Experience the best of Mindo

Mindo is a small town in the cloud forest on the western slope of the Andes, north-west of Quito, in Pichincha province, at about 1,250 metres. The surrounding Mindo-Nambillo protected forest is a renowned birdwatching area, with hundreds of species, among them toucans, tanagers, hummingbirds and the Andean cock-of-the-rock, whose males gather to display at dawn.

Trails lead through the forest to waterfalls, orchid gardens and butterfly farms, and the Mindo river is run on inflated tyre tubes. Cacao grows on local farms, where visitors can follow chocolate from the bean to the bar, and zip-lines run across the valley above the treetops.

Grilled trout, hot chocolate, brownies and empanadas of green plantain feature on local menus. The air is humid and often misty, with afternoon showers. Rain is heaviest between January and May, and the drier months of June to November suit birdwatching.