Mindo Cloud Forest: Birdwatching, Waterfalls & Butterfly Farm

Driving into Ecuador's Cloud Forest for Hummingbirds and Waterfalls

You drive from Quito into the cloud forest, feed hummingbirds by hand at San Tadeo, walk through a working butterfly farm, hike to Nambillo Waterfalls through the mist, and taste artisanal chocolate in Mindo town. Lunch, all entry fees, an air-conditioned vehicle and a national guide are included. The full day runs from 8am to around 5pm, and it's built to work for any fitness level.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Mindo Butterfly Farm30m · entry included
2. Nambilla Waterfalls2h · entry included

Mindo Cloud Forest Tour and Activities

• Depart Quito at 8:00 AM
• Stop at Pululahua Volcano viewpoint
• Feed hummingbirds and spot toucans
• Visit Mindo Butterfly Farm
• Hike to Nambillo Waterfalls via cable car
• Enjoy lunch in a quiet spot
• Taste artisanal chocolate at Yumbos
• Return to Quito

The experience

The drive out of Quito starts at 8am, heading northwest through Pichincha Province where the landscape shifts with every thousand meters of elevation. By the time you reach Pululahua Volcano, the air has already changed: cooler, thicker, full of the smell of wet earth and bromeliads. The crater opens below you, and your guide points out the native orchids clinging to the rock face, some medicinal species the local people still use. It's the kind of view that makes you understand why people come here, but it's also just the beginning.

San Tadeo is where the hummingbirds happen. You'll stand still with your hands out, palms up, and watch them come: their wings moving so fast they're almost invisible, their beaks dipping into the sugar water on your skin. Toucans and tanagers work the feeders nearby, and if you brought a camera with decent zoom (which you should), this is where you use it. Agoutis move through the undergrowth, squirrels dart across branches, and the whole place feels like it's operating on a rhythm you're just learning to see. Bring binoculars. Seriously.

After that, you drive into Mindo town and go straight to the butterfly farm, where a guide walks you through how they breed, how they reproduce, what they eat. It's not a glass box full of insects. It's an actual working farm, and the butterflies are flying around you, landing on leaves and flowers. If you're into photography, the hummingbird feeders on the small trail here are better than anywhere else in town. Then comes the Mindo Cloud Forest itself. A short drive takes you to Nambillo Waterfalls, where you board a cable car to cross into another section of the forest, and then you hike the Waterfall Route: about an hour and a half through the mist and dripping canopy, the sound of water getting louder as you get closer. The waterfall appears through the trees, and you stop for lunch at a quiet spot nearby, the kind of place where you can hear the forest breathing.

The last stop is Yumbos, a chocolate workshop in Mindo where they make artisanal chocolate the way it's been done for generations. You taste it, learn how they do it, and by the time you're heading back to Quito in the late afternoon, you've moved through five different ecosystems and seen things most people don't know exist two hours from the capital. The drive back takes about three hours, and you'll be back in the city by early evening.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup in Quito, an air-conditioned vehicle for the full journey, a national tour guide, entry fees to Pululahua Volcano, the hummingbird feeding site at San Tadeo, the Mindo Butterfly Farm, Nambillo Waterfalls, and the chocolate workshop at Yumbos.
• Lunch at a quiet spot near the waterfall is included.
• You return to Quito in the late afternoon.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Ecuador a Color tour operator

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want to see the cloud forest, feed hummingbirds, and hike to a waterfall without arranging transport, guides, or timing yourself. The fixed schedule gets you through five stops and back to Quito in a single day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How long is the drive from Quito to Mindo?

About two hours each way. You leave Quito at 8am and return in the late afternoon.

What's included in the price?

Admission fees to all attractions, air-conditioned vehicle transport, a national tour guide, and lunch. Chocolate tasting at Yumbos is also included.

Do I need hiking boots?

The hike to Nambillo Waterfalls is about 1.5 hours on a forest trail. Comfortable walking shoes or light hiking boots are recommended, but the route is not technical.

Is the hummingbird feeding safe?

Yes. You hold out your hand with sugar water, and the hummingbirds come to feed. Your guide will show you how to do it safely.

What should I bring?

Binoculars, a camera with zoom, comfortable walking shoes, a light rain jacket (cloud forest is often misty), and sunscreen. The weather changes with elevation.

Can I do just part of the tour?

The tour is tailor-made, so you can discuss preferences with the operator. Contact them directly about customizing the itinerary.

Is there a cable car ride?

Yes. You take a cable car to cross into another section of the cloud forest before hiking to the waterfall. It's a short, scenic crossing.