Four days is when Mindo stops being a stopover and becomes the trip. Three nights in the cloud forest let you settle into a rhythm: birds early, activities late morning, afternoons loose, food as a theme rather than an afterthought. "Adventure, Nature and Flavors in the Andean Chocó" is our longest fixed program, and it's the one that gets into the forest properly.
Price: from $1,130 per person, with a lower price for groups. Check current availability when you enquire.
Who this program is for
Travellers making Mindo a destination rather than a side trip, and anyone who wants the waterfall route with time to do it well. The Ruta de las Cascadas deserves more than a rushed hour, and this program gives it that. It also fits naturally before or after a Galápagos cruise booked through Dana Tours — depending on the cruise, days and party size, part of the stay may be complimentary (see complimentary packages).
The itinerary
Day 1 — Middle of the World, hummingbird gardens and orchids. Pick-up in Quito with the Intiñan Museum, the Pululahua viewpoint and Los Armadillos hummingbird garden. Lunch at our restaurant, then Mindo town's second hummingbird garden and the wild orchid garden. Night at the lodge. Meals: lunch, dinner.
Day 2 — Cable car, waterfalls sanctuary and chocolate. The cable car crosses the Nambillo valley to the waterfalls sanctuary hike — five or six falls with your private naturalist guide. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, the Yumbos Chocolate tour with tasting, then your favorite massage in our spa. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 3 — Butterfly farm, cooking class and coffee tour. Hundreds of butterflies at the farm in the morning. The cooking class is your lunch — local products, Ecuadorian cuisine. In the afternoon, the coffee tour: the whole process, and you roast your own coffee. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 4 — Yellow House trails and check-out. A slow morning on the Yellow House trails, then time for the pool, spa and gardens before check-out at noon and your private transfer to Quito or the airport area. An optional birding tour can be added on any morning. Meals: breakfast.
What's included
- 3 nights accommodation at Las Terrazas de Dana
- Meals during the program
- Private transport Quito–Mindo–Quito
- Guided hummingbird sessions
- Ruta de las Cascadas day: tarabita, sanctuary entrance, transport
- Chocolate tour (entrance included)
- All entrance fees for the included visits
Fitness level
Fair condition, and here it matters more than in the shorter programs. The waterfall route involves real trail walking, some of it steep and muddy. Nothing technical, and we adjust the route length to the group, but you should be comfortable on your feet for a few hours.
Practical notes
- Weekends and holidays bring local visitors to the waterfalls; midweek is quieter.
- Bring shoes you don't mind getting wet. Not a metaphor.
- Around 21°C days, 14°C nights; rain is more frequent late October to April, short showers possible any month.
Compare the lengths
- 2 days, 1 night: the essentials, $530 from.
- 3 days, 2 nights: cooking class and chocolate, $820 from.
- This program: the full forest, waterfalls included, $1,130 from.
- Different mix? Customized programs.
For a broader trip that combines this with the Galápagos, see Best of Ecuador: Galápagos, Quito and the cloud forest.
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.