Three days is the length we'd pick for ourselves. One night in Mindo feels like a taster; three gives you mornings with the birds, afternoons that don't rush anywhere, and enough time to actually learn something about the food you're eating. "Relaxed Exploration of Mindo's Cloudy Realm" is our mid-length program, and the name is accurate: it's built around unhurried days, not a checklist.
Price: from $820 per person, with a lower price for groups. Check current availability when you enquire.
Who this program is for
Travellers who want to experience the cloud forest rather than sample it. The 3-day version keeps the hummingbird sessions that anchor all our programs and adds the two experiences that need time to be worth anything: a cooking class with our kitchen, and a chocolate visit in Mindo. If your trip has room for three days and two nights, this is the program we steer most people towards.
It also pairs naturally with a Galápagos cruise booked through Dana Tours. Depending on the cruise, the days and the party size, part of this stay may be complimentary — see our complimentary packages for Galápagos guests.
The itinerary
Day 1 — Middle of the World, hummingbird gardens and orchids. Pick-up in Quito with stops at the Intiñan Museum, the Pululahua viewpoint and Los Armadillos hummingbird garden. Lunch at our restaurant. In the afternoon, Mindo town's second hummingbird garden — different species — and a wild orchid garden with the cloud forest's orchids in bloom. Night at the lodge. Meals: lunch, dinner.
Day 2 — Cable car, waterfalls sanctuary, cooking class and chocolate. The cable car crosses the Nambillo valley to the waterfalls sanctuary: five or six falls in a morning hike with your private naturalist guide. Back at the lodge, the cooking class becomes your lunch — local products, Ecuadorian cuisine. In the afternoon, the Yumbos Chocolate tour with tasting. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 3 — Butterfly farm and optional birding. Hundreds of butterflies at the farm, then a free afternoon: zipline or tubing on the Mindo river (optional, not included), or the pool, spa and gardens before check-out at noon. An optional half-day birding tour can be added this morning — ask us. Meals: breakfast.
What's included
- 2 nights accommodation at Las Terrazas de Dana
- Meals during the program
- Private transport Quito–Mindo–Quito
- Guided hummingbird sessions
- Chocolate tour at Mindo Chocolate Makers (entrance included)
- Cooking class
- All entrance fees for the included visits
Fitness level
Fair condition. The activities are low-intensity: feeder sessions standing or sitting, a chocolate tour on flat ground, a cooking class at the lodge. Trails are optional and we match them to you.
Practical notes
- Two nights means two full mornings, which matters for bird activity; the forest is loudest before 9 AM.
- Chocolate tour prices run around $10 — check current when booking.
- The program runs year-round. Rain is more frequent from late October through April, but showers are short any month; around 21°C days and 14°C nights is the norm.
Compare the lengths
- Short on time? Mindo 2 days, 1 night covers the essentials.
- Want the waterfalls and the deepest forest experience? Mindo 4 days, 3 nights.
- None of the fixed programs fits? We build customized programs too.
Facts checked: September 2026
Every program includes: luxury accommodation at Las Terrazas de Dana, exclusive private transportation, all meals in the itinerary, all admissions, spa treatments with a 20% discount, a private English-speaking naturalist guide, unlimited water refills, coffee and tea — and laundry service, which almost nobody includes. Our practical tip: hand your washing in the day before you leave and go home with a clean suitcase.