Mindo Cloud Forest Tour: Hummingbirds & Waterfalls

Stand close enough to watch hummingbirds without the crowds or the logistics.

A private guided tour from Quito into the Mindo Cloud Forest with certified English-speaking guide, binoculars and hotel pickup included. You walk trails through the reserve to see colorful hummingbirds like the Velvet Purple Coronet and Booted Racket Tail, visit waterfalls at a pace you choose, enjoy a local meal, and spend the afternoon at either a butterfly garden or chocolate factory. The guide adjusts the day to match your interests and fitness level.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Mindo Cloud Forest and Wildlife

• Pick up near Swissotel Quito
• Walk trails in Private Reserve Pahuma
• Observe hummingbirds in Reserve Cotingas
• Enjoy a local meal
• Visit Butterfly Garden or Chocolate Factory
• Return to Quito at 17:00

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Quito hotel or any location within 10 km of Swissotel Quito, then heads into the cloud forest reserves where hummingbirds feed openly. At the Private Reserve Pahuma, you choose between easier trails focused on plants and flowers or a more challenging walk toward crystal waterfalls. The Reserve Cotingas is where the birds come closest — Velvet Purple Coronets, Violet-tailed Sylphs, Booted Racket Tails and tanagers move through the canopy near enough to watch without binoculars, though the guide provides them. Other tropical birds including barbets appear throughout the morning.

A local meal breaks the morning, then in the afternoon you pick either the butterfly garden or the chocolate factory depending on what interests you most. The guide recommends based on the day's pace and your energy. At 5 p.m. the driver brings you back to Quito, completing a full nine-hour loop that covers the forest's main bird zones and a second attraction without you arranging transport, timing or which reserve to prioritize.

What’s included

• Private transportation with certified English-speaking guide.
• binoculars for bird watching.
• hotel pickup within 10 km of central Quito.
• local meal.
• entry to either butterfly garden or chocolate factory in the afternoon.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Ines Ortiz Jaque

Is this one for you?Choose this private tour if you want a guide who adjusts the afternoon activity—butterfly garden or chocolate factory—based on your interests, rather than following a fixed itinerary.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

83 verified traveler reviews

5 ★83

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What hummingbird species will I actually see in the Mindo Cloud Forest?

The Velvet Purple Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph, and Booted Racket Tail are the most common, along with tanagers and barbets. The birds feed openly in the reserves and come close enough to watch without stepping off the trail.

Can I choose how challenging the walk is, or is the trail fixed?

You choose the trail level at the Private Reserve Pahuma — easier routes focus on plants and flowers in the understory, while more challenging walks lead toward the waterfalls deeper in the reserve. The guide adjusts based on your fitness and interests.

How does pickup work if I'm staying outside central Quito?

The driver picks you up from any hotel or location within 10 km of Swissotel Quito. You enter your preferred pickup location when you book, and the guide confirms the time the day before.

Is the butterfly garden or chocolate factory included, or do I pay extra?

Entry to whichever you choose — butterfly garden or chocolate factory — is included in the tour price. You decide in the morning based on your interests, and the guide takes you to the one you pick.

What's included in the tour price besides the guide and transport?

Binoculars, private transportation, the certified English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and a local meal are all included. Tips for the guide are separate.