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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Things to do

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

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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Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Paul
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

  • Millie
    Millie Davies - Travel Expert

    Having caught the travel bug as a child, Millie has travelled all over Latin America before making her home in Buenos Aires for 3 years.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    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!

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

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