Mindo

Understand

Mindo is located to the north west of Quito. This town was founded in 1861 and the current population is around 3000 inhabitants. Mindo is surrounded by the Mindo-Nambillo Cloud Forest; the forest is home to hundreds of species of birds many of them are in danger of extinction.

Getting there

By bus There are bus services from Santo Domingo and Quito. The bus is $3.10 each way from Quito and it is not possible to buy a roundtrip ticket in Quito, just a one-way. Flor de Valle/Cayambe buses depart from Terminal Terrestre Norte, La Ofelia (look for the Terminal Microregional sign). It no longer departs from Mariscal. It is about a 30- to 40-minute taxi ride from Mariscal to the bus station which is in the north of Quito, or you can take the "Metrobus" bus rapid transit. Flor de Valle (leaving from La Ofelia) bus timetable (May 2026) for buses from Quito to Mindo:

M-F: 08:00, 09:00, 16:00 Sa: 08:00, 09:00, 11:00, 16:00 Su: 08:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 16:00 You can purchase tickets from Quito to Mindo in advance through a local travel agency such as Andesconexion for a $10 fee and pay by credit card for about the cost of a $10 round-trip taxi ride from the Mariscal/new town in Quito to Ofelia. Seats on the right hand side of the bus to Mindo are more scenic. If you are going for a day trip, you should buy your return bus ticket immediately upon arrival in Mindo or you are at risk of not being able to return that day. If you are staying more than a day, buy your return trip at least one day in advance or first thing in the morning. There are many more direct buses to and from Quito at weekends than during the week. As well as direct services, buses go fairly regularly from the Flor del Valle station or Carcelen bus terminal to Los Bancos. See timetables at ecuabuses.com. Some bus lines are Kennedy, Aloag, and San Pedrito. These do not go into Mindo, but they pull over at the edge of the main road running along the top of the valley. From here it is usually easy to hop in a truck for $0.50-$3 depending on the number of passengers and go downhill into town. Similarly, you can return to Quito by getting a truck to take you up to the main road and catching a bus back. Just ask around in town. If there are no seats left on the returning buses, it is possible

See

See the birds of Mindo. Mindo is home to over 450 species of birds, a great variety of butterflies, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, making Mindo a paradise for eco-tourism. There are ziplines to fly over the ravines, you can go tubing in the river, and hike in the rainforest with nature guides.

Do

Las Terrazas de Dana Tours, Mindo (Road to the Waterfalls, Km. 1), [email protected]. Dive into a vibrant symphony of wings! Our birding & photography tours whisk you through the emerald embrace of Mindo Cloud Forest & the misty Andean Choco in Ecuador. Seek dazzling toucans, tanagers, & hummingbirds flitting through ancient trees. Capture their breathtaking beauty under expert guidance. After thrilling expeditions, unwind in the luxurious haven of Las Terrazas de Dana Boutique Lodge & Spa. Relax in your private bungalow, savor gourmet meals, & soak in breathtaking valley views. Your Ecuadorian avian adventure awaits! El Escampadero Cultural space with restaurant based on vegetarian and local food. Don´t miss the local art, literature, handcrafts and music events. Birdwatching Tours In Mindo, birding tours of the local surrounding and interior cloud forest are available. Bird of Paradise Tours offers birding tours to see the Andean Cock of the Rock, the Long Wattle Umbrella Bird and others. You can also do the Lloa-Mindo trek, Rappelling, Canopy and more. [email protected], +593 2 2 170 045 At Reserva Ecologica Pachijal, an Eco & Bird Lodge, they offer birding guided tours inside the reserve and excursions to Yanacocha Reserve, Tandayapa Pass & Bellavista Reserve, Birds Sanctuaries of Milpe and Rio Silanche. Tours de Fotografia day and night photography tours for professionals or those who are interested in birds and nature. Visit one of the orchid farms. Visit the cascadas (waterfalls): it's a 7-km uphill walk to the entrance or a $1/person ride each way. You get in via a $5 aerial tram (terabita). There are trails to several waterfalls, some closer and some farther, and it would take about 5 hours to see all of them. Be sure to take some drinking water with you, and check with a guide at the resort before using the water-slide or (for the adventurous, but only when the river is at the right height) going over the fall. Try to entice tropical butterf

Buy

freshly roasted coffee can also be purchased at the Quetzal restaurant, they feature coffee from the region. El Quetzal has their own collection of fine Ecuadorian crafts some made in Mindo. There is a T-shirt shop called Hyla which sells tourist t-shirts and postcards. Street sellers sell some interesting jewelry most days, but more on weekends. A Mindo chocolate bar.

Eat

1 Mishqui Quinde ~ Sweet Hummingbird, Av. Quito main street, past the bus station & Hostal Henrry (Entering Mindo, keep on the main street Quito. If the paved road becomes a dirt road, back up 1/4 block.), ☏ +593 98 489 9234. Most everyday breakfast-dinner, closing at 19:30-ish. Best Quinoa dishes & Sorbet variety, Vegetarian/Vegan Menu & Ecuador Coast Specialties Menu ~ also see https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g609138-d6418941-Reviews-Mishqui_Quinde_Sweet_Hummingbird-Mindo_Pichincha_Province.html. $5-9 USD. 2 El Quetzal, 9 de Octubre (Across the street from Amigos de La Naturaleza, Mindo, Ecuador). Daily 08:00-20:00. Serves fresh foods harvested from their own organic gardens. Delicious Ecuadorian dishes and typical American food is also served. There are always freshly made vegetarian options available. Fresh fish, chicken, beef and pork dishes, shrimp, ceviche and arroz con camaron are all on the menu. Delicious desserts include the world's best brownies. Home made ice cream in freshly made waffle cones are delicious! Also, Ecuadorian coffee is roasted on site. Espresso, cappuccino, lattes, mochaccino and cafe pasado are all offered. Coffee roasted on site is available by the pound. Food is carefully prepared and washed in purified water, so you can eat salads, fruits and vegetables here. El Chef is rather unusual in being essentially a steakhouse. Slightly expensive by local standards, but worth it. Fuera de Babylonia is a secluded restaurant/bar/hostel near the center of town with excellent rustic atmosphere, reggae and other good tunes, healthy and delicious food, including a decent vegetarian selection. A bit pricey but worth the relaxing atmosphere. The locale was designed by the owner and his son and reportedly uses over 100 different types of wood from the surrounding area and Amazon region. Caskaffesu, ☏ +593 2 390-0400, +593 9 386-7154. With a fine dining feel, this place is a must, if nothing else, for its brownies made with two kinds

Drink & nightlife

There are a few nice bars in Mindo, but these only rea