Ecuador & Galapagos Islands Mindo and the cloud forest

  • Mindo Cloud Forest
  • Hummingbird
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Misty forests and abundant waterfalls shelter delicate orchids, a plethora of butterflies and 450 species of tropical birds.

Overview

Although only a couple of hours’ drive from Quito, the warm cloud forest-smothered slopes of the pre-Andean foothills, sloping down to the Amazon basin, are a world away from the busy capital. Its accessibility, the wealth of exuberant flora and fauna and the scope for adventure activities mean that the region around the little town of Mindo, 1,300m, is becoming increasingly popular as a leisure destination for local people and visitors alike. Reserves are being established to protect the biodiversity: the 450 species of tropical birds, the plethora of butterflies and the delicate orchids. The many waterfalls and hiking trails add to the attraction.

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Holidays Mindo and the cloud forest

Explore our range of holidays visiting the Mindo cloud forest on the slopes of the Andean foothills in Ecuador. Book now with Journey Latin America.

Things to do

Browse a range of activities available when you visit the Mindo cloud forest in Ecuador. Book now with Journey Latin America.

Accommodation

Discover homely lodges, including rustic and contemporary designs, on a visit to Mindo and the cloud forest in Ecuador. Book with Journey Latin America.

El Monte Lodge
Mashpi Lodge
Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve Eco-lodge
Maquipucuna Ecolodge

Where to go when - our guide to Mindo and the cloud forest

Mindo Cloud Forest

The weather in Mindo and the cloud forest is wide and varied

The cloud forest reserves of Mindo, Mashpi and Bellavista are located at altitudes of between 950m to 2000m and harbour an incredibly bio-diverse flora and fauna. These misty bromeliad and orchid-filled forests, which cling to the steep Andean slopes that reach westward towards the Pacific plains, are a bird watcher’s paradise. They are damp and humid year round but warm with temperatures averaging between 20-24°C. There are a few hours of sunshine most days, and more during the driest months of Jun-Sep although the October-May wet season is considered the best time for bird watching thanks to migratory arrivals and an abundance of flowers for birds to feast on. In the wettest months of February-April it rains most days from the afternoon into the early hours. The dry season, when trees are in fruit, is probably the best time to see mammals and it is also the best time for spotting nocturnal wildlife.

View our Mindo and the cloud forest weather guide

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    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

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    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

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    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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