Mindo Cloud Forest Private Day Tour
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Quito, Ecuador
- 8 to 9 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
After private hotel pickup in Quito, head to the Cloud Forest in Mindo. Your private day tour stops at the best viewpoints and gives you plenty of time to take photos. Get the best views of the plants and wildlife on a cable car ride through the Cloud Forest. Let your private guide lead you to the best waterfalls in Ecuador before returning you to your hotel.
- Enjoy a private tour of natural wonders at your own pace
- See endemic wildlife from a very close distance
- Relax with private round-trip hotel transportation from Quito
- Take a cable car ride through the Mindo Cloud Forest
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Certified English speaking guide
- Lunch
- Hummingbirds' Farm$5.00 per person
- Cable Car Ride$8.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
You will be picked up from your own hotel or address within Quito's district or Airport area, at 8:00 a.m.
Operating hours.8:00 am
Itinerary
1
Quito
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Alambi Reserve
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
3
Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
5
Mindo
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Quito
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infant seats available
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Most travelers can participate
- Our guides and drivers will follow vehicle cleaning and personal care protocols, with disinfectant products during the tour.
- 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
Reviews
4.9
based on 505 reviews
Matthew_J, May 2026
Absolutely awesome experience. I would really recommend that you go to the second hummingbird place ($10 entry), it is hidden away but it is SO worth it.
Our guide Miriam was informative, friendly, funny and relaxed. The pacing and the activities were perfect, enjoyed every moment.
Thanks so much!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank YOU for everything!!
Stuart_B, May 2026
This was a fantastic trip. Our guide arranged to pick us up 30 minutes early due to public holiday traffic, so the whole trip was 7.30am to 6pm. Our guide (Ximena) asked us exactly which places we wanted to visit when we got in the car so we customised the trip. The drive from Quito to Mindo takes about 2 hours each way and we chatted with our very knowledgeable guide about the wildlife, the plants, and about life in Quito. She spoke very good English which made it easy for us.
We opted to go to and see Hummingbirds first, but also saw Toucans and Tanagers (YMMV).
Next stop was a walk through the cloud forest, with lots of explanation about the plants and the environment, with a return trip via a cable car.
We stopped at a butterfly sanctuary where we also had a good value lunch, and finished at a local coffee artisan where we had the whole coffee production process explained to us by a super confident and knowledgeable 18 year old local girl. We roasted, ground and tasted our own coffee before the drive back to Quito.
TL/DR: Would 100% recommend!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much!! It was our pleasure!!
Steve_S, May 2026
Freddy was out tour tour guide and companion. He was phenomenal. He knows Mindo like the back of his hand. The road to Mindo is windy, so be ready if you're prone to car sickness. The birds are out of this world. DONT SKIP
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you very much for not skipining the best experience at Mindo Cloud Forest!! We are glad to know you loved your experince with our tour guide!
Leslie_S, May 2026
Our guide Diana was perfect and made our day wonderful. We enjoyed the hummingbird/bird sanctuary, butterfly sanctuary and chocolate tasting.
Response from Host, May 2026
Welsome to Mindo!! Thank you very much for visiting Mindo Cloud Forest!
Chris_M, May 2026
Beautiful area to visit. Guide was friendly and informative. He was flexible and receptive to our input as to itinerary.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you very much!!
Kathryn_J, May 2026
Miriam is not only knowledgeable
about the area in the culture, but
she’s also very knowledgeable about the flowers. Plants, birds and the culture in the area. She was friendly and fun to be with and very patient.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you very much for such a lovely review about our guide! It was a pleasure...
Melissa_M, May 2026
Freddy was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and helpful. Tailored the experience to our interests.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you very much!
Ryan_V, Apr 2026
A must do when you are in Quito, you could easily spend two or three days in Mindo. Our guide was amazing and hus knowledge of the flora and fauna made the day particularly special.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you very much!! We are happy to know that you liked your day in Mindo with us!!
Kyle_W, Apr 2026
Best tour guide ever. Very friendly and knowledgeable. Never felt rushed. Great flexibility and fun activities.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you very much!! Welcome to Mindo!
nconvard, Apr 2026
An excellent day guided by Ximena! She tailored the trip to our preferences and was very knowledgeable. Safe driving too. A very enjoyable day!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We are glad to know that you loved the comapny of our tour guide. Thank you!!
Lindsay_G, Apr 2026
This was tailored to us - what level difficulty of hike and what combination of activities we wanted to do. We did medium hike inc waterfall, butterfly farm, chocolate tasting, hummingbirds and cable car. We had a marvellous day with Ximena - about 11 hours in total. She was really friendly and knowledgeable. This was our favourite trip in Quito as it had such variety and we were lucky to see hummingbirds, toucans, agoutis, squirrels and tayras all in one place. The chocolate tasting was hands on, informative and fun - even had a chocolate face mask! On the. Able car Ximena asked them to stop half way across so we could take some great pics. The scenery, information, wildlife, experience and company all great. The recommendation for lunch in Mindo at Serenity also very tasty!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
The flexibility on this tour make this happen.... Thank you!!
Pam_P, Apr 2026
We had the best time with Wilson in the Mindo cloud forest. He had great planned stops and made perfect personalized recommendations along the way. Zip lining was a blast. Even the car ride to and from Quito was a lot fun, our carpool karaoke session will go down as one of my favorite family memories. Highly recommend taking a tour with Wilson.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you very much for taking the best experience at Mindo Cloud Forest with our team!! It was a pleasure!
Sonya_R, Apr 2026
We had a great time, especially at the hummingbird preserve. It was so awesome. Diana was a great guide and catered the day to our wants and needs.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for choosing us to visit Mindo!!
Brenda_B, Apr 2026
It was a great experience with a variety of activities from seeing humming birds, hiking to a waterfall, admiring wild orchids and learning about chocolate making. The guide José was very professional and informative. I really enjoyed the day and I recommend this activity.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
It was a pleasure! Thank you!
Bonnie_T, Mar 2026
We had a terrific day full of activity. We went to the Chocolate Factory in Mindo, the Mindo Cloud Forest and the humming bird sanctuary. Ivan let us stop for lunch at a fantastic place called Serenity for lunch. We preordered for faster service for the 10 of us. 6 adults and 4 kids. Eddie’s driving was outstanding all day! Thank you! Ivan’s English was outstanding. The kids loved it ages 6,7,9,10.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much!! It was a pleasure!
Rachel_L, Mar 2026
We had an incredible experience on our Mindo Cloud Forest tour! The day began with a long drive from Quito to the Mindo region where we began by hiking to a beautiful waterfall and then took a cable car back to our van to travel to the next activity. Our guide Julie was extremely knowledgeable, pointing out flora and fauna during our hike and making sure everyone in our group was comfortable. Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any birds but the hike was still lovely. We stopped for lunch at a delicious restaurant then headed to a chocolate factory. At the chocolate factory, we learned how cocoa beans are grown, harvested and processed plus we got to try ~20 different chocolates, hot cocoa, cocoa tea, and a brownie. The guide at the chocolate factory made us feel welcome and we enjoyed all the treats we tried. Finally, we traveled to a hummingbird sanctuary. This part was our absolute favorite! Immediately upon arrival, we were given hummingbird nectar and the tiny creatures landed on our hands. This was such a neat experience and something we will never forget. Very thankful for how well this tour turned out!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you very very much!!
Eliza_E, Mar 2026
Mindo Cloud Forest be prepared for a full day of light hiking with spectacular experiencing hummingbirds waterfalls butterflies a delightful lunch and a chocolate factory experience. So much to experience treasure your experience.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you!! And welcome to Mindo!!
John_B, Mar 2026
A truly personalized tour that let's you shape your own adventure. Ximena Andrade was a fantastic guide and very helpful and knowledgeable. A perfect day.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you very very much!!
Michael_E, Feb 2026
Fun day exploring the Ecuadorian rainforest!
Our guide was very knowledgeable and accommodating to our wishes. We had a nice hike through a rainforest canyon along a mountain stream up to a beautiful waterfall.
We did a chocolate tour and tasting which was very interesting. Lastly, we visited a hummingbird area that had about 15 different species of hummingbirds and we were able to feed them nectar from our hands. How fun!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Welcome to Ecuador!! Thank you!
Anne_D, Feb 2026
Our driver, Fredy: 5/5
Mindo: 5/5
Seeing only a couple of birds 3/5, but you can’t predict that.
We had a nice day with Fredy. He is very knowledgeable about Mindo’s flora and fauna. As importantly, he is an amazing driver.
Because we were on a private tour, Freddy gave us several choices of what to do in Mindo: hummingbirds, butterflies, hiking to a waterfall, cable car, chocolate tour, or zip lining.
We chose hummingbirds, cable car and hiking down to the waterfalls. Then when we crossed Río Mindo by bridge on our way up to the cable car, Fredy said that the local trout are delicious. We added having a trout dinner at a local restaurant.
So, we started our day at Alambi Reserve (cost: $5.00 USD per person) where there are several species of hummingbirds. I chose to feed a few. I was given a mini hummingbird feeder that I held on the palm of my hand, and was soon experiencing hummingbirds up close.
While we were driving to the next stop, Fredy pulled his vehicle over, grabbed his binoculars, and had us get out. He spotted a Choco toucan, and we got to see it. Besides the hummingbirds, this was the only other bird species we saw.
The cable car across a river gorge was next (cost: $5.00 USD per person). We rode it one way, then walked the trail down to the waterfalls, crossed the bridge and hiked back up to the parking lot. Fredy is very knowledgeable about the flora. We heard a finch and another bird, but didn’t see them.
Then, Fredy dropped us off in the centre of Mindo, where we could stroll the shops on the street. We met him at Serenity Restaurant, where we enjoyed a delicious grilled trout meal accompanied by a salad and fried plantain.
We were happy with our choices, and enjoyed meeting Fredy.
The tour site provides a list of items to bring, which is helpful. If you get car sick (we don’t), they should add motion sickness pills as the road in and out is steep and windy. Also, the site is clear about add on expenses. Everything you choose is an add on cost.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We are glad to know that loved your trip. Thank you!!
Julie_D, Feb 2026
Diana was such a great guide for this experience and was happy to accommodate our wildlife viewing desires. The walk to the cascades was also a great. Would highly recommend Diana as your guide.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you very very much!! It was a pleasure!
Jessica_H, Feb 2026
Wonderful day trip with Fredy as our guide. He was fantastic. He know so much about the area and the places to stop. He tailored the trip to our needs and helped us look for birds. He was wonderful to chat with and is a warm and welcoming person. We had a great day!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you very much for choosing the best experince in Mindo!! It was a pleasure!!
Marty_S, Feb 2026
Wonderful day filled with hummingbirds, butterflies, cable car ride over cloud forest, and chocolate tour/tasting! Ivan was a fantastic guide! Each activity costs extra so be sure to bring extra cash. Big highlight of our visit to Quito.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you very much for visiting Mindo with us!! It was a pleasure!!
Douglas_D, Feb 2026
Ivan was an amazing guide. Our destinations were great—a bird sanctuary where hummingbirds land on your hands, a hike to a waterfall and then an experience at a chocolate factory. The chocolate is fantastic. So glad I took this trio
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you!! We are very flexible on the excursion. Our travelers can decide what to do while they are in Mindo. It is important to know that we covered your expectations...
Tom_W, Feb 2026
Ivan Lopez was an incredible guide. His knowledge of the area and Ecuador, willingness to work with us on what we wanted to see and experience, driving skills, and professionalism were extraordinary.
The hummingbird sanctuary was a highlight for us - seeing the different hummingbirds up close and in your hand. We also enjoyed the coffee shop at the sanctuary, and bought coffee to take home as it was so good.
The Mindo cloud forest and waterfall were beautiful, along with the cable car ride. Ivan was very patient on the hike up the steep hillside, as I was struggling due to altitude and lack of sleep.
The Yumbos chocolate shop was delightful. We learned so much about how chocolate was made and were able to taste the chocolate they had, which was delicious. The chocolate facial, and cacao tea were also highlights.
On the way back to the hotel we were talking about how we wanted to try empanadas. Ivan took us to an amazing empanada place near Quito which has set the bar high for any other empanadas to come.
The Mindo Cloud Forest tour, and all that Ecuador offers are incredible. We were so impressed with Ivan Lopez, we booked a private tour with him at the end of our stay in Ecuador.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We are glad to know that you loved the company of our tour guide in Mindo!! Thank you!!
Murray_F, Feb 2026
You should take an extra day. There is so much to do and see that you need more than 1 day..........
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We definitely agree with you!! The more days you stay, the more experiences!! Thank you so much!!
Marissa_A, Feb 2026
We had a wonderful second day visiting Ecuador spending the day in and around Mindo. The biodiversity, including plants, hummingbirds, birds, and even two Agouti was spectacular. Hiking at La Tarabita and Waterfall Sanctuary and taking the cable car, even in the rain, did not disappoint. Lunch at Serenity in the town of Mindo was lovely, followed by the sweet treat of visiting Mindo Maya Artesanal Chocolate to learn and taste cacao tea and cacao. The itinerary flowed and was well paced and our guide was knowledgeable and fun. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Welcome to Mindo!! Thank you!!
Don_K, Feb 2026
Marvelous experience viewing wildlife. Ivan, our guide, was courteous, knowledgeable and a pleasure to travel with. Overall a great experience.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much!
Joe_H, Feb 2026
It is about a 2 hour ride to and from Mindo from Quito, but much was done and seen once we arrived. We recommend a hike in the cloud forest and a chocolate tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you very much for choosing us!!
Stephen_W, Jan 2026
My wife and I had a great private tour to the Mindo Cloud Forest. Our guide/driver Wilson discussed the full list of places we could see and tailored it for a fulfilling day for us. We were running on little sleep, so chose to not do the waterfall hike. Instead, we were able to visit two Hummingbird reserves, a small entrepreneurial coffee farm tour with samples, and a butterfly farm. Wilson arranged a special snack of chicken and yucca for us at the coffee plantation, and we later enjoyed an authentic lunch of ceviche and local salad, with cacao juice! As a final surprise on the way back to Quito, Wilson stopped at a market and treated us to a selection of fresh Ecuadoran fruits. We really enjoyed the tour, including the culture and history insights that Wilson provided. We highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you very much for sharing with us your super nice experience at Mindo Cloud Forest!! It is always a big advantage to be in a private tour to make everything happens...
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Mindo Cloud Forest Private Day Tour
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