Mindo is a small town, surrounded by cattle ranches, rivers and cloud forest, on the western flanks of the Pichincha volcano. It is particularly interesting because of its proximity to the nearly 20,000 hectare cloud forest reserve Bosque Protector Mindo-Nambillo. In addition to countless hummingbirds, curasses, tangaras and other bird species, the rare cock-of-the-rock (cock-of-the-rock) lives here.
From Mindo you can do all kinds of activities: hiking, horseback riding, bathing in waterfalls, rafting and kayaking, birdwatching, etc.

This is one of the best places in Ecuador for bird watching. There are orchid gardens, butterfly farms, frog farms and the hummingbirds can be admired unabashedly at the feeding bowls hanging everywhere.

Mindo is only 80 km from Quito, so it can be busy on weekends and holidays. But around Mindo there are many lodges and private reserves, some of excellent quality and with very interesting guides and programs. So it makes little sense to stay in the town of Mindo itself.