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Mindo Travel Blogby Las Terrazas de Dana

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Mindo Cloud Forest Travel Blog

By Las Terrazas de Dana Boutique Lodge & Spa — we live here, we run the tours, and every price in this guide was verified on the ground.

Birding

Hummingbirds, antpittas, cock-of-the-rock and the Chocó Andino.

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock Lek in Mindo: Dawn & Dusk Show
Andean Cock-of-the-Rock Lek in Mindo: Dawn & Dusk ShowBirding
Antpittas of Mindo: The Paz de las Aves Experience Guide
Antpittas of Mindo: The Paz de las Aves Experience GuideBirding
Birding in Mindo for Beginners: Where to Start (2026 Guide)
Birding in Mindo for Beginners: Where to Start (2026 Guide)Birding
Best Time for Birdwatching in Mindo: Seasons & Species Guide
Best Time for Birdwatching in Mindo: Seasons & Species GuideBirding
Bird Photography in Mindo: Hides, Feeders & Tour Options
Bird Photography in Mindo: Hides, Feeders & Tour OptionsBirding
Chocó Andino Birding Itineraries: 3, 5 and 7-Day Programs
Chocó Andino Birding Itineraries: 3, 5 and 7-Day ProgramsBirding
Where to Stay for Birding in Mindo: Lodges & Birding Hotels
Where to Stay for Birding in Mindo: Lodges & Birding HotelsBirding
Three Altitudes in One Day: Mindo's Birding Elevations
Three Altitudes in One Day: Mindo's Birding ElevationsBirding
Birdwatching in Mindo: The Complete Guide (500+ Species)
Birdwatching in Mindo: The Complete Guide (500+ Species)Birding
Birding the Chocó Andino: Mindo's Global Significance
Birding the Chocó Andino: Mindo's Global SignificanceBirding
Mindo Birding Checklist: 50 Species to Look For
Mindo Birding Checklist: 50 Species to Look ForBirding
Hummingbirds of Mindo: 30+ Species, Where to See Them
Hummingbirds of Mindo: 30+ Species, Where to See ThemBirding
Mindo's Christmas Bird Count: 400+ Species in One Day
Mindo's Christmas Bird Count: 400+ Species in One DayBirding
Plate-billed Mountain Toucan: Mindo's Cloud Forest Icon
Plate-billed Mountain Toucan: Mindo's Cloud Forest IconBirding
Tanagers of Mindo: 20 Species and Where to See Them
Tanagers of Mindo: 20 Species and Where to See ThemBirding
Toucans of the Mindo Cloud Forest: Where & When
Toucans of the Mindo Cloud Forest: Where & WhenBirding

Activities

Waterfalls, tarabita, chocolate, zipline and night walks.

Chocolate Tour in Mindo: Yumbos vs Mindo Chocolate Makers
Chocolate Tour in Mindo: Yumbos vs Mindo Chocolate MakersActivities
Cooking Classes & Local Food in Mindo
Cooking Classes & Local Food in MindoActivities
The Mindo frog concert: night walk to Lago Mindo
The Mindo frog concert: night walk to Lago MindoActivities
Mindo Butterfly Farm: Species, Hours & Tickets
Mindo Butterfly Farm: Species, Hours & TicketsActivities
Mindo-Nambillo Reserve: Trails, Waterfalls & Entrance
Mindo-Nambillo Reserve: Trails, Waterfalls & EntranceActivities
Mindo vs the Ecuadorian Amazon: Which Rainforest Trip?
Mindo vs the Ecuadorian Amazon: Which Rainforest Trip?Activities
Mindo Waterfalls & Ruta de las Cascadas: Which Ones to Hike
Mindo Waterfalls & Ruta de las Cascadas: Which Ones to HikeActivities
Night Walks in Mindo: Frogs, Kinkajous & Nocturnal Wildlife
Night Walks in Mindo: Frogs, Kinkajous & Nocturnal WildlifeActivities
Orchids of the Cloud Forest: Mindo's Hidden Treasures
Orchids of the Cloud Forest: Mindo's Hidden TreasuresActivities
Refugio Paz de las Aves: What to Expect (Add-On or Not?)
Refugio Paz de las Aves: What to Expect (Add-On or Not?)Activities
Mindo Tarabita Cable Car: Prices, Opening Hours & Tips
Mindo Tarabita Cable Car: Prices, Opening Hours & TipsActivities
River Tubing & Rafting in Mindo: When the Rivers Are Runnin
River Tubing & Rafting in Mindo: When the Rivers Are RunninActivities
Mindo Canopy Zip-Line: Operators, Prices and Safety
Mindo Canopy Zip-Line: Operators, Prices and SafetyActivities

Planning

Getting there, where to stay, costs and packing.

Best time to visit Mindo
Best time to visit MindoPlanning
How to Get to Mindo from Quito: Bus, Transfer & Route Map
How to Get to Mindo from Quito: Bus, Transfer & Route MapPlanning
Mindo Altitude & Climate: What the Elevation Means for You
Mindo Altitude & Climate: What the Elevation Means for YouPlanning
Mindo Trip Budget: What a Cloud Forest Trip Costs (2026)
Mindo Trip Budget: What a Cloud Forest Trip Costs (2026)Planning
Mindo Cloud Forest Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Mindo Cloud Forest Guide: Everything You Need to KnowPlanning
Mindo Day Trip vs Overnight: Why Two Nights Beats One
Mindo Day Trip vs Overnight: Why Two Nights Beats OnePlanning
Mindo Travel FAQ: 20 Questions Answered
Mindo Travel FAQ: 20 Questions AnsweredPlanning
Mindo with Kids: Family Guide to the Cloud Forest
Mindo with Kids: Family Guide to the Cloud ForestPlanning
What to Pack for Mindo: Cloud Forest Essentials Checklist
What to Pack for Mindo: Cloud Forest Essentials ChecklistPlanning
Where to Stay in Mindo: Hotels, Lodges & Boutique Options
Where to Stay in Mindo: Hotels, Lodges & Boutique OptionsPlanning

Month by Month

Weather and what to expect every month.

Mindo in April: Weather, Rain and What to Expect
Mindo in April: Weather, Rain and What to ExpectMonth by Month
Mindo in August: Weather, Birding and Travel Tips
Mindo in August: Weather, Birding and Travel TipsMonth by Month
Mindo in December: Rain, CBC Season and Travel Tips
Mindo in December: Rain, CBC Season and Travel TipsMonth by Month
Mindo in February: Weather and What to Expect
Mindo in February: Weather and What to ExpectMonth by Month
Mindo in January: Weather, Rain and Birding
Mindo in January: Weather, Rain and BirdingMonth by Month
Mindo in July: Weather, Birding and Travel Tips
Mindo in July: Weather, Birding and Travel TipsMonth by Month
Mindo in June: Weather, Birding and Travel Tips
Mindo in June: Weather, Birding and Travel TipsMonth by Month
Mindo in March: Weather, Rain and What to Expect
Mindo in March: Weather, Rain and What to ExpectMonth by Month
Mindo in May: Weather, Birding and Travel Tips
Mindo in May: Weather, Birding and Travel TipsMonth by Month
Mindo in November: Weather and What to Expect
Mindo in November: Weather and What to ExpectMonth by Month
Mindo in October: Weather, Rain and Birding
Mindo in October: Weather, Rain and BirdingMonth by Month
Mindo in September: Weather and Travel Tips
Mindo in September: Weather and Travel TipsMonth by Month

Itineraries

2-4 day plans and Galápagos + Mindo combinations.

2 Days in Mindo: Birding, Waterfalls & Cloud Forest
2 Days in Mindo: Birding, Waterfalls & Cloud ForestItineraries
3 Days in Mindo: The Full Cloud Forest Itinerary
3 Days in Mindo: The Full Cloud Forest ItineraryItineraries
Mindo After Your Galápagos Cruise: 2-4 Days of Decompression
Mindo After Your Galápagos Cruise: 2-4 Days of DecompressionItineraries
Mindo and Galápagos: How to Combine the Two Ecosystems
Mindo and Galápagos: How to Combine the Two EcosystemsItineraries
One Day in Mindo: The Perfect Cloud Forest Itinerary
One Day in Mindo: The Perfect Cloud Forest ItineraryItineraries
Quito & Mindo Before Your Galápagos Cruise: The Perfect Start
Quito & Mindo Before Your Galápagos Cruise: The Perfect StartItineraries

All-Inclusive Programs

Everything-included stays at the lodge.

Custom Mindo Programs: Tailor-Made Cloud Forest Stays
Custom Mindo Programs: Tailor-Made Cloud Forest StaysAll-Inclusive Programs
Mindo 2 Days / 1 Night: Cloud Forest at a Glance ($530)
Mindo 2 Days / 1 Night: Cloud Forest at a Glance ($530)All-Inclusive Programs
Mindo 3 Days / 2 Nights: Relaxed Exploration ($820)
Mindo 3 Days / 2 Nights: Relaxed Exploration ($820)All-Inclusive Programs
Mindo 4 Days / 3 Nights: Full Chocó Experience ($1,130)
Mindo 4 Days / 3 Nights: Full Chocó Experience ($1,130)All-Inclusive Programs
Mindo All-Inclusive Guide: How Our Programs Work
Mindo All-Inclusive Guide: How Our Programs WorkAll-Inclusive Programs

Galápagos Complimentary

Your Mindo stay with a Dana Tours cruise.

Best of Ecuador: Galápagos, Quito and Cloud Forest
Best of Ecuador: Galápagos, Quito and Cloud ForestGalápagos Complimentary
Complimentary Mindo Package with Your Galápagos Cruise
Complimentary Mindo Package with Your Galápagos CruiseGalápagos Complimentary
Galápagos Cruise + Mindo Cloud Forest: Why Combine Them?
Galápagos Cruise + Mindo Cloud Forest: Why Combine Them?Galápagos Complimentary
Galápagos to Mindo: Transfers & Logistics After the Cruise
Galápagos to Mindo: Transfers & Logistics After the CruiseGalápagos Complimentary

The Lodge

Rooms, spa, food and programs at Las Terrazas de Dana.

Birding Programs from the Lodge: 3 to 12-Day Packages
Birding Programs from the Lodge: 3 to 12-Day PackagesThe Lodge
Luxury Bungalows in Mindo: The 10 Rooms at Las Terrazas
Luxury Bungalows in Mindo: The 10 Rooms at Las TerrazasThe Lodge
Las Terrazas de Dana Guide: What to Expect at the Lodge
Las Terrazas de Dana Guide: What to Expect at the LodgeThe Lodge
Mindo Restaurant Guide: Where to Eat in the Cloud Forest
Mindo Restaurant Guide: Where to Eat in the Cloud ForestThe Lodge
Honeymoon in Mindo: Romance in the Cloud Forest
Honeymoon in Mindo: Romance in the Cloud ForestThe Lodge
Spa in the Cloud Forest: Wellness & Treatments at the Lodge
Spa in the Cloud Forest: Wellness & Treatments at the LodgeThe Lodge
Photography Programs from the Lodge: Birds & Nature
Photography Programs from the Lodge: Birds & NatureThe Lodge
Quito Airport to Mindo: The Best Way to Get There
Quito Airport to Mindo: The Best Way to Get ThereThe Lodge
Why Stay at Las Terrazas de Dana: The Lodge That Makes Mindo
Why Stay at Las Terrazas de Dana: The Lodge That Makes MindoThe Lodge

Cloud Forest Life

The ecosystem, its birds, frogs and flora.

Butterflies of Mindo: Species and the Mariposario Guide
Butterflies of Mindo: Species and the Mariposario GuideCloud Forest Life
Mindo's Cloud Forest: What It Is & Why It's Unique
Mindo's Cloud Forest: What It Is & Why It's UniqueCloud Forest Life
Ecuador Biodiversity Hotspot: Where Mindo Fits the Map
Ecuador Biodiversity Hotspot: Where Mindo Fits the MapCloud Forest Life
Glassfrogs of Mindo: The See-Through Frogs of the Cloud Forest
Glassfrogs of Mindo: The See-Through Frogs of the Cloud ForestCloud Forest Life
Hummingbird Species of Mindo & the Chocó: Complete Guide
Hummingbird Species of Mindo & the Chocó: Complete GuideCloud Forest Life
Mindo Flora: Orchids, Bromeliads and Epiphytes Guide
Mindo Flora: Orchids, Bromeliads and Epiphytes GuideCloud Forest Life
Mindo Wildlife: Animals of the Cloud Forest
Mindo Wildlife: Animals of the Cloud ForestCloud Forest Life
Responsible Tourism in Mindo: How the Lodge Does It
Responsible Tourism in Mindo: How the Lodge Does ItCloud Forest Life
Spectacled Bears in Mindo's Cloud Forest: Where to Look
Spectacled Bears in Mindo's Cloud Forest: Where to LookCloud Forest Life