From $97
Select Dates and Parties
Days available
Every day
Schedule
8AM
Languages offered
English & Spanish
Duration
10 hrs
Transportation
Available

During this full-day tour, you'll explore the El Pahuma Orchid Reserve and the Mindo-Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve. In Mindo, you'll visit waterfalls and a butterfly farm, and take a cable car over the forest.

The tour begins with an 8:00 AM pickup from your hotel. The first stop of this tour is at an overlook with views of the Pululahua Volcano. Take pictures and enjoy the wonderful scenery before continuing on to the El Pahuma Orchid Reserve. This reserve spreads out over some 1,500 acres (650 ha) of protected cloud forest. While here you'll learn about some of the 200 identified species within the reserve and also will visit a beautiful waterfall.

The tour continues on to the Mindo-Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve. This reserve has around 22,000 acres (8,900 ha) of primary forest, including everything from jungle to páramo. You will visit the Butterfly Farm to learn about the 25 species of butterflies that live in this area. The tour then visits the Nambillo Waterfall.

Next, the tour crosses an impressive canyon over the Mindo River on a cable car. The cable car travels some 230 feet (70 m) above the forest, providing you with an incredible view of the area. Once you're on the other side, you'll walk along a pleasant path to the Waterfalls Sanctuary. The walk takes about 30 minutes, with a trail that runs through lush vegetation.

After this adventure, you'll enjoy lunch in a tasty restaurant. Keep an eye out for hummingbirds and tanagers, which may be perched on the branches of nearby trees. An optional canopy tour is available after lunch.

You will return to Quito and arrive in the city around 6:00 PM.

NOTE: In Group Tour or Shared Service does not include the entrance fees nor lunch.

What to Bring

Sunscreen, insect repellent, rain jacket, sunglasses, camera, hiking shoes, water bottle, and comfortable clothing.

What's included

Private Tour Includes: Transportation, English-speaking guide, and entrance fees. Group Tour Includes: Transportation and English-speaking guide.

Rules

Some visits may vary depending on whether the tour is private or group.

Similar Things to Do

Yanacocha Reserve

Yanacocha, is located on the northwest flank of Volcán Pichincha at ca. 3200-3400 m above sea level on the northwestern flank of the volcano remained one of the more reliable remaining locations for the Critically Endangered hummingbird, the Black-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis), who has a tiny world range centered on and near Volcán Pichincha, the volcano that towers over Ecuador’s capital city, Quito.

Yanacocha Reserve

From $119

Trekking Oyacachi - El Chaco

This trek of between two and three days, takes us from the small Andean village of Oyacachi, located to the south of the Nevado Cayambe, at 3,200 meters above sea level, along the Oyacachi River, to the jungle village of The Chaco, at 1,600 meters of altitude. In Oyacachi there are hot springs with good infrastructure that are usually frequented mostly by visitors from Cayambe and Quito on weekends.

Trekking Oyacachi - El Chaco

From $556

Birding Tour 2 day, 1 night Guango Lodge

Our drive to Guango Lodge will initially lead us through the drier central valley before rising up steeply to the high and (often) windswept paramo. Among the many bird possibilities, we will be particularly on the lookout for Andean Condor (sometimes hard), Carunculated Caracara, Andean Gull, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Scrub & Blue-and-yellow Tanagers and Southern Yellow-Grosbeak. The Papallacta Pass by birders, is rich in paramo birdlife, and with the proper weather, you can expect to see some of the following: Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Tawny Antpitta, Many-striped Canastero, White-chinned Thistletail, Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, some interesting seedeaters, and even Giant Conebill. At at Guango Lodge will be devoted to birding the trails and spectacular hummingbird feeders. In a matter of minutes it isn’t uncommon to see Bar-bellied Woodpecker, White-banded Tyrannulet, Blue-backed Conebill, Black-capped and Black-eared Hemispingus, Slaty and Pale-naped Brush-Finch, Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager, several species of mountain-tanager and even Plushcap.

Birding Tour 2 day, 1 night Guango Lodge

From $504

Papallacta Full-Day Tour

This full-day tour of Papallacta includes soaking in hot springs, hiking in the forest, and eating a locally-sourced lunch. It's a perfect combination of nature and relaxation activities.

Papallacta Full-Day Tour

From $372

Refugio de Paz Birdwatching Tour

Start your day bright and early with this colorful nature tour. Observe Ecuador's plants and animals up-close when you enjoy this Refugio de Paz birdwatching tour. You'll work up an appetite on your adventure, and then indulge in a breakfast which has been deemed "exquisite."

Refugio de Paz Birdwatching Tour

From $341

Yanacocha Reserve / Tandayapa

The tour starts at 5:30 am, from your hotel in the city of Quito, we go to the reserve of Yanacocha where we develop activities of bird watching and photography, as well as the eco-route Nono-Mindo, for this First part of the tour we took a packed lunch. In the afternoon, we are arriving at Tandayapa Bird Lodge where we visit the famous drinking fountains for hummingbirds, to later return to their Hotel.

Yanacocha Reserve / Tandayapa

From $594

Looking for other options?

View Alternatives
Trips to Inspire

Itineraries that include Mindo Full-Day Tour

Get inspired and explore our curated collection of hand-crafted trips. From romantic honeymoons to family adventures, every itinerary is completely flexible and tailored to your needs.

From $2,398 per person

14 days · Baños, Cuenca

Family

Ecuador is a beautiful country from Quito all the way to the coast of Guayaquil. It is definitely a must. Percy was amazing in helping us plan our trip, as I must have changed my itinerary about a million times. Even when I had questions during our trip he was right there ready to help and took care of everything. Now, there are no words to describe our driver, (which we were lucky to have for 9 days) Ricardo. He was professional, friendly and went above and beyond to help make our Ecuador experience one to remember. It was sad to say good bye, but one thing is for sure when we plan our next trip to Ecuador we will be asking for Ricardo again.

14 days · Baños, Cuenca

Ecuador

From $2,914 per person

18 days · San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Machachi, Quito

Couple

The people and the beauty of the country

18 days · San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Machachi, Quito

Ecuador

From $2,546 per person

9 days · Quito, San Cristobal

Family

Forget the digital world. This vacation is all about the natural world! Explore the Galapagos Islands; see countless plants and animals thriving as nature intended.

9 days · Quito, San Cristobal

Ecuador

From $2,442 per person

16 days · Quito, Mindo, Otavalo, Tena +2

Family

Go on an unforgettable journey as you traverse the landscapes of Ecuador. Volcano tours, the city in the ‘middle of the world’, and cloud forests are just a few of the wonders.

16 days · Quito, Mindo, Otavalo, Tena +2

Ecuador

From $1,306 per person

9 days · Quito, Tena

Family

Need a family adventure that will have everyone discovering the beauty of the world instead of looking at screens? You'll love this expertly crafted Ecuadorian getaway!

9 days · Quito, Tena

Ecuador

From $3,109 per person

19 days · Quito, San Cristobal, Guayaquil, Cuenca +2

Couple

We spent almost 20 days exploring all parts of the country — from the mainland, to the coast, to the Amazon. I can say we did it all!

19 days · Quito, San Cristobal, Guayaquil, Cuenca +2

Ecuador

From $2,486 per person

12 days · Quito, San Cristobal, Baños

Family

It was a great family vacation with our teenage son –– exploring the beauty of Ecuador and spending New Year's there too! We planned last minute but Anywhere saved the day!

12 days · Quito, San Cristobal, Baños

Ecuador

From $3,388 per person

12 days · Quito, Tena, San Cristobal

Couple

What a memorable trip to Ecuador! We really enjoyed the hikes in the jungle, and learning about the indigenous cultures and the Amazon Basin.

12 days · Quito, Tena, San Cristobal

Ecuador

From $2,244 per person

12 days · Quito, Tena, Baños, Cuenca

Couple

From the lovely city of Quito to the highlands of Cuenca, our vacation to Ecuador was filled with rich cultural experiences and a superlative experience to remember.

12 days · Quito, Tena, Baños, Cuenca

Ecuador

Belong Anywhere

In their words