Mindo Cloud Forest · Ecuador
Two, three or four days in Mindo Cloud Forest with everything arranged: our boutique lodge and spa, all meals, private transfers from Quito and the best of Mindo, from hummingbirds and butterflies to waterfalls and chocolate. First-class service from the family that owns Las Terrazas de Dana.
2 to 4 days
Our programs offer a well-balanced mix of experiences, deluxe accommodation and personal service at our boutique lodge and spa in the heart of Mindo Cloud Forest.
2 days · 1 night
A quick visit to Mindo with the essential activities and a night at our lodge.
From US$530 per person
3 days · 2 nights
The main activities of Mindo at an easy pace, with two nights in our luxury lodge.
From US$820 per person
4 days · 3 nights
Our recommended and most complete program, with three nights at the heart of the Chocó Andino biosphere reserve.
From US$1,130 per person
Coming from the Galápagos? We recommend visiting us after your cruise, when you can enjoy Ecuador at a slower, more relaxed pace. We pick you up at Quito airport and bring you straight to Mindo. Prefer something different? Contact us to create a custom Mindo Cloud Forest program that meets your needs.
Book your Galápagos cruise with us and your stay in Mindo Cloud Forest is on us: complimentary nights at Las Terrazas de Dana (usually 2–3, more on request), all meals and private Quito–Mindo transfers. Fares from US$3,500 per person add Mindo Plus activity tickets; from US$5,000, the ★ Mindo All-Inclusive program with a private guide, private transport to every activity, laundry and more.
That’s why you choose Dana Tours
We are the owners of Las Terrazas de Dana
Las Terrazas de Dana Boutique Lodge & Spa is one of the top-rated lodges in Mindo on Tripadvisor and Booking.com: a small, exclusive eco-lodge with spectacular views over the valley, private bungalows with hot tub and terrace, a pool, a spa and hummingbirds all around. Read our Tripadvisor reviews, visit the lodge website or learn more about us.
Things to do in Mindo
Many visitors come from Quito for just a few hours on a “full-day tour” and leave having seen very little. Mindo deserves two, three or more nights: enough time for the forest, the birds, the waterfalls and the chocolate, at your own pace.
Mindo is a bird haven, with over 500 species recorded and one of the top Christmas Bird Counts in the world. Watch toucans and hummingbirds over breakfast, visit the hummingbird gardens where dozens of species fly right past the balcony, or go out with a birding guide.
At 6:00 am a private birding guide takes you to the higher forest of Mindo for toucans, quetzals and tanagers, with a spotting scope and binoculars, then back for breakfast. US$100 for up to 2 guests.
A local garden grows around 250 species of orchids native to Mindo to protect and propagate them, and hummingbirds visit the flowers. One in four plants in Ecuador is an orchid.
Hundreds of butterflies of around 25 species fly around you, and you can follow the four stages of a butterfly’s life in one of the largest exhibits in Ecuador.
A chocolate factory in Mindo shows you the whole process, from the cacao bean to the bar, and you taste it, even mixed with Ecuadorian ají.
Marked trails lead to the waterfall sanctuary. Ride the tarabita, the cable car across the valley, for a breathtaking view and a fast way in to the waterfalls.
Cook Ecuadorian dishes with our team, then enjoy them with a view of the forest.
On the way from Quito, stop at the equator monument for a photo with a foot in each hemisphere.
Mindo, Ecuador: general information
On the road to Mindo the landscape changes completely as you ride into the misty mountains: deep canyons covered in green forest as far as the eye can see. Mindo is often wrapped in clouds, and when they pass the views are awe-inspiring. It is a small community of about 3,000 people, roughly two hours from Quito, that has become one of the world’s great birding hotspots, next to the Mindo-Nambillo cloud forest.
Mindo sits at about 1,250 m (4,100 ft) on the western slopes of the Andes, with pleasant, mild weather all year. Rain usually falls for a few hours in the afternoon, which leaves plenty of time for outdoor activities during the day.
Mindo is best enjoyed over two, three or more nights: early mornings with the birds, adventure or relaxation during the day and quiet evenings at the lodge. Our programs are designed for exactly that.
From a relaxing stay at a boutique lodge to days full of adventure, Mindo has options for families, couples, birders and photographers. Learn more about Mindo on Wikipedia.
What our guests say
“Special thanks to Julia for her phenomenal guiding and viewing of so many incredible species that only a local guide would know.”
cyclegirl · Tripadvisor
We have just returned from a 6 night stay at Las Terrazas de Dana and every accolade that is bestowed on them is so deserved !!! The beautiful immaculate room with incredible views, the balcony that puts you one with nature, the staff – caring, helpful and attentive to the max, delicious food (thank you Alejandro) and of course the superb owners David and Ana who are 'hands on 'in every way. As avid birdwatchers, this is our second trip to the area and we truly vouch for the superiority of this establishment. If you are thinking of coming to Ecuador, do not leave Mindo off your list, book at Las Terrazas de Dana and let David plan your perfect stay! David has the best connections to superb established guides and is up on all the best suggestions for your ideal holiday !!! Also, David is a fantastic communicator, all emails were answered promptly as I worked to put a perfect package together for us. Special thanks to Julia for her phenomenal guiding and viewing of so many incredible species that only a local guide would know and to Franklin for his perfect driving! Being with you both was a highlight and we have had many guides over the years of birding !!! The Mindo area offers an array of activities for many different tastes and you will love your stay at this caring beautiful property and will be planning your return !!!
“We mainly came here to see the birds and enjoy the local sights. Beautiful, surrounded by cloud forests and tons of colorful birds.”
Nisarga M · Tripadvisor
My husband and I stayed here for 2 nights on our travel to Ecuador this summer. We mainly came here to see the birds & enjoy the local sights. From the beginning David was excellent in correspondence and he sent a nice driver to pick us up and drop us back to Quito. We even stopped at Mitad del Mundo on the way back. Coming to the hotel itself: it was unbelievable. Beautiful, surrounded by cloud forests and tons of colorful birds in the vicinity. Anna gave us directions to all the spots we could see and arranged all the tours for us. We did a night walk, chocolate tour, bird walking tour and a waterfall hike and we were quite pleased. We went to the town every day we were there, and we would try to walk but Anna or David would be happy to drop us off if they were on their way. Mindo town is really cute and has good restaurants. We tried an italian & arabian spot, they were really good. Breakfast was included in the package and it was the best. I could eat the granola and fresh strawberry yogurt with fruits all day of my life. Overall I would not think twice before booking this place again. I am already planning my next trip 😉
“It was especially nice that the hotel provides thermoses full of your chosen beverage plus some basic breakfast the night before.”
VRS0101 · Tripadvisor
This family-run hotel is a gem right outside Mindo. The cabins are great — well kept and clean and each room's verandah has a wonderful view. Both David and Ana provided wonderful service and a friendly welcome. David was very helpful over email with helping us make decisions about what to do during our stay in Mindo and booking birding guides that are kid-friendly. Ana was wonderful during our stay — helping with suggestions and even driving us into town when she could. The hotel is a 15-minute walk from the center of town and is an easy walk but we mostly took taxis to/from town since they were cheap and we were only staying for a couple of days. Since we went birding two of the days we were there (which meant getting up very early in the morning), it was especially nice that the hotel provides thermoses full of your chosen beverage plus some basic breakfast the night before to get you going, and then provides a full breakfast when you come back — whether that is at 10am or noon.
“We could watch toucans in the trees from our porch and the hummingbird feeders are constantly filled with amazing birds.”
Christopher G · Tripadvisor
We stayed here as a family of three adult couples so each couple had its own bungalow and this worked out perfectly for us. David and Ana were warm and friendly and extremely easy to deal with before and during our three day stay. The hotel is spotless, the rooms had everything we could possibly need, the food excellent and there is great attention to detail which made our stay effortless. We could watch toucans in the trees from our porch and the hummingbird feeders are constantly filled with amazing birds and Ana arranged for us to have a bird-watching tour as well as zip line experience and in-room massages. They arranged transport for us to and from Quito which I recommend doing. It is a little ways away from the bustle of Mindo center but it was very inexpensive to take a taxi to town. This made our experience even better since it was quiet and rooms have great views of the surrounding nature. We had the best of both worlds there.
“If you want to experience excellent customer service, an exquisite and beautifully natural location, don’t miss this place.”
ljc707 · Tripadvisor
Stayed here for one night only, as a treat at the end of a very fast and busy trip to Ecuador to visit my daughter. I have to say – if you want to experience excellent customer service, an exquisite and beautifully natural location, outstanding food and wonderful relaxation, don’t miss this place. We didn’t have time to do any birding but a hike at the waterfalls (via the tarabita) and some zip lining let us experience enough of Mindo to see that it’s a very special place to visit. Ana, one of the owners, is so charming and hardworking – she clearly knows how to make a place like this work and the attention to detail was fabulous. Nothing was too much bother and all the staff displayed a similar attitude – clearly very well trained. Particular mention must be made about the trout in garlic sauce, grilled shrimps and passion fruit juice. Also the fruit, yoghurt and granola! All were delicious and served on our balcony while we watched the butterflies and humming birds flutter about – what a special experience. (There isn’t a huge menu if you were staying for several nights but I’d much rather have a few dishes done really well than a wide range of average food.) Thank-you Ana for a wonderful stay and for arranging super safe taxis for our onward journey. My guess is that it will be very hard to get…
Questions
Mindo is about two hours by road from Quito and from Quito’s international airport. Every program includes private transfers in and out, and we can pick you up straight from the airport after your Galápagos cruise.
At least two nights, ideally three. One night is enough for a quick taste; with three nights you can combine birds, waterfalls, chocolate and some relaxing time at the spa.
All year round. June to December is usually a little drier, and January to May brings more afternoon rain, which keeps the forest green and the waterfalls full. Mornings are usually clear for activities.
Yes. The programs are suitable for those in fair condition, and we adapt the activities to you: hummingbird gardens, the butterfly farm and the chocolate tour are easy, while zip-lining, tubing and canyoning are there for the adventurous.
Yes. Add our half-day birding tour in Mindo to any program: an early morning with a local birding guide, looking for hummingbirds, tanagers and toucans in the cloud forest. For longer trips, see our birdwatching tours.
Yes. Every Galápagos cruise booked with us includes complimentary nights at Las Terrazas de Dana with meals and private transfers; higher fares add Mindo Plus or the Mindo All-Inclusive program. How the complimentary nights work.
It will be an experience you will never forget. Tell us your dates and we will prepare your Mindo Cloud Forest program, on its own or after your Galápagos cruise.
Or write to us at [email protected]
