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.
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.
Where to go when - our guide to Mindo and the 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 guidePapagaio
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