Mindo Cloud Forest tour from Quito: Waterfalls and chocolate farm

Hike waterfalls in the cloud forest, then learn how chocolate is made

A full-day private tour from Quito into the Mindo Cloud Forest, 90 minutes away, with a certified guide who adjusts the pace to your fitness. You stop at a bird viewpoint in the Western Andes, explore the Waterfalls Sanctuary (visiting as many of the five main falls as you choose), tour the Mindo Butterfly Farm to see orchids and hummingbirds, and finish at a chocolate farm where you watch the entire process from bean to brownie before the drive back to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Mindo Cloud Forest3h · entry included
2. Mindo Butterfly Farm1h

Explore Mindo Cloud Forest and Surroundings

• Drive through Western Andes
• Stop at bird’s viewpoint
• Visit Waterfalls Sanctuary
• Optional tubbing at Mindo River
• Lunch in Mindo town
• Visit Butterfly, Orchid, and Hummingbird Farm
• Tour Chocolate farm and tasting
• Drive back to Quito and hotel drop-off

The experience

The tour leaves Quito and climbs into the Western Andes, stopping first at a bird viewpoint where you can spot forest birds before descending into Mindo. The real work starts at the Waterfalls Sanctuary, a large complex where your guide lets you set the itinerary: depending on your energy and the conditions underfoot, you might visit all five main waterfalls or take a shorter walk and ride the cable car to one of the most dramatic ones. The sanctuary is built around what you choose to do, not a fixed route everyone follows.

After the waterfalls, you return to Mindo town for lunch at a local restaurant, then visit the Butterfly Farm to walk among orchids, hummingbirds and thousands of butterflies in flight. The final stop is the chocolate farm, where you watch the entire process (from fermented cacao beans through roasting, grinding and tempering) before tasting a fresh brownie. Then it's the drive back to Quito and drop-off at your hotel. The whole day runs 7 to 8 hours.

Your guide speaks English or Spanish and travels with you the entire time in a private vehicle, so there's no waiting for other groups or adjusting to a set schedule. Hotel pickup is included, which means you don't arrange transport to the starting point.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Quito hotel.
• a certified English or Spanish-speaking guide for the full day.
• entry to the Waterfalls Sanctuary and the Mindo Butterfly Farm.
• the chocolate farm tour and tasting.
• all sightseeing stops mentioned in the itinerary.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (21 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 85 years) · Youth (13 to 20 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 39 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 16

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Guide Ecuador Travel

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Quito means you don't need a car or arrange your own transport to start the day, so this works whether you're staying in the city center or elsewhere and want a full-day break in the cloud forest without the logistics.

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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: Youth (13 to 20 years); Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

How many waterfalls can I see at the Waterfalls Sanctuary?

The Waterfalls Sanctuary has five main waterfalls, and your guide will help you decide how many to visit based on your fitness level and how much time you want to spend. You can hike to all five or take a shorter route with the cable car to visit one of the most striking ones.

What happens at the chocolate farm?

At the chocolate farm, you watch the entire chocolate-making process from start to finish: roasting and grinding the cacao beans, tempering the chocolate, and forming it into shapes. You taste a fresh chocolate brownie at the end.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included, but the tour stops in Mindo town where you can eat at one of the local restaurants before visiting the butterfly farm.

Do I need to be very fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels because your guide adjusts how far you explore the Waterfalls Sanctuary based on your physical condition. You can walk as much or as little as you're comfortable with.

What is the Mindo Butterfly Farm like?

The Mindo Butterfly Farm is an enclosed space where thousands of butterflies fly freely among orchids and flowering plants. You'll also see hummingbirds there, and the guide explains the species and their behavior as you walk through.