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Mindo Cloud Forest Tour: Chocolate, Coffee, Birds & Nature

Badge of ExcellenceQuito, Ecuador
TOUR TO MINDO
  • 5 to 10 hours
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Boasting a huge diversity of birdlife, the Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve draws ornithologists worldwide. It’s also a popular destination for anyone wishing to escape the busy streets of Quito. With a small group and a guide to help you set the itinerary, you can visit a chocolate factory to learn how the finest cocoa is processed and discover the secrets of coffee cultivation at a plantation. Transport is made easy with hotel pickup in a 4WD vehicle.
  • 4WD transport from Quito to Mindo makes for a hassle-free day trip
  • Marvel at waterfalls, butterflies, and orchids in the Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve
  • Your guide can point out a wide variety of birds otherwise difficult to spot
  • Nature is the main attraction, with coffee- and chocolate-tasting included

What's Included

  • Binoculares
  • Birdwatching equipamiento
  • Certified guides
  • National Guide of Ecuador
  • customized routes
  • Shared Vehicles
  • Lunch
  • It is advisable to take an additional cash, dollars for tickets to the activities.
  • Tickets and tips
  • This is not a Private Tour
  • Zip-line: 20 USD
  • Chairlift ride: 8 USD
  • Orchid garden visit: 5 USD
  • Butterfly garden visit: 8 USD
  • Fruit tasting: 3 USD
  • Birdwatching: 6 USD
  • Tubing: 30 USD
  • Chocolate tour: 10 USD
  • Coffee tour: 10 USD
  • Waterfall 10 USD
  • Private transportation

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

pick up

What To Expect

Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Nanegalito

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mindo (Pass By)

Ecuador (Pass By)

San Miguel de los Bancos (Pass By)

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Infant seats available
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.5
119 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 119 reviews
Our guide Paula was...
Eila_Y, Apr 2024
Our guide Paula was wonderful, great knowledge and spoke English very well. Since it was only the two of us, she went out of her way to find a place where we might see Toucans, we did which was fantastic. The chocolate and coffee tour was surprisingly good. A great day out.
Fun times
Earlisha_W, Mar 2024
Great time the guide was awesome. The activities are for most fitness levels plus I got to see tucans.
A wonderful and relaxed experience, full with flavours and colours
Beniamino_A, Mar 2024
Wonderful experience. Our guide, Israel, was so passionate about the area and really took care of us. The entire tour was tailored to what we wanted to do and see. He came to pick us up directly at our hotel and then we drove towards Mindo. On the way we also did an additional stop for cloud forest fruit tasting, a truly one of a kind experience where we tried all sort of weird and unknown fruits fresh from the forest, many of them truly exquisite. When we reached Mindo proper, he gave us plenty of freedom and let us do things at our place. We loved it. The humming birds and the butterflies were amazing, and we really enjoyed the coffee and cacao visit where we learned and tasted so much. Highly recommended.
Awesome getaway to Mindo
Jan_S, Mar 2024
It was a pleasure to be on this Tour! Isra was a wonderful guide and had a lot of interesting facts and information eben besides the tour related topics. Awesome stop for kolibries and also the chocolate and coffee tour surprised me. It was better than expected!!! I just can recommend anyone that tour! Awesome thanks again!!! It was an amazing day!
Totally enjoyable trip to Mindo!
Chelan_B, Mar 2024
Isra was a wonderful guide! I felt totally comfortable with his driving, which was important for this long winding-road trip! I was the only person on this tour. I spoke Spanish because part of my reason for being in Ecuador was to study and practice Spanish. Isra was very agreeable and patient w my intermediate Spanish, and we actually had an interesting conversation, very fulfilling for me! I loved the hummingbird farm, (their beating wings feel like a fan blowing on your hand). And then i wanted to see orchids so Isra took me to a private home where the woman took me around her garden and showed me hundreds of orchids, most of which I’d never seen. Never knew that they come in tiny sizes! The coffee and chocolate processing was also really fun, I felt like a kid doing a group project in elementary school! I’m enjoying the cocoa and chocolate tea I brought home! Yes, you do have to pay separately for the tours but I didn’t regret that at all! Thank you!
10/10
Ariel_Y, Feb 2024
I highly recommend this tour. Isra was my guide and was fabulous; drove safely, spoke great English, was very knowledgeable in the history of Ecuador, and took me everywhere I wanted to go. The tour itself is kinda up to the client and what they want, so look at the list of things that are not included in the price, and that can give you options. I had a great day and would encourage you to sign up as well.
Great day trip in beautiful Mindo
Meredith_S, Feb 2024
Great day trip from Quito! My guide Paula was excellent - very helpful and fun! I loved the hummingbirds, the zip lining, and the coffee and chocolate tour. Great lunch too.
It was a beautiful...
Emi_T, Feb 2024
It was a beautiful experience! It was my first time in Mindo and I loved it. Since there were many activities but not had enough time to experience them all, I would come back for the second round. Thank you Paula for the wonderful adventure ;)
Yes!
chris_b, Feb 2024
What an incredible journey! I’ll start off by saying that I’m not necessarily a bird lover, coffee lover or chocolate lover. “When in Rome” or Quito…? lol. Everything about this tour was awesome. The guide, Paula, was on time, friendly, knowledgeable and if you ask…loves listening to a wide variety of music during the scenic drive. She has a calm tour guide mode too if that’s what you would prefer. This was a great way to get out of the city for a day, head to lower elevation with a little more warmth and humidity, while being active at the same time. There were multiple hummingbirds feeding from my hand at one point, the zip line was actually 10 separate zip lines with mini hikes in between including bird and flower spotting. Interactive coffee and chocolate making and tasting capped off the day. Paula also went above and beyond with multiple restaurant and hotel recommendations along with general info after the tour was over. It was a perfect way to see and learn about Ecuador while having tons of fun at the same time.
Absolutely a great day out
Annette_A, Feb 2024
No doubt about that. It was the humming birds. They were amazing. Enjoyed coffee and chocolate experience and our guide Isra was brilliant. I was with my husband and 2 of my sisters. Just loved our day.
The drive was excellent.
Scott_M, Feb 2024
The drive to and from Mindo, learning about Ecuador and having an enjoyable discussion. Everything from recent politics to Ecuador’s protection of wildlife.
Hummingbirds!
Erica_M, Feb 2024
This was a great day trip. My guide was Isra, who is extremely knowledgeable and speaks great English. I’m a solo female traveler, and I ended up being the only one on the trip, but I felt completely safe with Isra. He picked me up at 9am, and we went to a hummingbird garden in the cloud forest. It was so good, so many different species and I was able to hand feed them. Then we went on to Mindo and I did a coffee tour and a chocolate tour, which were both great. Afterwards, we headed back to Quito, and arrived back at the hotel around 4pm. There is a lot of driving, but the scenery is nice and I enjoyed it. I think the listing is very clear about this, but it’s important to be aware that each activity costs additional money, so you need to make sure you have cash on you.
Hummingbirds
Farrokh_G, Dec 2023
It was a wonderful experience… specially the hummingbirds … the tree-covered mountains were magnificent and the guide was very friendly
Paula was great!
Blake_S, Dec 2023
Paula was awesome! As soon as I booked my tour she hit me up on WhatsApp to confirm my booking & picked me up at my hostel. She was fun to talk to & offered a great ride & experience. Highly recommend!
Don’t miss this tour!
melissa_r, Nov 2023
Paula is a wonderful host and guide. I learned so much about Ecuador on the drive to Mindo. The hummingbird sanctuary was amazing! The chocolate and coffee tour was so much fun! Everyone really enjoyed themselves. It was the highlight of my trip! I highly recommmend !
Great value and very friendly guide!
Anand_R, Nov 2023
Isra is very caring and helpful. Makes sure you are ok at every stage of the tour. Speaks very well. Stopped at the most amazing empanada place in the region. An avid bird watcher. He spotted a toucan on the drive back!
A very nice day trip
Rachel_F, Nov 2023
Israel was our guide, and we had an excellent time. It was fun and relaxing and so cool to see and learn about mindo, chocolate, and coffee!
A variety of Ecuador experiences away from the city 🙂
Shirley_M, Nov 2023
Paula was a lovely tour guide with a great playing 😊 & the tour itself was great - very enjoyable fruit tasting, nice peaceful & pretty bird watching - mainly humming birds, & a really informative coffee & chocolate tour. Note you have to pay for all these activities separately (additional cist of $29pp). So your tour is really transport to & from Mindo with no free time in Mindo if you do the activities. Opportunities for improvement - squeezing 4 adults into Paula's car was pretty uncomfortable for a long journey of over 3 hours there & back. A larger vehicle should have been provided. Paula's fellow tour guide (Israel ?), led the way up the mountain in his jeep which unfortunately was belching really strong exhaust fumes - not pleasant when the windows were open in our following car (containing 5 squashed adults!) Driving there & back was pretty fast & furious - maybe that's the Ecuador way, but it would have been nice to experience the forest more & at least had some photo stops.
Our guide was an...
Ruth_A, Nov 2023
Our guide was an excellent driver. We had a fruit tasting, viewed hummingbirds at their feeders, went to a butterfly garden, and had the opportunity to view chocolate and coffee making. Our guide Paola was very patient and attentive and strived to please.
Great day tour of Mindo!
Rob_L, Nov 2023
Isra is a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable and passionate about the whole Mindo area. It was a completely private tour for me so it was tailored exactly to my interests and was a perfect day out which I'd recommend to anyone!
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From $90.00

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

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