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Mindo Nambillo Reserve Ecuador
Set in the cloud forest, Mindo is part of the 47,444 acres of naturally protected reserve called the Bosque Protector Mindo-Nambillo. About 2.5 hours northeast of Quito, Mindo is a small eco-friendly town that is a good base for exploring the lush natural surroundings and the abundant outdoor activities in the area.
Mindo Birds and Birdwatching tours in Mindo Ecuador
More than 350 species of birds have been recorded in the area, and thus, Mindo has gained a reputation as being one of the best birdwatching spots in all of South America. Many rare species like the toucan-barbet, the cock-of-the-rock and the golden-headed quetzal all call Mindo and the surrounding reserve home. Attracting bird watching enthusiasts from all over the world due to its sheer quantity and diversity of birdlife, Mindo has a host of local biologist guides available for hire. These guides provide detailed tours of the diverse flora and fauna. You can also hire a guide through one of the local hotels and lodges, also can set you up with a bilingual guide for about $100 a day. It is also possible to set up a bird watching tour with a travel agency in Quito.
What to Do in Mindo Ecuador
In addition to birdwatching, Mindo has many other activities to keep nature lovers and adrenaline junkies occupied. The green, lush landscapes are punctuated by nature trails, freshwater rivers and waterfalls, which can be explored by foot or by bike. You can rent a bike for about $5 per day in town or at one of the numerous hostels dotting the area. It is possible to bike either of the two major trails to the waterfalls. One is mostly uphill and the other is longer in length, but less difficult in terms of steepness. Although horseback riding along the trails is also possible, it is a less popular option.
Mindo has gained a reputation as being one of the best birdwatching spots in all of South America...
Río Mindo’s low-level rapids are perfect for tubing so it is no surprise that this is one of the most popular activities in Mindo. For about $5-7 per person, you will be driven up to the launch point and will be given a helmet, a small inner tube that will be tied to the inner tubes of the other members of your group, a life jacket and a tubing guide. This is tubing, not rafting, so it will be a mellow float down the river—no need to navigate advanced rapids or anything.
Two other major attractions in Mindo are the orchid gardens and butterfly farms. In fact, Mindo is known for its guayaba orchards. Across from Mindo’s sports stadium is the Jardín de Orquídeas, or Orchard Garden, which you can walk through to see the variety of orchards that live there. About two miles outside of town, along the road that goes to the waterfall, is the Mariposario, or Butterfly Farm. There are also a bunch of smaller butterfly farms scattered throughout town as well, but the Mariposario is the most well-known and most professional of them all. Admission to the Mariposario costs $3 per person, but some of the other butterfly farms have different entrance fees.
Another great way to get introduced to the local flora and fauna is to participate in the nightly “frog concert” just outside of town. The name may be misleading, because the “frog concert” is less of a concert and more of a night walk in the forest and around ponds where an informational guide points out the different nocturnal species that inhabit the area, including the many species of frogs. The tour takes place at 6 p.m. daily and costs $2.50, which includes a glass of wine.
Adventure-seekers will not want to miss one of the canopy tours offered along the road to the waterfalls. Mindo Canopy Adventure (Km 2.5 vía las Cascadas, Tel: 593-9-453-0624 / 08-542-8758, E-mail: info@mindocanopy.com) and Mindo Ropes and Canopy (Tel:593-9-172-5874 / 2-217-0131, E-mail: info@mindoropescanopy.com, URL: www.mindoropescanopy.com) are the two major companies that have set up cables through the cloud forest that tourists can zipline on. A canopy tour costs $10 for locals and $15 for foreigners. The price includes all the necessary equipment, a professional guide that can help you with tricks along the way, and the tour itself, which includes ziplining on more than 12 different cables spanning about over 3650 meters.
Another activity in Mindo is riding on the cable car called tarabita, which stretches across two of the mountaintops. The ride provides some beautiful, photo-worthy views of the cloud forest. A roundtrip ride costs $2 per person, but you can also gain access to the private reserve on the other side for an additional $3 per person.
Transport to Mindo from Quito by bus or car
To get to Mindo from Quito, you will need to take a Cooperativo Flor de Valle (also known as Cayambe buses) bus from the Ofelia bus station in northern Quito. A ticket costs about $2.50 each way and the ride is about 2.5 hours. Buses leave from Quito for Mindo on 8 a.m. and 3:45 from Monday through Friday; at 7:20 a.m., 8:20 a.m., 9:20 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday; and 7:20 a.m., 8:20 a.m., 9 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m. on Sunday. It is smart to secure your ticket back to Quito once you arrive to Mindo seeing as though buses usually fill up ahead of time, especially on weekends and during holidays. If you have money to spare, you can also hire private transportation to Mindo for about $50 one way and stop at the various lookout points, nature reserves and the Pululahua Volcano along the way.
July through October are the busiest months for tourism, but you will find that during holidays and on weekends all yearlong, Mindo will often be packed with quitenos who are looking for a nature getaway from the city life. The climate in Mindo is warmer and wetter than it is in Quito. Throughout the year, temperatures hang around 15ºC–24ºC (60ºF–75ºF) and it rains a lot more frequently. May through September are the driest months. Mindo has no banks or ATMs, so make sure that you come prepared with enough cash.
