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Mountain bike to Mindo cloud forest

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Descend a vertical kilometre from mountains to cloud-forest on a mesmerising mountain bike ride through thriving ecosystems.

Dense cloud forest swallows the hillsides separating Andes and Amazon, temperate and tropical. As Ecuador’s bleak highlands give way to more fertile climes, you’ll see the scenery change dramatically on this journey from high-altitude Quito down into emerald forests dripping with life.

We’ll drive you from Quito to Bellavista, where it’s time to get on your bike and hurtle down a whole kilometre’s worth of altitude over the course of two and a half hours. As you approach Mindo the vegetation becomes gradually more lustrous as vines weave amongst orchids and ferns and the furious flapping of tiny hummingbird wings electrifies the air.

Your destination is a rustic lodge, accessible only by a pulley system over a river – the perfect place to lose yourself in the sights and sounds of the remote cloud forest.

Activity Rating: easy

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Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    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.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Charlotte
    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Rosie profile
    Rosie Kay - Travel Expert

    During a career break, Rosie embarked on an unforgettable year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. Now back in the UK, she is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others, helping them discover her favourite place in the world.

  • 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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