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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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  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

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