Mindo Cloud Forest Day Tours PRIVATE by Richard Hernandez

Recommended by 94% of travelers

Quito, Ecuador

9 to 11 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Offered in: English

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Overview

Create your perfect adventure on a customizable private tour of the Mindo Cloud Forest. Possible themes include amateur birding, natural history, nature hikes (all levels offered), and cultural immersion. This excursion is set at your pace, whichever activities and attractions you choose. A set itinerary option visits an orchid reserve, Milpe Bird Sanctuary, Mindo, the equator line, and more. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Quito are included.

Enjoy the personalized experience of a private tour
Customize the itinerary to suit your interests
Travel comfortably in private transportation with hotel pickup from Quito
Get a thorough overview of the area’s attractions

What's Included

Ground transportation
Licensed Naturalist English speaking guide
Binoculars
Spotting bird scope

Lunch
Entrance fees
Breakfast
Tips

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

We pick up at 7:15 AM from any hotel or address WITHIN Quito city. HOTELS OUT of Quito or NEAR the airport has an additional fee which you pay to Guide directly.

Operating hours
.7:15 am

Itinerary

Milpe Bird Sanctuary

2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Reserva Natural Mangaloma

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

El Pahuma Orchid Reserve

2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Tandayapa

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Nanegalito (Pass By)

Mindo

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Mitad Del Mundo

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Pedro Vicente Maldonado

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions

Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Our tour is a PROFESSIONAL SERVICE, people interested in other than ECO TOURISM, NATURE, BIOLOGY, or ECOLOGY, we firmly reject them.
Open minded to learn local flora, fauna, birds.
Affection for Street Dogs
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

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

Nancy_D

My friend and I went to the Mindo Cloud Forest to see some of the beautiful birds of the area. This tour did not disappoint. We saw 12 varieties of hummingbirds, 7 varieties of tanagers, and 3 varieties of Toucans including the Plate-billed Mountain Toucan. We also enjoyed some other highlights of the area including a short hike to a waterfall, a butterfly conservatory and a meal at a local restaurant. Richard was very knowledgeable and personable. His vehicle was comfortable and he tailored the tour to our interests.

Reviews

4.8

based on 106 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

A great day trip from Quito

Jennifer_D, Oct 2025

Our guide, Juan Carlos, has excellent local knowledge. We went to see the hummingbirds, a sweaty (but very achievable) hike in the cloud forest, had an excellent lunch suggestion in Mindo and really enjoyed our coffee making tour in Quinde. It was well organised and a fun day trip from Quito.

Didn’t get to walk in the cloud forest at all!

Heather_W, Jun 2025

We did not go birdwatching in the cloud forest. Our first stop was to a very nice woman’s yard, where she had set out lots of feeders. That was really cool, there were all kinds of hummingbirds and several tanagers. I’m glad we stopped there. Our guide (this is a company, not an individual) then took us to a butterfly greenhouse. I had been asking birds, was telling him how I had booked an extra day because I was so excited about the opportunity to see the birds of the Amazon. The butterfly garden was nice, but you can find similar things in any big town. I do like butterflies, but I saw a sign outside pointing to bird observation areas, nature hikes and things. A sunbittern flew overhead which was awesome, so I asked about that, could we go walking to look for birds? Our guide said, sure, and we walked up and down the road for 5-10 minutes, not on any kind of forest trail, just the street we happened to be on. That seemed to negate any other item listed on the itinerary. There was no nature walks, no waterfalls, no orchid farms, chocolate factories or ziplining. All of which we had talked about briefly. We ate lunch, which took a while, but he chose the restaurant. And then he was in a rush to get back. I did want to do a quick picture stop at the monument of the middle of the world, but he rushed us into the museum. The museum was also nice, but.. if our time was so limited where we could only pick one thing… what I really wanted to do was go birdwatching in the cloud forest. Like the title of the trip. Like walking in nature quietly to look for wildlife. Like the description of this in Viator seemed to indicate. We didn’t do that at all, and I don’t think our guide knew much about or was particularly interested in birds anyway. His focus seemed to be on general tours, like the populations of each city and what they manufacture and things. I was so disappointed. My recommendation to anyone looking to go birdwatching would be to find transportation to Mindo. They have a great bus system here. I doubt a taxi would cost the $320 it did for the 2 of us to take this tour either. Stay the night in Mindo and then find a tour company there maybe. There were a lot of little excursion companies advertising birding tours.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Dear Madame Heaher, i personally talked to you on the phone and asked you what would you like to do, i did it the day before the tour starts and you said that you are not interested in seing birds or walk and you even wanted to ask to start later at 8AM (8AM to see birds ?) because you said you are coming in the tour with the grand daughter 10 years old of age and she would like to enjoy only hummingbirds, butterflies and chocolate tour, so then you asked me also for an even later pick up which was at 8AM from the airport which is even further pick up than from Quito city. Madame Heather Wilson you must know that Viator is where you booked the tour and not all you paid is for Andres your guide. it was a private tour just for you with private transportation. I recieved a notice from Viator booking platform that you informed to Viator "the guide or driver did not show up" and you are asking for a refund, wow. I do have videos and pictures about how happy you were on the tour with your grand daughter. You even asked Andres to stop at the Equator line. Tour lasted 13 hours. Please Madame be honest and sincere. Happy future travels but travel please with love, respect and honesty.

Lovely and memorable day with the birds and nature

Tammy_B, Jun 2025

We had a wonderful day with Richard. He customized our experience to what we are interested in and made good recommendations to avoid wasting time if, for example, he knew the birds would not be out in one location so he suggested a different one. He knows all the roads because he used to live there. We saw tons of hummingbirds as well as two different types of toucans, parrotlets and many others. Richard is so knowledgeable he just rattles off the names as we see them. He estimated we saw 45 different species of birds. We walked up the trail to the waterfall cascades with him commenting on the plants, birds, and wildlife along the way. There was also a stop to buy some chocolate and taste the liquers. We are so glad we did this in lieu of the standard cruise line city tour. When we described it to the other passengers who did the standard tour, several of them said they wished they had done the same thing. Recommendations: Make sure to bring water and hand sanitizer/wipes, as well as layers because it was chilly in the morning but hot a few hours later. Try to start as early as possible. We flew in late the night before so we started at 7:15 am, but I wish we had been able to start earlier.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you so much for your visit and thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide. People like you make this world much better.

Great private tour!

Megan_S, May 2025

Richard was great and helped us create a memorable day out of our short time in Ecuador. He was very knowledgeable about birds and where to find them and ensured we were able to accomplish everything on our tour list visiting the cloud forest.

Wonderful day on a private tour

Karen_U, Mar 2025

Great day watching hummingbirds, toucans and so many more birds. Also enjoyed the butterflies, orchids, and chocolate in Mindo. Stopped for lunch at a spot with grilled trout and opportunities to see more birds.

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Thank you very much Karen to you and your loved ones. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide and above all for trusting me to make a nice tailored made tour to your needs. Thank you so much.

My friend and I went to...

Nancy_D, Feb 2025

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Thank you very much for your visit to the cloud forest and allowing me to be your guide.

An Unforgettable Experience of birding

Yi_F, Jun 2024

We recently enjoyed a 2-day private bird photography guide tour that exceeded all my expectations. From the start, our guide, Richard, showcased impressive knowledge of local bird species and the local ecosystem. In the early morning, we ventured into a dense forest, waking up very early to catch the Cock-of-the-rock's mating display before it ended. The early start was well worth it, as we witnessed and photographed these magnificent birds in their natural setting. Our guide’s familiarity with the terrain led us to prime spots for bird watching and photography. We were also in a beautiful remote mountain area, capturing stunning images of hummingbirds and tanagers in the morning light. We encountered three kinds of toucans, each more impressive than the last. The guide’s expertise ensured we were perfectly positioned for the best shots and provided fascinating insights into the behavior and habitats of each species. The personalized attention and exceptional service made this tour stand out. Every detail, from transportation to meals allows me to focus on photography and nature. This tour is a must for bird photography enthusiasts. The expert guidance, stunning locations, and personalized service made it an unforgettable experience. We came away with fantastic photographs and a deeper appreciation for bird photography. Some photos from this tour are displayed here.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Hi Yi, Thank you for your visit and allowing me to be your guide. Thank you very much also for allowing me to try your camera lens and letting me see your XQD card brand. It was one of my first bird photography tours. Kind regards

Birds of the Cloud Forest

Kimberly_N, Jun 2024

Richard was great! He is very personable. His flexibility helps make it a trip that suits your needs and interests. I had an amazing time on this tour!

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Thank you Kimberly, it was a pleasure to be your guide.

Great day spent with Richard!

Scott_C, Jan 2024

One of the highlights of our trip to Ecuador was our day in Mindo with Richard. He is an expert in spotting birds, is full of interesting information and stories, and truly cares about the cloud forest and its inhabitants. We saw everything from hummingbirds to toucans and mannekins, and absolutely recommend this tour to any other nature lover.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

It was a pleasure for me to be your guide, thank you so much for your visit.

Fun and friendly tour with Richard & saw impressive birds

Jessica_K, Jan 2024

We enjoyed our tour with Richard. He was funny and friendly and he took us to spots off the b beaten track where we were the only ones. We'd never bird-watched before, but we found seeing (in the wild!) Toucans, Hawks, Humming Birds and many other types of birds really enjoyable and special. We recommend a tour with Richard!

Excellent tour, no crowds, very knowledgeable guide

Dianne_H, Jul 2023

Our guide was very knowledgeable and we had a lot of say in what we did and how much time to spend. The highlights included: hike to waterfall, orchids, butterflies, hummingbirds and of course straddling the Equator. It was perfect for us.

Birding, Beauty, and Great Conversations

Jessica_R, Jun 2023

I cannot say enough good things about our tour with Richard! We arrived to Quito without most of our luggage and only had three hours of sleep before Richard arrived at our hotel. He was able to customize and adapt our trip to match our lack of energy and gear. Richard was an absolute expert on the local ecology, history, and culture, on top of that he had a absolute wonderful sense of humor. Our drive out to Mindo was full of grear conversations not just about the area but life, family, food and everything in between! Is knowledge of the flora and fauna was second to none! We were able to see hundreds of bird species, plants found no were else, as well recieving a great education on the environmental challenges with climate change and deforestation. Lastly, if you are a birder, book with Richard!

A wonderful learning day

Loretta_K, Jun 2023

Richard is an absolute genius! He knows every bird their sounds etc! Knows where to take you brilliant man.

Wonderful Experience in the Cloud Forest

Margaret_R, Apr 2023

Richard was absolutely fabulous! He was timely, knowledgeable, and flexible with plans throughout the day. His recommendations were perfect and we had so much fun! I would absolutely book this tour with Richard again and could not recommend it enough.

Fun day out

JAMES_W, Apr 2023

Great guide. Very knowledgeable. Does a good job of customizing exactly what you want to do and see.

Amazing cloudforest hummingbirds and beautiful butterflies, led by an authentic expert

Meg_A, Apr 2023

Richard Hernandez is a very experienced guide, for both tourism and nature. He shares his knowledge generously along with insights into his own life, which add so much to people who are passing through an unknown place. He picked us up at 7am. And dropped us off around 5 ,pm( in a raging Quito storm!) We visited 2 hummingbird Gardens and a butterfly breeding programme, as well as lunch at an eco-resort with gardens filled with toucans and agouti. If you are after an English speaking driver with general local knowledge, Richard may be overkill. But if you want to learn about the flora abd fauna, I'd recommend Richard

Mindo Tour and Coffee tour.

Steve_N, Dec 2022

Richard is a well experienced and knowledgeable naturalist and introduced me to many different toucan species, hummingbirds, and many other types of birds. He was flexible to tailor the tour to my personal interests showing me the best of the Mindo Cloud Forrest, coffee tour, bird sactuary, places to eat along the way. His unique background and direct approach make this one of my favorite tours in Equador and the Galapagos islands! Great Job.

Perfect tour

Peggy_S, Nov 2022

Tailor made to our desires, Richard created the perfect tour for us. Hiking, bird watching, and tram ride filled the day with time left to visit El Centro del Mundo.

What a great adventure!

Nancy_M, Oct 2022

When I saw this tour I noted that it listed a visit to an Orchid reserve and it was right up my alley, so I booked it. When Richard picked me up he asked what I had an interest in and I mentioned the orchids but also stated that I was ready to have an adventure off the beaten track and he definitely delivered! We went hiking in the Mindo Cloud forest and I saw and experienced so many wonderful things from the fruits of the area, the birds and the flora. When arriving I was incredibly amazed as I thought I saw a jaguar, but he said those were only in the Amazon. Since he didn't see the animal that I saw, he reached for his books and opened them to the animal pages. I immediately pointed to the Ocelot. He said he hadn't seen one of those in 24 years so I was incredibly lucky to have seen it. The whole entire day was amazing and even though we didn't see the orchid reserve, I was fascinated by what I did see and Richard was quite knowledgeable on so many aspects of the areas that we explored. I hope to get back someday so that I can explore other areas as Richard as my guide! So many thanks and I hope to see you when you visit Florida~

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Hi Nancy, Thank you so much for your visit and the kind of work you do for our students from our Universities of Ecuador, thank you so much. Incredible things happen when incredible people like you join to my tours in the cloud forest, your knowledge also about plants. It was a memorable day for me too. Please come back to visit Ecuador, our pleasure to host you here. My warmest regards

Fantastic bird watching experience

Savita_G, Jul 2022

We had a fantastic day doing this private and fully customized tour. We highly recommend the bird watching experience with Richard to all nature lovers! Thank you Richard!

Beautiful day trip from Quito! A “must do” for your list!

Shelley_W, May 2022

Richard picked me up on time at my hotel and asked a lot of questions to make sure I got to see and do everything I wanted. Saw so many species of birds that I never thought possible, toucans, tanagers, and so many hummingbirds! Such beautiful colors! The drive through the mountains was scenic and beautiful also. Took a short side hike through an orchid preserve on the way and hiked to a pretty waterfall.

Fantastic!

MARY_B, May 2022

Absolutely beautiful trip. Richard is a great guide, very knowledgeable. Had a wonderful time on the tour.

Best Birding tour for the bird lover!

Mike_S, Apr 2022

The Mindo cloud Tour was one of the best guided tours I have ever been on! Richard is very knowledgeable. He’s very outgoing and made the whole tour very fun! We could’ve done without the stop at the butterfly farm but other than that the day was phenomenal! Thank you Richard we greatly appreciate it!

Great day trip from Quito!

Pegeen_A, Apr 2022

Great tour! Nice hike to a waterfall! Loved the bird sanctuary! Amazing views of toucans and Humming birds

Mindo Cloud experience

Isabel_R, Mar 2022

Richard is a very professional guide, who knows a lot and has a passion for nature. He is curious and helped us see the details only an expert guide can see. He was flexible, adapting to the weather and circumstances, making it an unforgettable experience.

Richard picked me up at...

Anda_C, Mar 2022

Richard picked me up at hotel in time. His English is very good. He uses it, unfortunately, to talk about himself much more than about topics expected from an actual naturalist.

Response from Host, Apr 2022

I do appreciate very much your consideration about the free pick up/drop off that i did provide you from one of the most dangerous places in Quito where your hostel was. By the other hand, I am so sorry if I was not at the highest level of your scientific knowledge, I feel very bad for not having fulfilled your personal expectations of your usual type of tours I guess you are used to. Please, take my apologies, I'm just a simple cloud forest naturalist guide.

A custom tour of Mindo

Jerry, Mar 2022

Richard is a great guide. His tours are customized for each client. There are several choices available while driving toward Mindo. You might want to research some of them before your tour. Rain may become a factor, but dont let it prevent you from going. Start early and do outside things first. Richard's knowledge of plants, birds etc is extensive. You will enjoy your day

Amazing hiking and bird watching near Mindo

Ruth_L, Mar 2022

We had a fabulous nature-focused tour to the cloud forest - it was one of the best excursions I've done anywhere. Richard is super knowledgeable, friendly, and funny. He accommodated our interests and anticipated our needs. If you're considering a tour of the cloud forest/Mindo area, this is the one to choose.

Fantastic

ejbeatson, Nov 2019

Richard was knowledgeable and informative. He was prepared to be flexible and tailor the tour to meet my wishes. An excellent day with a delightful guide.