Ecuador - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 578

&

MINDO

ACCOMMODATION
Arco Iris
Birdwatcher's House
Cabañas la Estancía
Casa de Cecilia
Caskaffesu
Dragonfly Inn
Jardín de los Pájaros
Kumbha Mela
Mariposas de Mindo
Mindo Gardens
Posada de Mindo

7
10
3
1
9
8
11
4
5
6
2

Parque
Central

6

Flor del
Valle
(Bus Station)

La Isla

Centro de Informacíon

EATING & DRINKING
Caskaffesu
El Chef
Fuera de Babilonia
El Nómada
El Quetzal

5
3
2
4
1

0 100

metres

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By bus Cooperativa Flor del Valle ( T 02 252 7495,
W flordelvalle.com.ec) leaves Quito's Ofelia bus station
daily at 8am, 9am, 3pm and 4pm, returning at 6.30am,
1.45pm and 3pm (Sat & Sun more frequent services); 2hr.
If you miss the morning bus from Quito, go to Carcelén
terminal and take any bus heading to Los Bancos and ask
the driver to let you off at the turn-off to Mindo, where you
can usually hire a taxi to town ($1-2).

($10; T 098 542 8758, W mindocanopy
.com). Adrenaline lovers can get their fix
by zinging along cables from 20m to
400m in length, high above the forest.
Go solo or be accompanied by a guide.
It's great fun and the lines and harnesses
are tested by experts. The thirteen-line
circuit takes about one hour thirty
minutes ($10), or do three lines for $5.
About 1km up the hill is a more relaxed
way to traverse the treetops. La Tarabita
cable car ($5/person) cruises 150m above
a river basin. On the other side are trails
to seven waterfalls. The paths are
confusing in places but you can't really
get lost as there is only one exit - wear
boots as it's muddy. The entire circuit
takes two hours and goes deep inside the
cloudforest; hiring a birdwatching guide
is a great way to learn more. Most charge
$50 per half-day and $100 per full-day.
It's cheaper in a group.

INFORMATION AND TOURS
Information The Centro de Información is on Quito near
the main plaza (8.30am-12.30pm and 1.30-5pm Wed-
Sun). It has lists of recommended guides and brochures.
Tours The owner of Birdwatcher's House (see below) is an
experienced guide. Other recommended tour operators
who can organize all the activites from Mindo include
La Isla Mindo ( T 02 217 0481, W laislamindo.com) and
Mindo Bird ( T 099 735 1297, W www.mindobirds.com
.ec), both on the main Avenida Quito.

ACCOMMODATION
Mindo has a wide selection of accommodation but it's a
more enjoyable and authentic experience to stay in one of
the lodges on the edge of town, surrounded by cloudforest.
Arco Iris Quito, at 9 de Octubre T 02 390 0405. A depend-
able option in town, with co mfor table rooms and a central
location on the main square. $18
Birdwatcher's House Los Colibres T 02 217 0204,
W birdwatchershouse.com. On the western edge of town,

Tubing and canyoning
For adventure-sports lovers, there's plenty
in Mindo. An unusual alternative to
rafting is tumbling down river rapids in
an inflatable tube ($8 for a couple of
hours including transport). Canyoning
is also available ($10/half-day).