider
: There is a smaller Mindo butterfly farm located directly in town that may be better for those who are short on time. This smaller butterfly garden is located here.

5) Go on a Canyoning Adventure in the Toucan Reserve 

Another extreme adventure in Mindo is the canyoning tour that takes place in a reserve known for its toucan residents. This canyoning tour is a fun and affordable excursion through the Mindo Cloud Forest that involves hiking and so much more!

After a short trek through the Toucan Reserve, adventure-seekers reach the Point of the Three Threads, where a rope bridge lays as the first major obstacle. It can be unnerving to cross this makeshift bridge above the rushing river, as there is no safety harness at this point. One wrong step could prove to be a treacherous mistake!

The harnesses are slipped on for the next adventurous activity during this canyoning excursion. It’s certainly necessary to get roped in when repelling down a slippery rock face! This challenge becomes even more extreme when descending lower to ultimately repel down a rushing waterfall. What a thrill!

This Mindo canyoning tour winds down by returning across the river. This time the rope bridge is bypassed to ride on a hand-pulled tarabita, which is like a rustic cable car that flies across the river.

It makes for an adrenaline-inducing half-day excursion from Mindo that is excellent value! And don’t forget to keep an eye out for those toucans too.

If You Go: Canyoning & Waterfall Repelling
Price: $18 per person, but we regularly see it listed for $15 at an agency near the Mindo bus station. Price includes everything: transport, guide, equipment, entrance fees.
Hours: Anytime during the day. Inquire about possible departure times at a tour agency.
Time spent: About 3 hours
Location: Mindo canyoning tours depart from town, as a truck provides transportation to the canyoning location.

6) Visit a Mindo Chocolate Factory

Ecuador is known among connoisseurs as having the finest chocolate in the world. And Mindo can be a great place to see how the magic happens. There are a few small artisanal chocolate factories in Mindo to tour and gain a better understanding of the delicious process involved in creating chocolate.

Much like wine grapes, cacao fruit takes on the flavors of the regions where they’re grown. The soil and climate throughout much of this equatorial country tend to be ideal. Additional steps are used in Ecuador to dry and ferment the beans, adding to the chocolate’s quality. Ultimately it results in what is said to be a more complex, intense, and floral chocolate, that regularly wins international chocolate awards.

El Quetzal de Mindo is a small Mindo chocolate factory that shows the entire chocolate making process, from bean to bar! It’s a sustainable endeavor t00, sourcing organic cacao from small family farms around Mindo. After walking through cacao trees, examining the drying racks, and checking out the refinery, guests are left with a big platter to taste the fruits of the labor!

The hour-long tour is very informative and includes lots of fine chocolate, in addition to tasting the cacao fruit, nibs, cacao tea, lots of dark chocolate that ranges from 67%-85% purity, and a deliciously rich brownie that is served with pure cocoa sauce.

Touring this Mindo chocolate factory can be a perfect thing to do in Mindo on a rainy day. But it’s a great experience whatever the weather, a must-do in Mindo for any chocolate lovers, and a nice thing to do in Mindo with kids.

If You Go: Visit El Quetzal Mindo Chocolate Factory
Price: $10
Hours: Every hour, from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Time spent: 1-hour tour
Location: It’s about a 5-minute walk from Mindo’s central plaza. Located here.
El Quetzal Website: here
Also consider: There’s another Mindo chocolate factory tour, Yumbos Chocolate, that similarly receives great reviews and is $8. More info: here.

7) Go on a Mindo Zipline Canopy Adventure

The ziplining through Mindo’s dense tree canopy is arguably the most thrilling way to experience the cloud forest! It’s such a rush, but it’s so much more than that. During the Mindo canopy tours, there’s a really a strong sense of nature in addition to the thrill. Between ziplines, short hikes meander through the trees where wild orchids abound.

A Mindo canopy tour will have adventure-seekers flying right alongside the many birds that Mindo is known for. The area where the ziplines are set up is particularly known for toucans too. We spotted a few!

But, of course, it’s the adrenaline rush from the fast ziplines themselves that really thrills! It’s possible to zip through the cloud forest in a normal position, tandem, superman-style, and even upside down like a monkey.

There are two main zipline canopy tours in Mindo, located directly next to each other:

  • Mindo Canopy Adventures
  • Mindo Ziplines

Each of the canopy tours have ten ziplines, they both charge the same rate ($20), both use a double cable security system, and both receive great reviews. Mindo Canopy Adventures is the original and they offer a combo ticket deal with the tarabita. So it’s worth considering their zipline tour to save a few dollars if pursuing both Mindo attractions.

Yet Mindo Ziplines offers a lengthier run and the course runs a bit more within the forest and trees. The Mindo Zipline course is 3,640 meters (nearly 12,000 feet) in total, about 500 meters longer than their neighbor. The final zipline of the course ends with a grand finale of a 500-meter-long flight through the air, the longest single zipline in Mindo.

So we went for the longer zipline course with Mindo Ziplines and it was great. The staff is fun yet professional, and we felt safe in their hands. They went above and beyond to use our phone to take pictures and video of this awesome experience too. We’ve done many zipline canopy tours around the world and Mindo Ziplines has been our favorite one yet.

Ziplining is one of the best things to do in Mindo for adventure and we highly recommend for thrill seekers!

If You Go To: Mindo Ziplines
Price: $20
Hours: Every hour, from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Time spent: Typically 60-90 minutes, depending on the number of participants.
Location: It’s a $4 taxi each way or about a 45-minute walk, 2.7-km uphill from Mindo’s central plaza. (Good birding opportunities along the way.) Located here.
Mindo Ziplines Website:here
Also consider
: Mindo Canopy Adventures: here.

8) Go on a Mindo Night Walk

After the sun sets in Mindo, an entirely different sect of the cloud forest’s biodiversity emerges. Reptiles, insects, owls, and nocturnal mammals come to life under Mindo’s dark skies.

An inexpensive way to get a glimpse into Mindo’s nighttime world is by attending what’s know as the “frog concert.” It occurs nightly the Mindo Lago (Lake Mindo), created as a project to recover native species, and frogs in particular. It’s around this pond where their orchestra of croaking now occurs nightly.

The experience begins with a bit of red wine to sip on while the frogs do their thing. Then a short guided walk around the lake exposes its inhabitants. Flashlights are used to spot frogs, some big tarantulas, and a few other creepy crawly insects. It was also cool to see luminescent micro bacteria that glow in the dark.

For a chance to see nocturnal mammals, there’s also a Mindo Night Walk that goes into a bit deeper into a nature reserve. During the Mindo Night Walk, it’s possible to find the elusive kinkajou. It’s also known as the “honey bear,” even though it’s in the same animal family as raccoons and coatis, rather than a bear species. It’s rarely seen by people because of its nocturnal habits. But the Mindo Night Walk knows where to find them.

If You Go To: Mindo Frog Concert
Price: $5
Hours: Starts at 6:30 pm
Time spent: About an hour or so.
Location: Located at Lago Mindo, it’s a $2 taxi each way or about a 30-minute walk with a small portion along the highway. The turnoff to get to the Frog Concert is located here.
Official Website: here
Also consider: Mindo Night Walks is $15, including transportation from town. Inquire at a booking agency or see their Facebook Page.

9) Take the Minjoy Park Chairlift through the Cloud Forest

In 2018, Minjoy Park opened a new ski-style chairlift. This slow-moving chairlift passes through the cloud forest and high above it.

This chairlift takes about 20 minutes to go from the bottom to top and really covers some distance along the way. The slower pace gives a chance to enjoy the cloud forest surroundings, rather than a thrilling ride.

Minjoy Park is a small attraction and the chairlift is really what to come here for. But the park does also have a few nature trails, zorbing balls for kids to roll around on a pond, and a playground.

It’s easy to draw comparisons between this chairlift and the nearby tarabita. The chairlift may seem similar to the tarabita, but it is a very different experience than the much faster tarabita ride. So don’t debate between these two Mindo attractions. Do both!

In fact, the chairlift’s upper station is only a short stroll from the tarabita. So it can make for a good plan to take the chairlift towards the tarabita. Then go on the tarabita and into the waterfall sanctuary before returning in the chairlift.

If You Go To: Minjoy Park Chairlift
Price: $8
Hours: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.
Time spent: It’s a 20-minute ride, each way.
Location: It’s located about a 2.5-km walk from the center of Mindo. Minjoy Park is very close to the butterfly farm, so it’s easy to do both when visiting this area. Located here.
Official Website: They don’t have a website, but you can check out their Facebook Page.

10) Mountain Biking through the Mindo Cloud F



This post first appeared on Roaming Around The World - Travel Blog With Tales, please read the originial post: here

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Mindo Ecuador Travel Guide + Best Things To Do in the Cloud Forest

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