Mindo Cloud Forest tour from Quito:waterfalls hummingbirds and +
Description
Escape to Mindo, a highly biodiverse cloud forest just two hours from Quito. This full-day tour with a private guide-driver offers a perfect itinerary: Fly over the tree canopy on a cable car to access beautiful waterfalls, marvel at hundreds of species in the butterfly garden, and conclude your day with a visit to a chocolate factory that includes an exquisite tasting of fine-aroma cacao
Tour Options
Itinerary
As we descend from the Andes toward Mindo, you will feel the climate change and witness the magical transformation of the landscape into the cloud forest, a paradise of lush vegetation. This unique ecosystem is home to an incredible diversity of colorful birds, mammals, and wildlife. Experience this magical area through guided hikes and views that will truly take your breath away.
San Tadeo Birding is a must-visit spot during your trip to Mindo. We invite you to explore natural trails designed to see and delight in the presence of vibrant hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans, and many other cloud forest species.
(OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES) Cross the Mindo River on a rustic cable car to access trails and other waterfalls (cable car cost not included, approx. $5). This offers a unique perspective of the forest. The adventure continues with the Tarabita (cable car), giving you the best aerial views of the forest. After crossing, you'll find the Sanctuary of Waterfalls, where you can walk along this trail until you reach one of the waterfalls, perfect for cooling off and recharging your batteries
A world of color and grace. You will have the chance to walk among hundreds of butterflies as they flutter around you, offering close-up encounters and unique photographs. You'll learn about the fascinating process of metamorphosis, making your visit an interactive lesson in the cool, fresh air of the cloud forest..
LUNCH TIME: Enjoy a delicious lunch featuring fresh, local ingredients at a cozy Mindo restaurant, with options to suit all tastes.
We’ll take a delightful tour through the museum for an immersive and delicious experience. You'll learn the entire process of making Ecuador's fine-flavor chocolate, from the cacao tree to chocolate bar.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
the pick up Will be from your hotel and at the end of the tour we drop you off at your hotel
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- The amount of walking depends on the chosen activities
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- Operates in all weather conditions, weather may vary please dress appropriately
- You are allowed to bring your own food and drinks. We can recommend you a good place to have lunch
- At the time of booking, please inform the name of your hotel, or the name of the hotel near your location
Reviews(63)
We had an amazing day with Francisco taking us to our chosen sights!! He punctually picked us up at our hotel. He was very personable & informative as drove us around and told us about our surroundings. I really appreciate the flexibility of this tour to allow us to pick the sights that were of the greatest interest to us. My top priority was to see the Intiñan Equator Museum. We went there first & I found it very interesting. My husband & I ended up enjoying the San Tadeo birding the most. So amazing to have multiple hummingbirds come feed out of our hands! Francisco was open to let us have more time here. He ended up spending more time with us that day than he probably intended but said he was happy to do so. We tipped a little extra for his wonderful service! I would highly recommend this tour!!
We are thrilled to hear you had a great time, and Francisco will be very happy to read your kind words. Thank you for trusting us, and we look forward to welcoming you back on your next visit!
Guide Juliana and driver Jeferson were very attentive and guided us around the different places with great dedication. However, something that left me a little disappointed was the fact that I had observed few birds besides hummingbirds; I expected to see a greater variety. As for the chocolate and coffee museums, I think it was excessive to charge a visit fee, considering that we bought coffee or chocolate. If this fee had not been charged, you would probably have purchased more products. However, this point does not affect the evaluation of the ride itself, as these institutions have no relationship with the tour organizer.
¡Muchas gracias por compartir su experiencia! Nos alegra mucho saber que nuestro equipo le brindó una atención dedicada y atenta. Respecto a las aves, la naturaleza es impredecible, pero siempre ponemos nuestro mejor esfuerzo en cada búsqueda. Agradecemos también su honestidad sobre las tarifas de los talleres locales. Aunque son instituciones externas, tomamos muy en cuenta su sugerencia para mejorar la experiencia de nuestros viajeros. ¡Esperamos tener el gusto de recibirle nuevamente para una nueva aventura en Ecuador!
We had the mst amazing day and experiences with Franscico. He was knowlegeable, friendly, fun, and made sure we were well taken care of. The activites were well planned and so fun. The hummingbird experiance was beyond amazing as they landed right on our hands and there were so many of them. The butterfield were beautiful and the zip lining was so much fun zipping through the clour forest. Learning how chocolate is made and tasting all the different kinds, including getting a chocolate mask on our faces, was interesting and fun. Francisco stopped numerous times during the day to get us little surprise tastes of Ecuadorian delights. It was a fantastic day that we will not forget.
What a joy to read this! 🌿 We are thrilled to know that the hummingbird experience and the chocolate tour were unforgettable moments for you. Francisco is an exceptional guide and he will be so happy to hear that you enjoyed his recommendations so much. Thank you for choosing us and for experiencing the magic of Ecuador with us!
It was a great day out of the city. We saw the various climates around Quito, spent time in Mindo, explored the butterfly farm, did some hiking (which was the highlight) - and added in a cute little Orchid place instead of the chocolate tour. The guides were really great, attuned to what we wanted to do, and the only thing we'd do differently is hike for longer and see more waterfalls.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed Mindo’s biodiversity and that the switch to the orchid garden was a success. Our goal is always to tailor the experience to our guests' preferences. We’ve taken your feedback about the waterfalls to heart to make your next adventure even more epic. Hope to see you again soon!
On time, flexible, helpful, and knowledgeable! Danny, our guide, and Jeff, our driver were outstanding
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had an outstanding day trip to Mindo. It's great to know that Danny, your guide, and Jeff, your driver, were on time, flexible, helpful, and knowledgeable throughout the Private Full-Day tour. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back for another adventure!
Great day from feeding birds by hand to chocolate tour to zip lining and more. Francisco was knowledgeable, willing to make the day ours and never rushed us.
Thank you for sharing your great review! We're delighted to hear that you had an excellent day on the Mindo Tour, enjoying everything from the bird feeding to the zip lining. It's wonderful that Francisco was so knowledgeable and willing to customize the experience, ensuring you were never rushed. We truly appreciate your high recommendation!
We had the best time touring with Cisco! He guided us on a private tour that included visiting the Pululahua dormant volcano and the Cultural Village next to the Middle of the World, followed by exotic bird watching and hummingbird feeding at San Tadeo. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch stop at Serenity Mindo Lounge Bar before zip lining through the forest at Mindo Canopy, and finished with the delicious and educational chocolate tour at Yumbos. On the way out if Mindo he stopped so we could take photos at the famous Mindo sgn and tge actual Mitad monument lit up with neon lighs. Cisco made every moment fun while sharing his deep knowledge of Ecuador’s history, culture, and nature. He kept us engaged, safe, and entertained the entire time. His energy, humor, and expertise turned an already amazing itinerary into an unforgettable adventure. Cisco is truly an excellent guide, and we highly recommend him to anyone looking for a private tour that is both fun and informative. He went above and beyond to make our experience special, and we hope his manager sees the tremendous value he brings to every guest. Cisco is the kind of guide who makes a company shine. We took this tour 9/14/25 at $110 p.p.
We are absolutely delighted to read that you had the best time on your private tour with Cisco. It sounds like you had a truly unforgettable adventure, from the volcano views to the Mindo canopy and the chocolate tour. We are so proud to have a guide like Cisco, and we'll be sure to share your wonderful feedback with him. Thank you for your high recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back to Ecuador for another adventure!
Francisco was a fantastic guide. Very patients with our Young kids. He ido very knowledgable and shared that with us. We spent a full and then some It was quite a trip. We enjoyed It immensely.
We're glad to know that Francisco made your trip so special, especially with his patience and extensive knowledge, so important when traveling with children. We're delighted to know you thoroughly enjoyed the trip. We're so grateful you shared your experience and look forward to welcoming you back to Ecuador for another adventure.
The tour was excellent- our guide Daniel was really informative & flexible to our needs. The tour met all our expectations
Thanks to you, It was a pleasure show the Mindo Ecuador nature. The private tour it's the better option to have a flexible program at time and discover all things that you expect of Ecuador. We hope to see you again in the future to any other tour
Great tour! Christian was an excellent guide. Very friendly and knowledgeable. He was able to tailor the tour to the things I was most interested in seeing -- a beautiful volcanic crater, a chocolate factory (complete with delicious tasting!), a butterfly farm, a birding center where I was able to hand-feed hummingbirds, and a delicious Ecuadorian lunch. It was a wonderful day!
Dear Rachel thank you very much for your comment, Christian is one of our best guides and we are joyful that your experience with us has been very positive, we hope that in the future you will visit us again and allow us to be part of your experience.
