Mindo, Ecuador: travel guide
A cloud-forest village in the Andean foothills northwest of Quito, one of the world's top birdwatching spots (hummingbirds, cock-of-the-rock), with waterfalls, tubing, ziplines, butterfly farms and chocolate tours.
- Country
- Ecuador
- Currency
- USD
- Time zone
- America/Guayaquil
Top places to visit in Mindo
Mindo Cloud Forest Reserve
Nature · 4.7 rating · about 3 h
A biodiverse cloud-forest area around Mindo, one of the world's richest birding hotspots with hundreds of species including the Andean cock-of-the-rock, plus orchids and butterflies.
Santuario de Cascadas (Cascada de Nambillo)
Waterfall · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · entry USD 5
A cluster of waterfalls in the forest reached via a cable car (tarabita) over the canyon then trails, with natural pools and jumps.
Mariposario de Mindo (Butterfly Farm)
Wildlife · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · entry USD 8
One of Ecuador's best butterfly farms where you can watch the full life cycle and have butterflies land on you, best visited mid-morning when they're active.
Mindo Hummingbird Gardens
Wildlife · 4.6 rating · about 1 h
Café-gardens around Mindo with dozens of hummingbird feeders attracting many species at close range — a relaxed introduction to the area's birdlife.
Mindo Chocolate Tour
Activity · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · entry USD 6
Bean-to-bar tours at local cacao producers (such as El Quetzal) showing how Ecuadorian fine-aroma cacao becomes chocolate, with tastings.
Things to do
- Mindo Birdwatching Tour Nature · 4 h · from USD 45 per person
- Mindo Chocolate (Cacao) Tour Food Experience · 1.5 h · from USD 12 per person
- Mindo Canopy Zipline Adventure · 2 h · from USD 20 per person
- River Tubing in Mindo Adventure · 2 h · from USD 15 per person
Day trips and tours
- Mindo Cloud Forest & Chocolate Day 8 h · from USD 70
Where to stay in Mindo
- Mindo Centro about USD 75 per night
The village centre, walkable to tour operators, cafés and the chocolate factories.
Hotels
- Casa Divina Lodge 3-star · USD 90 to USD 160 per night
- El Monte Sustainable Lodge 4-star · USD 180 to USD 300 per night
- Dragonfly Inn 3-star · USD 55 to USD 95 per night
- Bio Hostal Mindo Cloud Forest 2-star · USD 12 to USD 40 per night
Where to eat
- El Quetzal de Mindo Cafe, International · about USD 12 per person
- El Nómada Gastro International, Ecuadorian · about USD 14 per person
- Mishqui Quinde Cafe, Ecuadorian · about USD 7 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.