Trip Highlights
Explore Quito’s UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, one of the largest and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas, on a guided tour of its colonial architecture and famous monasteries
Stay in the heart of Mindo’s cloud forest, a lush, species-rich ecosystem where Andean and Chocó habitats meet
Spend two full days exploring with a local naturalist who knows where to find the region’s birds, orchids, and hidden wildlife
Look for colorful tanagers, toucans, and an astonishing variety of hummingbirds, which make Mindo one of the world’s great birding destinations
About This Trip
This four-day extension pairs Ecuador's Andean capital with the cloud forest of Mindo. In Quito, a guided tour covers the city's UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, its colonial history, and well-known monasteries.
From there, travel down the western slope of the Andes to Mindo, where you’ll stay at either Séptimo Paraíso or El Monte, both nestled in the cloud forest.
Mindo lies in one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, where Andean and Chocó ecosystems meet. Over two full days with a local naturalist, you’ll explore moss-draped trails, rivers, and waterfalls, looking for tanagers, toucans, dozens of hummingbird species, and the orchids and epiphytes that thrive in this misty, mid-elevation forest. It pairs well with the Galápagos: two of Ecuador’s most extraordinary ecosystems on one trip.
What's Included
3 nights' accommodations in Mindo, round-trip transfers from a Quito airport hotel, English-speaking guide, meals (from Day one dinner to last day's breakfast)
What's Not Included
Hotel nights in Quito before/ after extension, gratuity, alcoholic beverages, gratuity, single supplement.
Itinerary
Sample Itinerary
Arrive in Quito and book your own night at an airport hotel; we recommend the EB Hotel or Wyndham Quito Airport, both convenient for the next morning’s pickup. Quito sits at about 9,350 feet, so take it easy, hydrate, and rest up. If your Galápagos cruise routes through Guayaquil, we can help arrange a connecting flight to Quito.
After an early pickup from your airport hotel (around 7:00 a.m.; exact time confirmed before departure), join a three-hour guided tour of Quito’s historic Old Town to see its colonial plazas, churches, and monasteries. Then travel west into the cloud forest to Mindo, where you’ll check in at your choice of either Séptimo Paraíso or El Monte Sustainable Lodge and spend the evening listening to the sounds of the forest.
Spend a full day exploring Mindo’s cloud forest with your local naturalist. Outings may include early-morning birding, forest trails, and river or waterfall hikes, with plenty of time to look for hummingbirds, tanagers, orchids, and other cloud forest life. A second full day of guided nature outings offers the chance to explore new trails and habitats or revisit favorite spots. Your naturalist will tailor the day to conditions and the group’s interests, from birding to botany to waterfall hikes.
Accommodations
Photo by Septimo Paraiso
Photo by El Monte Sustainable Lodge
Naturalist(s)
Your expedition will be led by one or more of the following expert naturalist guides:
