KT1970 (US) – Tripadvisor review

I have traveled quite a bit and this is one of the nicest overall hotel experiences I have ever had in my life. Here’s why: first and foremost, David, Marlon and the rest of the staff are so, so nice and accommodating. It’s like staying with friends (friends with boundaries – do not fear, they are not overly intrusive, they are perfect). Customer service is absolutely their number one priority. Any time we needed anything, they went out of their way to make it happen and never made us feel like we were any trouble for asking. When we wanted to go zip lining, they drove us there and then picked us up; they also drove us into town a few times (a pleasant 20 minute walk but not one we wanted to make EVERY time) and over to see the butterfly farm (which I highly recommend). They just could not have been nicer. On top of that, the place is STUNNING with amazing views of the beautiful valley from the bungalows. It was so pleasant sitting on my deck watching hummingbirds and butterflies visit all the beautiful plantings outside (very few bugs). Everything is immaculately clean. I wish I’d had time for a bath in the big whirlpool tub with windows looking out over the valley — and I am a germ freak so would never have dreamed of using a hotel bath before (even at some of the 4 star luxury hotels I’ve been lucky enough to stay in), but this one was so clean I think you could have eaten out of it. The bed was super comfortable with high quality linens and firm and soft pillow choices (this last was not our consistent experience in Ecuador, even though we stayed in other very nice hotels; this is a thrifty country, which I think is awesome, but one place we stayed that was very high end still had weirdly ancient linens on their beds!). Breakfast was delicious and cooked to order with many options. Also, David’s English is really excellent, which was a nice break for me as my Spanish is horrible. Went with my husband and three teenage sons and all of us loved it here. An amazing value for what you get.

Tonny (BE) – Booking.com review

During our recent trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos, we stayed at 10 different locations. Las Terrazas de Dana by far was our best lodge. No doubts about this! Everything was really outstanding at this lodge: the rooms are superb, clean and quiet; the service is top notch (very friendly and helpful staff); their food (breakfast and dinner) were the best we got in Ecuador; their recommendations for local activities were spot on; etc. Wish all travel experiences were as excellent as at Las Terrazas de Dana. This is a dream property at a dream location, ran by extremely helpful, experienced and knowledgeable people. Travel at its best!

walkabouttoday (US) – Tripadvisor review

This hotel has only 4 cabins so the attention and service are first rate and outstanding. Rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable with great views of the valley and mountain range. It lies slightly outside of town so away from the hustle and bustle of Mindo which I loved. The road to the waterfalls is very close and is a good location for birding – particularly closer to the top. We had our own car so were able to drive to town for meals when we wanted or stay at the hotel for meals. The meals here were all good. The hotel is within walking distance of town if you wanted to walk. They only have three or four neighbors further down the dead end road from them so very little traffic along the one lane road fortunately. The property has a small footprint so birding on site is limited. My only nit which I had with every place we stayed in Ecuador is that the water temperature in the shower varies and doesn’t maintain a constant temperature once you find a comfortable setting otherwise you couldn’t ask for a better experience. The hill getting to the rooms is a little steep but any walking in Ecuador is going to involve walking up or down hill. The hotel is also not far from the river which you can hear roaring constantly in the distance.

Charlene S (US) – Tripadvisor review

Not sure where to start because everything was so outstanding. The meals were some of the best we had during our entire 3-week trip. Fresh and delicious at all times. David and Marlon were waiting on us hand and foot every time we appeared in the common room. They made sure we had filtered water for our outings and in our room, and drove us into town if they were available. We did some birding and saw many fabulous birds including Cock o’ the Rock with a local guide whom David arranged. Our lovely and spacious room had a large terrace with an outstanding view into the valley and we saw many birds from there, including 2 Araçari toucans who came to the tree right outside one morning. The grounds are lush with many hummingbirds, heliconia, banana and papaya trees, flowering vines,etc. etc. We had a great time at Terrazas and highly recommend it to anyone interested in the beautiful Mindo area.

Crowhollow (US) – Tripadvisor review

We enjoyed 3 nights at Las Terrazas de Dana lodge and I would have liked to have stayed longer because it was so pleasant and relaxing. The staff (David, Marlon, Veronica, etc) were extremely helpful and regularly went the extra mile to make their guests’ stay relaxing and memorable. The birdlife viewed from our deck was wonderful-our last morning we just relaxed and watched it all unfold from the deck rather than going elsewhere to bird watch. The location is close to other good birdwatching areas, such as the road to the waterfall.
As others have mentioned, breakfast is very tasty and served on your deck if you like. (Try the Ecuadoran breakfast) They were very considerate to offer breakfast later in the morning after we arrived back from a birding trip.
Walk to town is easy (15-20 min) or an inexpensive taxi ride. If staff/vehicle is available, an offer to drop you off is not uncommon. We did not take advantage of dinner at the hotel but it is nice that it is available if you don’t want to go to town and the menu offerings looked tasty.
I was also impressed by this hotel’s environmental commitment-for example, energy efficient lighting, recycling and on-site waste-water treatment (not required and uncommon in this part of the world).

Osmaraa2017, (US) – Tripadvisor review

David, Marlon and the team at Las Terrazas de Dana couldn’t have been more welcoming and accommodating during our two night stay in Mindo. David arranged our transportation from and to Quito, Marlon picked us up exactly at the time we told them we would be ready, Our cabin was fantastic, it was very private and the views of the cloud forest are phenomenal! The next day our breakfast was served in our balcony exactly at the time we asked them to bring our breakfast, the food was was amazing (try el Tigrillo). We ate dinner one night in and it was one of the best dinners I had in Ecuador during my entire stay. I must say It’s the little things David and his staff do for their guests that makes this place so special; after a long day of hiking I came back to the lodge and mentioned that I had a headache right away they offered to make me a ginger/cinnamon tea and took it up to my room (at no charge), if we left the lodge for a walk they made sure to give us water bottles, they arranged taxis to take us to various places around town but only if their car was not available otherwise they would take us. David takes the time to get to know his guests and takes pride in the service he provides. I would definitely recommend staying at “Las Terrazas de Dana” everything was truly excellent.

Steven Diprose, (GB) – Booking.com review

David, Marlon and the team at Las Terrazas de Dana made our the night stay in Mindo incredible and we can’t thank them enough for everything during our stay. The breakfasts were excellent and we recommend the Tigrillo, a local dish of fried plantain, cheese and onion, topped with a fried egg. The fresh juices are delicious and the code strong and tasty without being bitter. The evening meals were also excellent with soups and salads to start, and various meat dishes with the menu changing every day. Their sangria is excellent, as are their hone made caiprinhas ‘de Mindo’. The bungalows, of which there are only 4, are elegantly appointed with incredible views out over the cloud forest. There is netting over the windows that open, and leaving then open lets you wake up to the sound of the birds and the nearby river – literally nothing else. The guys will serve breakfast on your balcony if you request; eating with hummingbirds feeding in the adjacent bushes is an incredible privilege. There is a TV in the room, but we didn’t even turn it on. There is a Jacuzzi in the bathroom which was excellent to relax in after a long morning of birding (which they will arrange for you) and afternoon of walking around the nearby waterfalls. David or Marlon will drive you to the various attractions if their 4×4 is not already in use, or call you a taxi otherwise. We’ve literally nothing bad to say about this place, we loved every minute of our stay, and of Mindo in general. Thanks so much.

Margmarg (HK) – Tripadvisor review

Can’t say enough about the service provided by david, marlon, and the rest of the staff – it was five star while the feeling was like being a guest in someones home. Property itself is fantastic – villas a small walk up from the reception through a lush garden, paths lit by eco friendly solar powered automatic lighting, and a beautiful balcony looking out into the hills that are covered in clouds every morning, with hummingbirds buzzing about the garden. any/all meals could be be brought to balcony, and was delicious. tv had satellite, and while wifi was spotty at times, this was likely due to remote mindo location itself and moreover, david (owner/manager) provides his whatsapp so a quick message down (if you have a phone with working data) and he will reset the router or help with anything else needed. it was small things like this that impressed me the most. other examples were prompt email responses ahead of the trip – i wanted to book mindo tours through them and thought direct booking would need to book the entire package – but still wanted to collect nights on hotels.com, and david happily told me to go ahead and book the hotel separately and took out the hotel cost from the package. activities he helped set up were great and he and marlon our driver were very accommodative and flexibile – if it was raining we would adjust an outdoor activity for a chocolate making tour, or if enroute from airport or quito, marlon would point out the center of the world tour site and we asked to stop and go for quick look and that was fine. we also got wet during the waterfall hike so on way back to hotel we asked to do tubing while we were still wet and marlon sorted everything out (tubing and ziplining are must try) laundry was also provided any time and was a great help for us after 10 days in the galapagos. in fact, i would suggest staying here for a few days after a lengthy galapagos trip (we did diving liveaboard and land tours) is the perfect way to unwind before heading home or onwards to another destination in south america. food was also good with fresh juice and local craft beers included in meals and reasonably priced wine bottles. if there was one half-complaint it would be that small flies get into the villa and were sometimes a nuisance at night, though they were not mosquitos. nets were provided on request and eventually noticed they were mostly fireflies , so it provided a nice show to sleep to.

Peggy (US) – Tripadvisor review

We spent 3 nights at Las Terrazas de Dana Lodge in Mindo. This picturesque retreat is nestled in the sub-tropical jungle outside Mindo. David, the owner, was very welcoming, as was the staff there. This is a 4 cabin property and each cabin is very private with a lovely porch perfect for watching the hummingbirds and relaxing. We spent a lot of time bird watching (guide Alex was fantastic), taking the cable car to the waterfalls, hiking and enjoying the quiet town of Mindo. Many thanks to David for building such a gorgeous retreat.

Humbie (BE) – Tripadvisor review

I stayed with a buddy for 2 nights in early October. At arrival during heavy rainfall we experienced right away the extra mile that David and his staff does for his guests, as he ran out the door to greet us with umbrellas and carried our, quite heavy, luggage up a long flight of stairs up to our lodges. The lodges are amazing and have a stunning view from the balcony on the exotic gardens, where a lot of birds can be seen, and of course on the cloud forest. To finish it off, both breakfast and dinner were very tasty which we enjoyed a lot. Conclusion: when in Mindo, go to Dana, which is actually named after one of the dogs and who is the mascotte of the place!!

Kathleen (US) – Tripadvisor review
We unfortunately only had scheduled one night in Mindo, but were so lucky to have found Las Terrazas de Dana Lodge via Tripadvisor. The experience was everything we had hoped and it lived up to all the superlative reviews. The owner, David, and his assistant, Marlin, are incredibly helpful — suggesting high points not to be missed in a brief stay. The cable car across the valley and the hikes to 6 waterfalls was a high point of our time in Ecuador. David was kind enough to drive us both ways to the site and back. We also were lucky enough to have bungalow 2; from its porch we looked across the Cloud Forrest and it provided an amazing setting for evening wine and morning breakfast. Mindo is 1 and !/2 hrs from Quito and definitely worth the commute.

Joe (US) – Tripadvisor review

My wife and I spent the month of Aug in Ecuador and three nights at “dana las torrozas de” in Mindo EC; the highlight of our trip. Mindo is a typical Ecuador village with not much to offer with exception of the local attractions all good and inexpensive. We found the cloud forest magnificent and staying at dana’s we were surrounded by the forest. Our bungalow overlooked the valley and breakfast each morning on the deck watching the sunrise along with the hummingbirds almost within reach who stayed throughout the day
Since dana’s is about two miles outside the village, Marlin the all-around guy at the lodge drove us where we needed to go and a $2.00 taxi return. David the owner and along with Marlin were quite ready to service our requirements. The rooms are very unique and exceptionally clean. Each has a hot Tube with jets which we used after our visit to the waterfalls, quite an adventure for a couple of old folks.
Now the bonus: The food was outstanding a breakfast consisting of fruit, yogurt, eggs anyway, coffee and juice of fresh fruit. After arriving late, the first night we eat and our room and was pleasantly surprised with dinner that was equal to any. We eat the next two nights at the lodge enjoying trout and shrimp prepared differently each night. I all most forgot David had surprise deserts each night to die for.
If you do visit “dana las terrazos de” lodge say hello to David and Marlin from Annette and Joe.
A wonderful place to enjoy some relaxing days in the cloud forest of Ecuador.

Review on Tripadvisor from Belgium

What a stunning location to spend some great relaxing times. David, the owner, was always present in order to provide the best possible dedicated service to his guests. When we arrived, it was raining cats and dogs. David was welcoming us with umbrellas and carried our luggage to the bungalows. The view of the balconies is just amazing. The place is located in the middle of the Mindo cloud forest and has lot of tropical vegetation. When you wake up in the morning with the rising sun and the birds singing you feel great to start your day. The bungalows are spotless and brand new with all the comfort and luxury you need. The food is excellent, each day you can choose between different options. You can also enjoy the breakfast and dinner on your private balcony while looking at the hummingbirds and lots of other tropical birds. In the Mindo region there are more than 450 different bird species. I don’t post reviews very often, but in this case I just needed to do it, the place is just amazing.

Brian (US) – Tripadvisor.com review

Las Terrazas de Dana Lodge has four brand new stand-alone bungalows, each with a balcony overlooking a beautiful cloud forest valley. The bungalows are modern and spotless. The grounds are loaded with interesting fruit and flowering plants which attract tons of tropical birds, including hummingbirds everywhere you look. It is the perfect example of a modern, clean, small scale operation sitting in the middle of a spectacular and bio-diverse setting.

The rooms come with breakfast included. The food was excellent with several options from a custom menu each day and an offer to accommodate any special requests. The meals always included lots of fresh fruits and juices. You had the choice of eating at the restaurant or having the food brought to your private balcony. I usually enjoyed my breakfast after taking a sunrise walk around the grounds and along the nearby river. We usually ate dinner or lunch there as well. Again, the menu options were always delicious and interesting.

Although you couldn’t ask for more from an eco-lodge, what really stands out about this place is the service. David (owner/resident) was ever-present on the grounds. We would talk each day about the types of things we were interested in doing. If we knew exactly what we wanted, he was on the phone making the arrangements/reservations, etc. Often times he (or Marlon from his staff) would take us. Sometimes they would stay with us or come back to pick us up and always, at a minimum, pre-arrange with the staff at the place we were visiting to get us a cab (always extremely cheap BTW) back to the lodge when we were done. If we were looking for recommendations, he always had excellent ideas for us. Our ride back to the airport with Marlon was a fun all-day adventure in itself including a couple interesting stops along the way and a soccer game in Quito. This was so far above and beyond that I really do not have words to describe it.

Mindo is an easy, pleasant, and interesting 15 minute walk away. I had eight days in Ecuador and originally planned to stay the first four at Las Terrazas. But I decided to stay all eight. This is the perfect lodge and the perfect place to use as a base to explore the region.

Andrea (US) – Booking.com review

“Everything on site is newly constructed. Spacious room, comfy bed, big TV, large bathroom, WiFi, delicious food, and friendly hospitality. Beautiful view of Mindo Valley. Owner/operator David Brito speaks fluent English, he was very helpful in many ways throughout our stay. Great place to come home to after a long day hiking. Jetted spa is a lifesaver!”