Mindo…a paradise in the clouds.

If you were to ask me where is my favourite place that I have visited, I would have to think about it for a few minutes.  Geographically, Vancouver Island has been my favourite place in North America while Barcelona was my favourite place in Europe.  Globally, I would have to say the Mindo Cloud Forest in Ecuador.

I don’t know if I can write the right words to describe how magical Mindo is, and I have far too many beautiful pictures to share, but I will try.

Again, I was accompanied by Little Sister and this trip we welcomed my daughter Beverley, then 8 years old, along with us.  The purpose of our trip to Ecuador was to visit the Galapagos Islands and we decided to visit the cloud forest first.  We are so glad we did.  While we found the Galapagos Islands interesting it is Mindo that found a place in our hearts.

Mindo is a town northwest of Quito situated at an elevation which allows for a lot of moisture and cloud formation.  Everything was so lush and green.  There were so many flowers growing.  From birds of paradise to orchids, I had never seen so many wild orchids.  Mindo is especially known as one of the top bird watching locations in the world.

We stayed at the beautiful Casa Divina Lodge, just outside of Mindo, and signed up for their 3 day/2 night Discover Mindo Tour package.  Casa Divina is absolutely stunning.  The owner, Efrains, love for carpentry shows in the beautiful two story wooden cabins that we stayed in and in the magnificent architecture of the main lodge.  Our cabin was down a little path from the main lodge and we were pleased to have a porch with a hammock to relax in.  The main lodge itself was a work of art.  This was where we ate our meals together with other guests and we spent our spare time enjoying the view, playing board games, relaxing in hammocks and drinking the best hot chocolate on the second story bird viewing area.

We did so many amazing things there.  We loved the zip lining.  Soaring through the Andes from one ridge to the next, the series of 10 zip lines were each a different distance and speed and all ten offered the most amazing views.  The hike to each platform was also memorable as our guide, a naturalist, pointed out many of the wild orchids and we even found toucans eating bananas high in the trees along one path.

Some of the other activities packed into our three days in Mindo were rafting down the Mindo river and hiking to a series of beautiful waterfalls they call the Cascades.

 

If you were to ask Beverley what her favourite part was she would say the Butterfly Breeding Centre.  Here we witnessed each stage of the caterpillar becoming the butterfly which included watching a butterfly first emerge from the chrysalis.  There were too many colourful butterflies to pick a favourite.  We were surprised that they would land right on our fingers to eat banana off of them.

If you were to ask Beverley what her least favourite part was she would say when her mother woke her up at 5am to go bird watching.  A trip to the Mindo Cloud Forest wouldn’t be complete without an early morning visit to witness the mating call of the Cock on the Rock.  Just one of the birds that draw so many bird watchers to the area every year.  And although we do not usually take part in the activity of birding, Bev’s Mom didn’t want to miss out on anything.

Even with so many activities planned we had time to walk into the town of Mindo.  It was Good Friday and the whole town had got together for a street party.  There were families playing in the park and musicians playing on the street corners.  Here we had a tour of the Mindo Chocolate Factory along with a tasting and one of the best brownies I have ever had.  We couldn’t resist buying some chocolate and cocoa to take home from the gift shop.

So when you are planning that bucket list trip to the Galapagos Islands make sure to add the Mindo Cloud Forest and Casa Divina Lodge to your itinerary.  I am sure it will steal your heart as it did mine.