Mindo Cloud Forest Mountain Biking 57km Downhill

Ride from mountain crops down into cloud forest on a single day

A full-day mountain bike ride from Quito's Nono Parish to Mindo descends 57 kilometers through the cloud forest, beginning in high-altitude farmland and dropping through Tandayapa and San Tadeo as the landscape shifts from crops to waterfalls to tropical vegetation. A support vehicle follows the route, so you can ride the downhill sections and get a lift up the climbs if you need one. The day ends with a swim in Rio de Mindo and a meal before the evening return to Quito.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mountain biking from Quito to Mindo

• Depart hotel in Quito
• Bike from Nono to Tandayapa
• Stop to eat and hydrate in Tandayapa
• Bike ascent to Bellavista, optional broom bus ride
• Descend through San Tadeo to Mindo
• Optional river swim at Rio de Mindo
• Eat in Mindo
• Return to Quito, arrive around 6 p.m.

The experience

The ride starts from your hotel in Quito and heads to Nono Parish, where the bike tour begins. From there, the first 25 kilometers run downhill from Nono to Tandayapa: a beginner-friendly section that marks the transition from mountain to cloud forest. You'll see crops, waterfalls and rivers as the elevation drops and the vegetation changes. A stop in Tandayapa gives you time to eat and refill water before the next push.

The 8-kilometer climb from Tandayapa to Bellavista is the only real ascent of the day, but the support vehicle stays with the group: if the hill gets too steep, you can hop in and ride ahead to enjoy the views from the van, then pick up your bike whenever you're ready. Once you crest Bellavista, the descent resumes through San Tadeo and onto asphalt for the final push into Mindo. The whole route covers 57 kilometers and takes the full day, with a guide leading in English or Spanish and a helmet and bike provided.

After reaching Mindo, you have the option to swim in Rio de Mindo, a 10-minute ride from town, before eating a meal and heading back to Quito. You'll arrive at your hotel around 6:00 p.m. Private transportation is included both ways, so you don't arrange your own ride to Nono or back from Mindo.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Quito hotel to Nono Parish and back.
• a mountain bike and helmet for the full route.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• access to Rio de Mindo for swimming.

Options for this experience

2 options

PrivateUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 07:30Private tour, includes pickup

Solo TravelUp to 1 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 07:30Solo travel, includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

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 15 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Real Dreams Tour

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to bike 57km downhill through mountain to cloud forest in one day, with a support van available for the climbing sections so you can ride or rest as needed.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

How steep is the ride from Nono down to Tandayapa?

The 25-kilometer section from Nono to Tandayapa is downhill and marked as beginner-friendly, so it is the easiest part of the route. The descent is what carries you from the mountain crops into the cloud forest as the landscape shifts.

What happens if I can't pedal up the climb to Bellavista?

The support vehicle follows the group the whole day, and you can ride in it whenever the 8-kilometer climb to Bellavista gets too hard. You stay with the group either way, and you can get back on your bike at any point to finish the section on two wheels.

Is there time to swim in the river before we head back to Quito?

Rio de Mindo is a 10-minute bike ride from town, and the itinerary includes a stop there if you want to cool off. After the swim, you eat a meal in Mindo before the return journey to Quito.

What kind of bike will I be riding?

The tour provides a bike and helmet for the full 57 kilometers. The route is designed for mountain biking, with downhill sections, climbs and forest roads.

How fit do I need to be for this ride?

The operator asks for at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The route has one significant climb (Tandayapa to Bellavista), but the support vehicle is there if you need a break, and the rest of the day is mostly downhill or flat.