Mindo Cloud Forest Private Tour: Birdwatching, Birds & Nature

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Quito, Ecuador

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

5 to 8 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Discover the biodiverse Mindo Cloud Forest on this birdwatching tour from Quito. Join a private guide and keep your eyes peeled for several species of birds as you walk through the Mindo-Nambillo Forest. There are many other activities you can enjoy in Mindo such as trekking, tubing, horseback rides, and river rafting (at an additional cost).

A must-do activity for bird lovers and ornithologists
Visit between May and December for drier weather
Keep your eyes peeled for other wildlife in the area
A private tour means a personalized experience

What's Included

Binoculares
Birdwatching equipamiento
Certified guides
National Guide of Ecuador
Customized Routes
WiFi on board
Private transportation

Lunch
Breakfast
Snacks
Gratuities
Tickets and tips

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

pick up

Meeting point

McDonald's
Quito 170104, Ecuador

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Quito Old Town

Admission Ticket Free

Maquipucuna Reserve (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Stroller accessible

Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
Wheelchair accessible
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Helen_S

Absolutely amazing trip. Worth every penny. Our guide Israel was so knowledgeable and we learned a lot. He went above and beyond to make sure our trip was enjoyable. The hummingbirds were incredible “Eating right from our hands”We were also taken to a restaurant for lunch and snit very much. Israel catered the trip to our interests. I would highly recommend this excursion.

Reviews

4.8

based on 14 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great bird watching

Anne_M, Feb 2026

We did this trip in a very rainy day and therefore were not able to go trails in cloud forest. But we ended up to see various birds in two different places and it was very enjoyable. Israel is very kind and has a good knowledge about cloud forest. I had a very nice day.

Great trip on a rainy day

Tom_M, Feb 2026

I did this trip with a friend, on a very rainy day. Instead of walking through cloud forest trails as I expected, we visited two different nature preserves and sat under shelters observing wildlife instead. Although not what we had expected, it turned out to be a very good alternative to slogging through muddy trails in the rain, and we saw a phenomenal amount of bird (and even some mammal) wildlife that I doubt we would have ever seen on the trails. And all while being dry and comfortable! Guide Israel seemed to know just where to go under adverse conditions!

A Day Full of Wonders

Letizia_C, Nov 2025

My day with Isra was everything I had hoped for and full of superlatives. I was picked up directly from my hotel and was able to shape the entire day exactly the way I wanted. Starting with hundreds of hummingbirds, followed by several amazing bird-watching spots, I got to discover many beautiful, colorful endemic birds together with Isra. We then took a break and enjoyed some delicious traditional food. I can also highly recommend the chocolate and coffee tour. I will always remember this day as something truly special. Thank you, Isra!

A Nice Day in Nature!

Priscilla_C, Jul 2025

We had a nice day with Isra exploring the cloud forest. The highlight for us was definitely the hummingbirds—such a magical moment! Isra also recommended a stop at some nearby Incan ruins (that were unknown to many) and took us to a small, family-run restaurant, which we really appreciated as a way to support local businesses. Isra gave us free time to explore the bio reserve and while we enjoyed the freedom to explore, we would have preferred more guided bird watching with Isra alongside us, sharing his knowledge. If this is something you'd like, just make sure to let Isra know (we could have communicated it better). Isra was also great at communicating the day before but me being a planner, would have preferred communication further in advance. Also, keep in mind the drive is about two hours each way on winding mountain roads—something to be prepared for if you’re sensitive to motion. Overall, we enjoyed a beautiful day in nature and a good option for those looking to experience Ecuador’s biodiversity with a focus on small, local touches.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you for your kind review! I’m glad you enjoyed the hummingbirds, the hidden Incan ruins, and the local family-run restaurant. Thanks also for your feedback—next time we can definitely include more guided birdwatching if preferred. Just a note for future guests: the cloud forest is deep in nature, so some driving is needed to reach these special spots. Appreciate you joining the tour and sharing your thoughts! Best, Isra

Incredibly knowledgeable...

Marisa_T, May 2025

Incredibly knowledgeable guide. Informative and super helpful. Speaks great English. Great driver. Hummingbirds were incredible. Coffee tour was amazing.

Amazing!

Helen_S, May 2025

Great tour. Would recommend.

David_L, May 2025

Great experience. You are in the car for quite a while as you are going quite a distance. However Isra was a great guide and the hummingbirds are just amazing. Little disappointed with the orchids but I think that was down to the time of year. Overall a great experience and gets you out of the city and see a bit more of the countryside.

Wonderful day!

Rachel_T, Apr 2025

Isra tailored the day to my interests, which were focused on the natural world. We started with the hummingbirds, which was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my travels. Then we went to an orchid garden and a butterfly preserve. These were OK but my real interest was in birdwatching, so then Isra took me to a couple of locations to see what we could see. As we were about to drive home, he heard the call of a toucan and we jumped out of the car and watched until we saw three! Along the drive we talked about his perspectives on Ecuador’s politics and history. It was a good opportunity to ask questions and connect. He’s a lovely person to spend the day with.

Magical hummingbirds

Alex_B, Nov 2023

This tour was great - you'll see so many hummingbirds and rare birds which Isra helps spot. Isra clearly wanted us to have a fantastic experience and went out of his way to talk about Ecuador's culture, politics etc as a nice value add during the drive. Isra did well to give us time to enjoy the birds and landscapes as a couple, though never far away to help us and point things out. From your pick up location you'll drive about 2hrs to the Mindo area where you'll visit bird spitting locations. It's a nice way to see a different part if Ecuador as well as magnificent birds.

Mindo Cloud forest bird watching

susan_s, Nov 2023

We had a fabulous day with Israel, he picked us up early to get to the Cloud Forest and we stopped for coffee and snacks at great little gas station. We arrived at our first stop and I really just could have stayed there the whole time watch all the humming birds! We had 2 more stops then had lunch at a little restaurant which was lovely. We were unable to see a toucan as there were eagle flying around so we drove further up the road no luck. Oh well, I was really super excited to see my photos after and I’m so happy I did this tour. He also played 2 videos when we were driving up there that were really great and full of info! Well done Israel!

Would recommend this guide anytime.

Vivian_O, Oct 2023

Israel, the guide, was extremely helpful and went out of his way to find a bird I really wanted to see. He knew his way around well and drove responsibly.