Mindo

Mindo is a small town in the Andean foothills of Ecuador. Set in beautiful cloud-forest, it attracts birdwatchers first and foremost, but also has attractions for other tourists.

Mindo Halal Explorer

Mindo is located to the north west of Quito. This town was founded in 1861 and the current population is around 3000 inhabitants. Mindo is surrounded by the Mindo-Nambillo Cloud Forest; the forest is home to hundreds of species of birds many of them are in danger of extinction.

Travel to Mindo

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Travel on a Bus in Mindo

There are bus services from Santo Domingo and Quito. The bus is $3.10 each way from Quito and it is not feasible to buy a roundtrip ticket in Quito, just a one-way.

Flor de Valle/Cayambe buses depart from Terminal Terrestre Norte, La Ofelia (look for the Terminal Microregional sign). It no longer departs from Mariscal. It is about a 30- to 40-minutes taxi ride from Mariscal to the bus station which is in the north of Quito, or you can take the "Metrobus" bus rapid transit.

Flor de Valle (leaving from La Ofelia) bus timetable (March 2022) for buses from Quito to Mindo:

Monday - F: 08:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 16:00
Saturday: 07:40, 08:20, 09:20, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 16:00
Sunday: 07:40, 08:20, 09:20, 14:00

You can purchase tickets from Quito to Mindo in advance through a local travel agency such as Andesconexion for a $10 fee and pay by credit card for about the cost of a $10 round-trip taxi ride from the Mariscal/new town in Quito to Ofelia. Seats on the right hand side of the bus to Mindo are more scenic. If you are going for a day trip, you should buy your return bus ticket immediately upon arrival in Mindo or you are at risk of not being able to return that day. If you are staying more than a day, buy your return trip at least one day in advance or first thing in the morning.

There are many more direct buses to and from Quito at weekends than during the week. As well as direct services, buses go fairly regularly from the Flor del Valle station to Los Bancos. Other bus lines are Kennedy, Aloag, and San Pedrito. These do not go into Mindo, but they pull over at the edge of the primary street running along the top of the valley. From here it is usually easy to hop in a truck for $0.50-$3 depending on the number of passengers and go downhill into town. Similarly, you can return to Quito by getting a truck to take you up to the primary street and catching a bus back. Just ask around in town.

If there are no seats left on the returning buses, it is feasible to rent a vehicle and a driver from the transportation company across the street and up the block for $50-70.

Another way for those travellers is to hire a private professional Tour Guide on a 4WD to and from Quito $100-180, 9 hours service. The tour has different stops on the way from Quito to Mindo: the first stop in Pululahua crater view, Pahuma orchid Reserve, hummingbirds balcony (chance for photos), butterfly farm in Mindo, tarabita (cable car) and optional zip line in Mindo, lunch and feasible short stop at the Equator Line on the way back to Quito.

What to see in Mindo

See the birds of Mindo.

Mindo is home to over 450 species of birds, a great variety of butterflies, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, making Mindo a paradise for eco-tourism. There are ziplines to fly over the ravines, you can go tubing in the river, and hike in the rainforest with nature guides.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Mindo

El Escampadero Cultural space with restaurant based on Vegetarian and local food. Don´t miss the local art, literature, handcrafts and music events.
Birdwatching Tours In Mindo, birding tours of the local surrounding and interior cloud forest are available.
Bird of Paradise Tours offers birding tours to see the Andean Cook of the Rock and the Long Wattle Umbrela Bird and others. You can also do the Lloa-Mindo trek, Rappelling, Canopy and more. @, +593 2 2 170 045
At Reserva Ecologica Pachijal, an Eco & Bird Lodge and they offer birding guided tours inside the reserve and excursions to Yanacocha Reserve, Tandayapa Pass & Bellavista Reserve, Birds Sanctuaries of Milpe and Rio Silanche.
Tours de Fotografia day and night photography tours for professionals or those who are interested in birds and nature.
Visit one of the orchid farms.
Visit the cascadas (waterfalls): it's a 7-km uphill walk to the entrance or a $1/person ride each way. You get in via a $5 aerial tram (terabita). There are trails to several waterfalls, some closer and some farther, and it would take about 5 hours to see all of them. Be sure to take some drinking water with you, and check with a guide at the resort before using the water-slide or (for the adventurous, but only when the river is at the right height) going over the fall.
Try to entice tropical butterflies to eat banana from your hands at the Mindogarden butterfly farm. Don't try walking here from Mindo town as it is very far
Travel downriver in an inner tube. This is called a regata and can be arranged in almost any shop. You can do a short trip (20 min or so) down the river near Mindo or you can go to Rio Blanco, which is a much longer (2 hr) and altogether faster and more furious experience! Ask around for prices, you may be able to bargain as well.
Hire a local guide to take you birdwatching. On a budget? There are many roads leading out of town that offer splendid birding for free. Walk down the primary street to the top of the hill as if to leave town. Follow the signs to Cunuco - you will have 5-6 kilometers of surefire lifers before the roads ends at a hostel. You can also take the Rio Mindo (7 kilometers) or San Lorenzo (2 kilometers) roads - leading out towards the waterfalls.

El Quetzal Chocolates Making Tour - El Quetzal de Mindo, 9 de Octubre up the hill from the Parque Central - Mindo Chocolates Makers, Bean to Bar Chocolates making seven days a week at 16:00 (possibly more often: e.g at 14:00, 16:00, and 18:00.) $5 at El Quetzal de Mindo. Learn about the history of Chocolates and how Chocolates is made from the fruit of the cacao plant. See cacao plants growing, experience the fermentation process, drying beds, roasting, grinding cocoa nibs, conching, bar molding, pressing cocoa powder and cocoa butter, learn how white Chocolates is made. Chocolates samples included in tour. Coffee roasting on site too. Organic gardens tours are free but by appointment only.

Drink artisan organic juice made in Mindo. Also at El Quetzal you can taste hand-crafted organic juice for the first time in Mindo. El Quetzal malts their own barley for this unique Ecuadorian soft drinks. Don't miss the Chocolates stout made with Mindo Chocolates Makers Chocolates made from the bean at El Quetzal.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Mindo

freshly roasted coffee can also be purchased at the Quetzal restaurant and they feature coffee from the region. El Quetzal has their own collection of fine Ecuadorian crafts some made in Mindo. There is a T-shirt shop called Hyla which sells tourist t-shirts and postcards.

Street sellers sell some interesting jewelry most days, but more on weekends.

A Mindo chocolate café.

Halal Restaurants in Mindo

To be updated

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Mindo

Mindo - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Mindo, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Mindo. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Mindo and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Mindo. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Mindo. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inMindo: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Mindo.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Mindo: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Mindo, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Mindo.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Mindo, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Mindo, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Mindo and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Mindo, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Mindo, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Mindo without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Mindo is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Mindo.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Mindo is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Mindo, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Mindo Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

There is a wide choice of accommodation in Mindo, in fact there are probably more hotel/hostel beds than actual residents in the town. Many of these are close to the main strip. There is a stadium in the village, and most local residents don't mind if you plant your tent in there. Of course, you have to leave early in the morning to avoid disturbing their daily activities.

El Quetzal de Mindo, Mindo Chocolates factory and is located just up the hill from El Parque Central de Mindo across from Amigos de La Naturaleza. Quiet, yet only 1 block from the center of town. Beautiful large rooms, comfortable king and queen size beds, each with its own private bath. Beautiful views overlooking Mindo. Each room has its own unlimited supply of filtered water (reverse osmosis) from the tap.This is one of the few hotels that you will find in Ecuador that uses a hot water heater with a large tank for an uninterrupted supply of luscious hot water. Restaurant on site with organic foods harvested and served daily. $22 per person per day and includes a delicious breakfast and Chocolates tour. Chocolates making tour from bean to Chocolates bar includes Chocolates samples. Contact @, Telephone +593 862-63805
CasKaffeSu, at Sixto Bailen a/n and Av. Quito, a half block from the bus terminal, is the newest guesthouse and has a nice restaurant and can make arrangements for a birdwatching guide, hiking, rafting, etc.. @, @, www.caskaffesu.com, +593 2 3900 400.
Mindo Biohostal , 200 m from the urban oasis, has a restaurant, cafe, bar, and 10 spacious rooms. Each room has a private bathroom and comfortable beds. There are plenty of social areas (and enough space on the first floor to hold a conference), hammocks, a small area upstairs for reading and relaxing, a public computer with internet access, and free wireless internet. Bedrooms are well-lit, well decorated, spacious, and very clean, and have new furniture including beds, tables and a desk. It's off the primary street, away from the traffic of the village, but just a couple minutes' walk from the bus station and town park. Right next to a butterfly farm and they can arrange trips or advise on birdwatching, hikes, waterfall visits, etc. Price (usually $15, can be more or less depending on season) includes excellent hearty breakfast plus free Coffee, tea and bottled water all day. English, Spanish and German spoken. Parking available. Email or call +593 9 936 0801 or +593 2 223 2783. From the bus station, walk toward the park, turn right at the first street (with urban oasis on the left) and walk about 200 m.

Casa Divina Mindo Ecuador Cloudforest Retreat - Each room has a private porch with hammock, spacious living quarters and an elegant bathroom with full-size bathtub. Each room can accommodate 1 to 4 guests. Meals in the family style dining room. Short self-guided hikes that offer great lookout points. Birdwatching feasible in forest. Tanagers, quetzals, toucans, hummingbirds are at your window making it feasible to birdwatch even from bed!

Cabañas Armonia Stay with the lovely Toapanta family in a beautiful orchid garden surrounded by hummingbirds and tranquility. +593 2 390043,
Birdwatcher´s House - Clean and comfortable rooms with private bathrooms and hot water available 24 hours. Jacuzzi, bird watching tours. A place to relax and enjoy the surrounding aromas of flowers as well as the sounds of singing birds. In the gardens of the Birdwatcher’s House it is feasible to see up to 50 different species of birds. The hostel also offers: restaurant service, cafeteria, laundry service and expert bird watching guides. Contact Vinicio Perez via email.

El Bijao hotel is a fair way from the bus drop-off point, but has plenty of space to relax. Hot water from the shower is a matter of luck. There is a restaurant.

El Descanso near the stadium ☎ +593 2 390-0443 - $16 private, $12 shared bathroom Clean and comfortable rooms, hammocks, kolibris in the garden, excellent breakfast, nice and friendly woman running the hostel.

El Carmelo the tree house lodge - Mindo Via el Cinto ☎ +593 93554170 45,00 Check-in: 11:00 / Check-out: 23:00 Treehouse cabins, some of them equipped with jacuzzi. Also has its own butterfly farm, and 1.5 miles of pathways. Horse back riding. Canopy tours, and 65 acres where you will discover a great profusion of birds, animals and plants. Canopy, tubing and birdwatching are also available.

Dragonfly Inn - Corner of Quito Avenue and Sucre Street entering town, first place on the left after crossing the Canchapi River ☎ +593 2-217-0426, +593 9-238-2189 Singles $25, doubles $43, triples $58, quadruples $77 Check-in: 13:00 / Check-out: 12:30 Offers clean rooms that are finished in wood, private baths, hot water, comfortable beds and outdoor balconies. Room rates include breakfast. Plants and hummingbirds abound from the restaurant balcony overlooking the garden patio along the river.

- La Casa de Cecilia - $6 per person or camping for $3 per person Checkout: 11:00. Shared showers, hammock deck and communal kitchen overlooking the swimming area on the river. Delicious breakfast for $2.50 and free luggage storage if you are catching a bus after checkout time. None of the rooms are entirely closed off, so it gets quite loud if anybody is having a conversation.

El Carmelo de Mindo Lodge - Mindo ☎ +593 93071459 $50 El Carmelo has a tree houses cabins, some of them equipped with jacuzzi. Also has its own butterfly farm. Horse back riding, canopy tours, tubing, and birdwatching are also available.

Rubby Hostal a 5 minutes walk from the primary street ☎ +593 9-340-6321, +593 9-193-1853 - $8 incl breakfast Higly recommended for its clean, basic finished wooden rooms and hearty breakfasts. Shared bathrooms are clean and there is also a hammock balcony and water dispenser. The attic room is beautiful and can host up to 7 people. Owner Marcelo is a known bird watching guide, and the will even come to meet you at the bus stop.

Hostería El Carmelo - El Carmelo de Mindo - Via al Cinto ☎ +593 93554170 - El Carmelo has a wonderful tree house and amazing facilities, Pool, jacuzzies, butterfly farm, trails and more. El Carmelo is a must visit place in Mindo area

La Roulotte - at kilometers 2 towards Butterfly farm - $35/single; $56/double; $89/4pers 6 cabins in a nice garden, completed with an excellent restaurant.

Mindo Lago Mindo, Ecuador 1 kilometer before the centre on the left ☎ +593 2 2170201 - Beautiful cabanas around a nice lake. Nice people and at night the concert of the frogs with a tour by local guides in the forest around the hotel

El abrazo de arbol - long dirt road with 3 rivers to cross. Only for 4x4 - You need a 4x4 car.

Cabañas Eden - $10 pp. Simple cabins with private bathroom, porch with hammock in a garden setting located right in town a block from the central Plaza. Friendly owners, very comfortable, clean and quiet. Wi-Fi (closer to the main house gets better signal). A good place for anyone on a budget looking for more rustic accommodations.

Hostal El Rocio, hosted by Claudia (from Quito) and Chivo (a local) - a dusty rustic place with very thin walls up the road from the sports field and away from the foot traffic in the village, Hostal Rocio (morning dew) features accommodations for larger groups of 16 or more in large groups sleeping rooms as well as single, double and rooms for couples. Several (around 10) dogs live in the hostal itself and are allowed to sleep on the same beds as guests do. Private or shared bathrooms with plenty of balcony space for hanging out and enjoying the jungle. Prices are low at $8 (3 nights), to $10 (one night) including a hearty breakfast with generous portions of fresh fruit, bread, and eggs with tea or Coffee. The vibe is laid back and for the hipper/rocked out set in the main house. Groups with parents and children are accommodated in separate houses on the property. A patio with grill in the jungle is only a short walk from the lodging. Claudia speaks English well and can help you organize day trips to birdwatching, cascades, private protected lands and will also pick you up from Mindo from the bus. Cell for Claudia inside Ecuador 09-822-7359
Hostal La Tranquilidad baudilio2014@ Mindo about 200m from the primary street. Coming from uphill, turn right in the street after the bridge (when you see 'Dragonfly at your left hand). Otherwise, ask around, most people know it. ☎ +593 2 2170 036, +593 99 947 6512 Checkout: 12:00 $6 double with shared bath A pretty chill and affordable place not too far from the action in Mindo (then again, Mindo is super small). Very tranquil, except for the neigbours' cocks that start to make noise early in the morning (though most people get up early when visiting Mindo). Includes towels, has wifi and a kitchen available, and has consistent hot water. They do have rooms with private bath available. Price was on a weekday in low-season, prices may vary during the weekend and in high season.

News & References Mindo

Travel Next

Flor de Valle's bus station is right on the primary street. Bus times are displayed and tickets can be purchased. It is also feasible to get buses to Los Bancos and Santo Domingo from the main square. Flor de Valle bus timetable (March 2022) for buses from Mindo to Quito:

Monday - F: 06:30, 11:00, 13:45, 15:00, 17:00
Saturday: 06:30, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00
Sunday: 06:30, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00

Mindo is one of the most frequently visited rainforest destinations in Ecuador. It's fantastic birdwatching and high biodiversity, coupled with its close location to Quito means that it's a very popular destination. Alternative rainforest destinations in Ecuador include the Amazon region and the Esmeraldas region and San Luis de Pambil