Cloud forest tour Ecuador | Mindo tours and Pedro Vicente Maldonado

Our TripAdvisor Reviews

3 days discovering: CloudForest and LocalCulture

Richard Hernandez is a licensed tour guide who grew up in the cloud forest of the north western slopes of the Andes mountains of Ecuador from Quito. Nowadays, Richard encourages the local people from different towns and counties of this area/zone to get involve through his tours in the conservation, development and sustainability. On this tour you will find places, elevations, geography, people, customs still unknown in the eco tourism but all the good carisma naturally found in the people of Ecuador in South America. Safe and bio diverse: unique birds to discover in the wilderness, orchids in their natural stage, frogs day and night, medicinal trees. We are not a huge multinational, we are 100% locally owned tour operator with people who knows what we do and where to go. Please leave us your trip requests. We are here to help you to experience your nature tour. Sincerely, Richard Hernandez - naturalist and bird guide.

We on TripAdvisor

All of our Company members are professionals formed in Eco tourism, well trained national and local tour guides. We take you into the world of clouds with an inmense mutualism and symbiosis where the natural world stay and evolve in aparent silence, the type of silence we are not used to. On site interpretation is what we do in this near 22 years of experience. Let us share it with you what we have observed and learnt from this wonderful unique eco system.

We on TripAdvisor

Unique and authentic local experiences. Local guides that inmerse you in the world and mistery of the cloud forest. We like to walk/hike/relax and look for animals/birds/plants in their natural stage. See and share with the locals, their way of living. Local fruits, local birds, animals, food, look outs, pristine rivers and villages. Come and join us !

We on TripAdvisor

First day: from Quito-Mindo (night in Mindo)

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas. The vast majority of the species are found in the tropics. The smallest hummingbird is 5 cm (2.0 in). The largest hummingbird is the 23 cm (9.1 in). They are specialized for feeding on flower nectar, but all species eat flying insects or spiders. You can expect to see up to 25 hummingbirds species during your 3 day package.

Mountain Toucans

Toucans are arboreal and typically lay 2–21 white eggs in their nests. They make their nests in tree hollows and holes excavated by other animals such as woodpeckers. They are resident breeders and do not migrate. Toucans are usually found in pairs or small flocks and sometimes fence with their bills and wrestle, which scientists hypothesize they do to establish dominance hierarchies.

Live Presentation

In the Afro Ecuadorian group was shipwrecked at the mouth of the Esmeraldas River. The shipwreck carried African slaves which consisted of 17 men and 6 women; who would go on they into the jungle and thus got their freedom. The slaves belonged to groups in Africa; some from the Bantu people, Mozambique, Angola and West Africa.

Second day: San Jose de Saloya-Pedro Vicente Maldonado (night here)

Archeological site

Yumbo was the name of the ethnic group that used to live around this area in a 800 sq kms. We get to visit and learn an archeological point of interest, its remains, aqueducts, and culuncos (their paths). Visit of the community of Saloya and maybe learn how to milk a cow.

Big Waterfall

We wil take an easy hike to look at the largest waterfall in the entire area. Experience for a short ride the local way in an open bus.

Live Presentation

Tsachila group . Culture before the arrival of the Incas. Tsáchila means "true people", seven communities: Poste, Peripa, Chiguilpe, Otongo Mapalí, Los Naranjos, Colorados del Búa and Cóngoma. Their language is Tsáfiqui (true word) and it is considered a Linguistic Heritage of Ecuador. Their houses are built with wood and palms.

Third day: Pedro Vicente Maldonado-Quito

Birding Morning

We will have our breakfast in a picnic style while we do some birding in their natural habitat. You will have chances to take pictures by the telescope (digiscoping), and will enjoy some local flora and mountain views from look outs.

Cheese factory

Lacteos Mechita with its specialty of Manaba local cheese or Cheese Mozarrella Jolet are among the different cheese factories we will get to know in Pedro Vicente Maldonado's production.

Coffee plantation

On the way back to Quito, you will visit a coffee plantation at 1700 meters above sea level and is a must see for the ones who enjoy coffee. You will learn all processes taht are involved from plant to cup.

Cloud forest lodges - included in the package

"in Mindo"

Lodge reviews

SISAKUNA LODGE . Matrimonial size beds with private bath with hot shower, wi-fi. Clean and safe place to spend our first night in Mindo. Breakfast is served or arrange to take with us for our new cloud forest experience. Locally owned.

First Night

"in Pedro Vicente Maldonado"

Lodge reviews

REMANSO LODGE . Queen size beds, private bath with hot shower, A/C, private small fridge, wi-fi. Clean, quite and safe place to spend our second night in Pedro Vicente Maldonado. Breakfast to take with us for our new cloud forest experience. Locally owned. Transportation can be arranged to just bring you to Remanso lodge.

Second night

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3 Days Tour Package - all inclusive

What is included in the package ? Richard Hernandez as your English speaking licensed tour guide, ground transportation during the whole tour package, all entrance fees, all meals, all the tour attactions and live presentations, 2 hotel/lodge nights.
What is NOT included in the package ? tips and alcoholic drinks, activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
From where does this tour start ? starts and ends in Quito. This is a private and personal tour.
Local support ? as a foreign tourist you may not really know who owns the hotel/factory/restaurant. We only work with local businesses and that are locally owned.
How many villages/towns/counties we will get to know ? five: Mindo town, Pueblo Nuevo village, San Jose de Saloya village, San Miguel de los Bancos county and Pedro Vicente Maldonado county.
What does this tour make special ? local support, local businesses, and we are getting new (young) people involved in eco turism. In our tours all our clients/tourists can share in a brief moment (we fit it in our agenda) with the locals and also you can let these young people (future local tour guides) practice their English with you and you can practice also your Spanish with them.
BONUS ? 3 toed sloth , 9 banded armadillos and howler monkeys and during the months of October and November the spectacled andean bear .
How to pay this tour ? By cedit card or bank wire transfer.
Weather ? unfortunately we can not manage it and we are subject to weather conditions and we do our best in managing it according with the rain. Activities inside or outside.
Contact us: please ask for price, a detailed day by day itinerary to info@mindocloudforest.com .

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3 days discovering: CloudForest and LocalCulture