Mindo, a small town in the cloud forests of Ecuador’s western Andean slope, is one of the world’s great birding destinations. It lies within the Chocó bioregion, a hotspot of species found nowhere else, and within a two-hour drive of Quito. More than 500 bird species have been recorded in the area, including dozens of hummingbirds, colourful tanagers and toucans, and shy antpittas.
At a glance
| Best time | Year-round; drier from about June to September |
| Getting there | About 2 hours by road from Quito |
| Time needed | 2 to 4 days |
| Big draws | Hummingbirds, antpittas, cock-of-the-rock lek, tanagers, toucans |
| Good for | Birders and beginners alike, photographers |
Highlights
- Hummingbird feeders: lodges and gardens attract many species, such as the velvet-purple coronet, booted racket-tail and violet-tailed sylph. See our bee hummingbird profile for the world’s smallest bird.
- Andean cock-of-the-rock: males with brilliant red-orange crests display at leks at dawn, especially at sites near Mindo and Refugio Paz de las Aves.
- Antpittas: at Refugio Paz de las Aves, a local farmer began feeding worms to wild antpittas, which now come out to be seen. Giant, moustached and yellow-breasted antpittas are regularly seen.
- Toucans and barbets: plate-billed mountain toucans, toucan barbets and crimson-rumped toucanets.
- Tanagers: flame-faced, golden and blue-winged mountain tanagers visit fruit feeders.
- Butterflies and frogs: a butterfly farm and night walks for glass frogs and rain frogs. See our glass frog profile.
Nearby sites
- Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve: higher-altitude cloud forest with the tanager finch and hummingbirds.
- Milpe: lower-elevation forest with club-winged manakins.
- Yanacocha: high-Andean forest near Quito, home to the black-breasted puffleg, a critically endangered hummingbird.
- Tandayapa Valley: a famous birding valley on the old road to Mindo.
When to go
Birding is good year-round. The drier season (roughly June to September) is more comfortable, while the wetter months bring more fruiting trees and breeding activity. Mornings are best for birds, and afternoons often bring rain.
Getting there
Mindo is about 80 km (2 hours) from Quito by road. Buses run regularly, but a private car and guide allow early starts to leks and feeding stations.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mindo good for beginner birders? Yes. Hummingbird feeders and fruit feeders make birds easy to see, and local guides are excellent.
How many hummingbirds can I see in Mindo? Around 30 species or more on a trip covering different altitudes.
When should I visit the cock-of-the-rock lek? At dawn, when males display.
Can I combine Mindo with the Amazon or Galápagos? Yes. Quito is the gateway to all three.
Related guides
- Best hummingbird destinations in the Americas
- Birding in Colombia
- Yasuní and the Ecuadorian Amazon
- Animal profiles: Bee hummingbird, Toco toucan, Glass frog
Cover photo: Arabsalam, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons