Mindo
Practical Guide: Transport and Tips
Getting from Quito to Mindo
Taking the bus from Quito to Mindo is pretty straightforward. Buses leave from Terminal La Ofelia, located on the north side of Quito. If you’re staying in the historical center, it’s about 30–45 minutes away. We took an Uber for $4.
At the terminal, buy your ticket from the Valle de Flor booth. This is the only company that operates buses to Mindo. The ticket costs $3.60, and buses fill up quickly, so arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.
Safety Tips:
• Keep valuables with you. Do not store anything overhead.
• If you have a large backpack, store it in the hold, but only if it doesn’t contain anything valuable.
Bus Schedule (Quito → Mindo)
- Monday to Friday: 8:00, 9:00, 11:00, 16:00
- Saturday & Sunday: 8:00, 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 16:00
The bus ride takes 2–2.5 hours and arrives at the Mindo Valle de Flor terminal on the town’s main street. This is also where return buses to Quito depart.
Many blogs mention that the route is extremely winding and that motion sickness tablets might be necessary. We personally didn’t find it bad, but your experience may vary.
Where to stay in Mindo
There are plenty of lodging options, from budget to high-end. Since Mindo is quite touristy, prices can be a bit higher. We paid around $10 per person per night for basic accommodations at Home Capybara Stay.
A 2-day stay was enough to explore the town and its surroundings.
Mindo to Quito
Return buses leave from the Valle de Flor bus station (same as the arrival point). Buses fill up fast, so buy your return ticket early!
Bus Schedule (Mindo → Quito)
- Monday to Friday: 6:30, 11:00, 15:15, 16:30
- Saturday & Sunday: 6:30, 11:00, 15:15, 16:00, 16:45
Things to Do in Mindo (nature, nature, nature)
Mindo Hermit Trails
The Mindo Hermit Trail is an absolute must-do for bird lovers! You walk 5 minutes up from the entrance to a small building. Entry costs $5 per person, and you can see over 40 species of hummingbirds up close. Some even land on your hand if you have nectar.
• We saw at least 40 individual hummingbirds in an hour, plus other bird species and even an agouti munching on a banana. The guides are very knowledgeable and answer all your hummingbird-related questions.
• There are two trails you can walk on your own: 30-minute trail along a small river and a 2-hour trail with more chances to see birds and insects.
White-booted racket-tail hummingbird (Ocreatus underwoodii).
Mindo Hermit Trails Night Walk
The same guides from the Hermit Trail also offer guided night walks for $15 per person. They picked us up from our hostel, and they provided lights and boots. If your accommodation is outside town, you’ll need to pay extra for pick-up.
What we saw in 2 hours:
- Owls
- Glass frogs
- Tarantulas
- Hummingbird nests (with birds inside!)
- Stick insects
- Whip scorpion (my target species for Mindo!)
The night after, we tried a small solo evening walk on the road near the Hermit Trails, hoping to spot more wildlife. Not much luck this time, but we did see huge fireflies, which was still a cool experience.
You can contact them on Whatsapp through their website:
https://sites.google.com/view/mindo-hermit-trails/night-walks?authuser=0
The 5 Waterfall Hike
The 5-waterfall hike is a half-day to a full day trip (depending on how long you want to hike).
Getting to the Trailhead:
- The trailhead (Tarabita Mindo) is 7 km from the town center.
- If you’re on a budget, you can walk there, but it’s not great: long, steep, boring, and lots of traffic.
- Taxi cost: $4–6 (tourist price), takes 20 minutes.
At the top, take the yellow cable car (Teleférico Mindo) for $5 per person. There was an alternative hiking route, but it’s currently closed.
There are three trail options:
- Route 1: 20 min to one waterfall (Nambillo)
- Route 2: ~1 hour to reach one waterfall (Reina)
- Route 3: Best option! Takes you to five waterfalls (listed as 35 min, but we took longer to enjoy the scenery and take photos).
The trails are well marked so no offline GPS map is needed. If you have enough time, I would recommend doing all of them, starting with Route 3. Start as early as possible (before 12 PM) to avoid crowds at the waterfalls.
If you arrive early, there is also a better chance to spot wildlife, especially birds as they are very active in the morning. We were lucky to spot some
Crimson-rumped toucanets along the way!
Crimson-rumped toucanet (Aulacorhynchus haematopygus)
Cascada Madre
To return to Mindo, take the cable car back to the starting point. You don't have to pay again for the cable cart (only one way).
We originally planned to walk the 7 km back, but we got lucky, there was a truck offering rides for $1 per person. It was a rough ride (dodging branches included), but definitely worth it!
Final thoughts
Mindo is a great 2-day trip from Quito, especially if you love nature and wildlife. The hummingbird experience and night walk were highlights, and the waterfall hike was a great way to explore the cloud forest.
One regret? We didn’t see the famous Ecuadorian national bird: the Cock-of-the-Rock. It’s only visible twice a day for 20 minutes, early in the morning or at dusk. Maybe next time!
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