Mindo Cloud Forest tour: Waterfalls, hummingbirds, chocolate

Walk among hundreds of butterflies in the cloud forest canopy.

A full-day guided tour from Quito into Mindo Cloud Forest, two hours away, where you hike through trails to spot hummingbirds and other forest birds, cross a cable car over the canopy to reach waterfalls, walk through a butterfly garden, and tour a chocolate factory with a cacao tasting. Hotel pickup and drop-off from central Quito are included. A bilingual guide leads the day. The cable car, birding site, butterfly garden and chocolate factory each charge a separate entrance fee, and lunch is on your own at a local restaurant.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Mindo Cloud Forestpassing by
2. Mindo Cable Car1h
3. Mindo Butterfly Farm30m

Explore Mindo Cloud Forest and attractions

• Travel from Quito to Mindo
• Visit San Tadeo Birding trails
• Optional cable car ride over Mindo River
• Walk Sanctuary of Waterfalls trail
• Explore Mindo Butterfly Farm
• Enjoy lunch at local restaurant
• Tour chocolate factory and tasting

The experience

The tour starts with a descent from the Andes into Mindo, where the landscape shifts into cloud forest as the climate changes. Your guide leads hikes through natural trails designed to spot hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans and other species that live in this ecosystem. The birding site, San Tadeo, is a dedicated stop for watching the birds up close.

The cable car, called the Tarabita, crosses the canopy and gives you an aerial view of the forest before you reach the Sanctuary of Waterfalls, where a trail leads to one of the falls. You can swim and cool off there. After lunch at a Mindo restaurant, you walk through the butterfly garden, where hundreds of butterflies fly around you. The garden teaches you about metamorphosis as you photograph them. The day ends at a chocolate factory where you learn how Ecuador's fine-flavor cacao becomes chocolate, from tree to bar, and taste the result.

The full day takes nine to ten hours. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for centrally located Quito hotels. Pickups outside the city center carry an extra charge depending on distance and group size. Children from age four are welcome, and the amount of walking you do depends on which activities you choose. Bring your own food and drinks if you prefer, or eat at the restaurant. The guide can recommend a good spot.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from central Quito hotels.
• a bottle of purified water.
• a professional bilingual guide for the full day.
• access to the Mindo Cloud Forest, hummingbird trails at San Tadeo, the butterfly garden, the chocolate factory tour and tasting, and the cable car crossing (though each attraction charges its own entrance fee on the day).

Options for this experience

3 options

Grand ExpeditionUp to 10 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 08:00Driver and professional guide with transport options: a mini van (5 passengers plus guide) or a mini bus (6 to 10 passengers plus guide); pickup is included

Family and FriendsUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 08:00Driver guide with transport options: a special SUV (up to 4 passengers) or a mini van; includes pickup

Mini GroupUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 08:00Driver guide with SUV (Toyota, Renault or Kia); pickup is included

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 08:00

AgesAdult (12 to 96 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: 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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Andean Roots Travel

Is this one for you?Book the Family and Friends option if you're traveling with children from age four. The Mini Group keeps numbers small if you prefer a quieter experience. The cable car is optional. Skip it if you want a gentler day of forest walks and the butterfly garden, or take it for the aerial views and waterfall access. Hotel pickups outside central Quito cost extra, so factor that in when you book.

Traveler reviews

4.78★★★★★★★★★★

63 verified traveler reviews

5 ★55

4 ★5

3 ★1

2 ★1

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

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). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What birds can I actually see on the hummingbird trails in Mindo?

San Tadeo Birding, the dedicated birding site, is designed to show you hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans and many other cloud forest species. The exact birds present depend on the season and time of day, but the trails are set up specifically to spot them.

Do I need to pay extra for the cable car and the attractions?

Yes. The cable car (Tarabita) costs about $5 per person, the birding site (San Tadeo) is $5 per person, the butterfly garden is $8.50 per person, and the chocolate factory is $10 per person. These are not included in the tour price and you pay them on the day.

What's included in the hotel pickup?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for centrally located hotels in Quito. If your hotel is outside the city center, an extra charge applies, ranging from $30 to $70 depending on how far away it is and how many people are in your group.

Can I bring my own food, or is lunch provided?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You eat at a local Mindo restaurant during the lunch break, and you can choose from options that suit your tastes. You're also welcome to bring your own food and drinks if you prefer.