Best Things to Do in Mindo Ecuador: 2026 Cloud Forest Guide
Mindo is a quiet town surrounded by cloud forest, waterfalls and more hummingbirds than I had ever seen in my life. If you are looking for the best things to do in Mindo then this guide covers the Tarabita cable car, the Mindo waterfall hike, where to see hummingbirds and how to get there from Quito.
We skipped the expensive organised day trip and travelled from Quito to Mindo by public bus instead. Staying overnight worked out around half the price for us and gave us almost two full days to explore without following a group schedule.
This guide includes everything I learnt from visiting Mindo on our own, including where we stayed, which activities were worth paying for and whether a day trip or overnight stay is the better option.
Mindo
The Ultimate Mindo Cloud Forest Guide
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1. Feed the Hummingbirds at Mindo Hermit Trail
If you want one of the best wildlife experiences in Mindo then visit Mindo Hermit Trail. I arrived planning to only feed the hummingbirds after seeing it on TikTok but had no idea there was also a walking trail.
The main feeding platform was very busy when we arrived so we decided to do the short walking trail first. Along the way we met some actual serious bird watchers with massive cameras and spotting equipment. They were really friendly and let us look through their lenses at birds hidden in the trees. Am I a bird watcher now? Maybe lol.
Feeding the Mindo hummingbirds was the highlight of our time here and easily one of the best things to do in Mindo and maybe in the whole of Ecuador?! The staff gave us little lids filled with nectar which we could refill as many times as we wanted. You hold your hand out flat and the birds fly straight over to drink. Some even sat calmly on my hand while feeding.
The experience started very dramatically with me screaming and ruining everyone’s peace because insects that looked like wasps kept flying towards the nectar lol. I thought they were wasps but the staff told us they were harmless. Once I stopped panicking, I could actually enjoy watching loads of hummingbirds flying right past my face. They are now one of my favourite animals because of this experience.
Pro Tip: Do not miss out on the walking trail, it is only short and really worth it.
2. Ride the Mindo Tarabita Cable Car
To access the Mindo waterfall trails you need to ride the famous Mindo Tarabita cable car. This is an open air yellow metal cable car that takes you high above a deep green valley. The ride across is a major adrenaline rush and offers amazing views over the treetops. It is the quickest and most thrilling way to cross the canyon and reach the starting point of the forest walking trails.
Pro Tip: Bring small cash like $1 or $5 notes for your cable car ticket because they do not accept card and they will not accept big notes!
3. Complete the Mindo Waterfall Hike
Once you step off the cable car you reach the start of the Mindo waterfall hike. The trails lead to 7 different waterfalls across the cloud forest and you can choose how much of the route you want to complete.
We did the full hike to all 7 waterfalls and it was defo worth the social media hype. If you are short on time, there is a shorter route to the closest waterfall which is around a 30 minute walk but I recommend completing the full trail if you can.
Surprisingly, the first waterfall we reached was actually my favourite. Do not rush past it assuming the waterfalls will keep getting better because I would have happily spent much longer there before continuing the hike. This was easily one of my top three things to do in Mindo.
4. Go Jungle Tubing Down the River
We did not try tubing during our visit because the weather was not very warm and I could not face getting into cold water then climbing back out freezing lol. However, it is one of the most popular adventure activities in Mindo. The guides tie several oversized rubber rings together to create a small raft before taking you down the Mindo River. You are given a helmet and life jacket to wear during the activity.
5. Join a Local Mindo Chocolate Tour
You cannot leave Mindo without experiencing a Mindo chocolate tour or at least trying the hot chocolate, which is soooo thick and creamy. We skipped the organised tours and walked into one of the local chocolate workshops in town instead.
During the tour we learnt how cacao is harvested, dried and turned into chocolate from bean to bar. The best part was the tasting session at the end where we tried raw cacao nibs and different dark chocolates flavoured with ingredients such as chilli, lemongrass and sea salt.
If you want to choose a workshop before arriving, El Quetzal runs one of Mindo’s longest established chocolate tours and includes its organic farm, working factory and a guided tasting.
Pro Tip: Do not waste your money on a fancy tour, just Google their timings and turn up
6. Visit the Mariposas de Mindo Butterfly Garden
I did not get to visit Mariposas de Mindo because I did not realise it was outside the main town and required a taxi. By the time I worked this out, we had already passed it on our way back from the Mindo waterfall hike.
The butterfly garden is a breeding and conservation centre where you can walk around surrounded by more than 1,000 colourful butterflies.
Pro Tip: It is on route to the waterfall hike so time your visit to save on multiple taxis.
Where to Stay in Mindo
We stayed at Cinnamon House and I absolutely loved it. It was walking distance of the restaurants and shops but still felt really peaceful. The public bus from Quito drove straight past it on the way into Mindo so when I spotted it, I shouted to the driver and he dropped us directly outside. This saved us from carrying our bags through town lol.
Should You Visit Mindo on a Day Trip or Stay Overnight?
I recommend staying in Mindo for at least one night if you have enough time in your Ecuador itinerary. We took the public bus from Quito and staying overnight worked out around half the price of an organised day tour for us. The bus times also gave us almost 2 full days to explore without rushing between activities.
The only downside was that exploring without a tour was not very social because most other travellers seemed to visit as part of a tour. If you are travelling alone, short on time or would prefer to have your transport arranged, this full day Mindo tour from Quito is a good alternative.
Overall, stay overnight if you want more freedom and better value. Choose a day tour if convenience and meeting other travellers are more important to you.
MORE TRAVEL INSPO
What is Next?
Flying to the Galapagos from Quito?
If you are flying out of Quito to explore the Galapagos Islands and want to do it on a budget rather than booking an incredibly expensive cruise, read my dedicated posts.
We did the entire trip on a budget by island hopping the 3 main islands of Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal on our own! I have written a dedicated post breaking down our exact budget itinerary, how to book the shared speedboat public ferries, the tours worth spending your money on and how to see the best wildlife for free without a guide.
Where to next?
I am always planning my next trip and sharing everything I learn along the way. If you would like to follow my travels through 44 countries and beyond, join me on social media. From places I loved to the things I would probably do differently next time, I share honest travel advice to help you plan your own adventures. I would love to have you along for the journey.
