Cloudforest of Ecuador
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Everything you need to live Mindo
Tours
Birdwatching, canopy, tubing, chocolate and more
Stays
Eco-lodges, cabins and boutique hotels
Restaurants
Local flavors and high-altitude cuisine
Transport
Buses, taxis and private transfers from Quito
Services
Pharmacies, health and essential services in Mindo
Chocó Bioregión
Birdwatching
Over 500 species in the Chocó cloud forest
Most popular
Featured experiences
Loved by travelers who've already been
Refugio Paz de las Aves
World-renowned reserve founded by Ángel Paz. 458+ species, 6 antpitta species that eat worms from your hand, Cock-of-the-Rock lek at dawn. Best time: 6:00 AM. ~30 minutes from Mindo.
Tarabita y Santuario de Cascadas
Cable car (530 m long, 150 m high) over Río Nambillo + 7 waterfalls: Nambillo, Reina, Ondinas, Guarumos, Colibríes, Madre, Maderos. Full hike: 3–5 hours. Bring swimwear and a waterproof jacket.
Mariposas de Mindo (Butterfly House)
One of Ecuador's most important butterfly houses. 1,000+ butterflies, metamorphosis lab, hummingbird garden, restaurant and artisan shop. Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily.
Activities
Packages
Tours and adventures to make the most of Mindo
Mindo Canopy Adventures
Over 20 years of experience. 10 ziplines spanning 2,650 m of cable over cloudforest. Superman, Butterfly, and Tandem positions; Tarzan swing; cycle-canopy. Short route available from $8 USD. Duration: ~2 hours.
Tarabita y Santuario de Cascadas
Cable car (530 m long, 150 m high) over Río Nambillo + 7 waterfalls: Nambillo, Reina, Ondinas, Guarumos, Colibríes, Madre, Maderos. Full hike: 3–5 hours. Bring swimwear and a waterproof jacket.
River Tubing (Mindo River)
Artisanal inner-tube descent through crystal-clear water. Level I (Río Mindo, families) $6–12; Level II (Río Cinto) $12–25; Level III (Río Blanco, experts) up to $35. Includes vest, helmet and guide. Times: 9:00, 11:00, 14:00, 16:00.
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Why Mindo
A one-of-a-kind destination
Biodiversity
550+ bird species, 400+ orchids and 500+ butterflies. South America's first Important Bird Area and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Adventure
10 ziplines through cloudforest, tubing at 3 difficulty levels, and 7 waterfalls reached by cable car over the Río Nambillo.
Gastronomy
Award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate (El Quetzal, Yumbos), specialty Alambi coffee, and 20+ restaurants with global flavors.
History & nature
The Valley of the Yumbos
Just 70 km from Quito, Mindo is far more than a tourist destination. It is a territory with a millennial history, declared South America's first Important Bird Area and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
“Before the Spanish conquest, the valley was one of the most important settlements of the Yumbo-Nigua, farmers and traders who served as the link between the Coast and the Andes. They were forced to migrate due to the eruptions of Ruco Pichincha volcano. The name 'Mindo' may derive from 'Mindalaes' (merchants) or from the Quichua word for 'land of guavas'.”
First parish
Mindo is declared a parish on May 20th by President Gabriel García Moreno — one of the oldest in the northwest of Pichincha.
Protected forest
The Mindo-Nambillo Protected Forest is declared, protecting 19,200 ha of primary cloudforest.
South America's first IBA
BirdLife International designates Mindo as the first Important Bird Area (IBA) on the entire continent.
UNESCO Reserve
UNESCO declares the Chocó Andino de Pichincha Biosphere Reserve on July 26th.
Traveler reviews
Travelers who've discovered Mindo
Over 200 five-star experiences in 2024
“El avistamiento de aves en el Refugio fue una experiencia que cambió mi vida. El guía sabía el nombre de cada especie — regresaré el próximo año sin duda.”
María J.
Bogotá, Colombia
“Mindo exceeded all my expectations. The tarabita over the Nambillo river and seven waterfalls were absolutely breathtaking. A must-visit for any nature lover.”
Thomas K.
Berlin, Germany
“Le tour du chocolat El Quetzal était fantastique — de la cabosse à la tablette, éducatif et délicieux. Mes enfants en parlent encore deux semaines après.”
Camille D.
Lyon, France
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