Debbie and I have been to Mindo twice — once in 2021 and again in January 2025. It is one of our favorite places in Ecuador, and if you are planning a trip to Quito, visiting Mindo Ecuador should be on your list. Getting out to the cloud forest for at least a night or two is absolutely worth it. If you have not already, check out the full guide to the best day trips from Quito where Mindo made the cut.
This post covers everything we did, where we stayed, and what has changed between our two visits — because Mindo in 2025 is a noticeably different place than it was a few years ago.
What Mindo Is Like Now vs. A Few Years Ago
If you visited Mindo before the pandemic or read an older blog post about it, be aware that the town has changed significantly. The population has grown, there are far more businesses and restaurants lining the main streets, and the number of tourists has increased noticeably. It is still a beautiful destination and absolutely worth visiting, but it is no longer the quiet little cloud forest village it once was.
Prices have gone up to match. Accommodation, food, and tours are all more expensive than they were in 2021. Plan your budget accordingly and do not show up expecting the rock bottom prices older travel blogs might quote.
That said, the cloud forest itself has not changed. The hiking is still incredible, the waterfalls are still stunning, and the biodiversity that makes Mindo special is still very much intact. The town has grown around the forest, not over it.
Where to Stay: Hostel Arasari
We stayed at Hostel Arasari both times we visited Mindo, and we will stay there again. It is genuinely one of the nicest places we have stayed in Ecuador.
Each room is its own private cabana built with local jungle woods, which makes the whole property feel like it belongs in the forest rather than sitting next to it. The craftsmanship is beautiful and the rooms are comfortable without feeling like a generic hotel box. The property also has a pool and a jacuzzi, which after a full day of hiking through the cloud forest feels like exactly what you need.
The owner is wonderful. Warm, welcoming, and genuinely invested in making sure guests have a great stay. Every morning she cooks breakfast fresh, sourcing her bread from a wonderful local bakery in town. It is the kind of breakfast that makes you slow down and actually enjoy the morning instead of rushing out the door. Starting a day of hiking in the Mindo cloud forest with a meal like that is hard to beat.
If you are visiting Mindo, stay at Arasari. It sets the tone for the whole trip.
The Ruta de las Cascadas
The Ruta de las Cascadas is the main hiking experience in Mindo and one of the best things we have done in Ecuador. We have done it twice now and it holds up completely on the second visit.
The route takes you through the cloud forest on a trail that winds past a series of waterfalls, each one different from the last. The vegetation is dense, the air is humid and cool, and the sound of water is constant. It does not feel like a tourist trail — it feels like you are genuinely moving through the jungle.
Come prepared. The trail is muddy in sections, especially if there has been recent rain, which is likely given that this is a cloud forest. Waterproof hiking boots or at minimum trail shoes are a must. I cannot stress this enough — on our 2025 visit Debbie forgot her hiking shoes and ended up doing the entire Ruta de las Cascadas in flip flops. She made it, but it was not pretty. Do not be Debbie. Wear proper shoes.
The full route is not strenuous, but the combination of humidity, uneven terrain, and elevation changes means it is more of a workout than it looks on paper. It is accessible for most fitness levels, but do not underestimate it.
Mindo Chocolate: Do Not Skip This
The Mindo Chocolate Makers tour is one of the best experiences we have had anywhere in South America. I do not say that lightly.
Mindo sits in one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, and the cacao grown here produces varieties of chocolate that you simply cannot find anywhere else. The tour takes you through the full story of how cacao becomes chocolate, from the raw bean to the finished product, and the guides are knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about what they are doing.
The highlight for us was hand roasting our own coffee beans over an open flame. It is a simple thing but there is something incredibly satisfying about roasting your own coffee in the middle of the Ecuadorian cloud forest and then drinking a cup made from beans you just roasted yourself five minutes earlier.
You also get to taste a wide variety of local chocolate — single origin bars, flavored varieties, cacao in forms that do not make it to international markets. If you are a chocolate person, this is going to be a problem for your wallet because you will want to buy everything. If you are not a chocolate person, the tour will probably make you one.
Budget enough time for this. It is not a quick stop. Give it at least two hours and do not rush through it.
Mariposas de Mindo: Thousands of Butterflies and They Will Land on You
Do not leave Mindo without visiting Mariposas de Mindo. This is one of those experiences that sounds nice on paper and then completely exceeds your expectations in person.
The butterfly house is home to thousands of butterflies representing an enormous variety of species. The colors and scale of it are genuinely hard to describe. You walk through and they are everywhere — on the plants, in the air, on each other. Given that Mindo sits in one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, the variety of species here is unlike anything you will see in a butterfly house back home.
The best part is that the butterflies will land on you. Stand still for a moment and you will have them settling on your arms, your shoulders, your head. It is one of those small experiences that ends up being a highlight of the whole trip. Bring your camera and be patient — the photos you can get here are incredible.
It is a short visit, maybe 45 minutes to an hour, but absolutely worth adding to your Mindo itinerary. Kids love it, adults love it, and it costs next to nothing to get in.
Practical Tips for Visiting Mindo Ecuador
Get there early in the day. Mindo is about two hours from Quito and the earlier you arrive the more time you have. Afternoons in the cloud forest can bring rain and mist, which is beautiful but limits visibility on the trails.
Book Hostel Arasari in advance. It is not a large property and it fills up, especially on weekends. Do not assume you can show up and find a room.
Bring cash. Mindo has ATMs but they are not always reliable. Have enough cash on hand for your hostel, tours, and food before you leave Quito.
Wear proper shoes on the Ruta de las Cascadas. Waterproof hiking boots or solid trail shoes. You already know what happens if you forget them.
Plan for at least one night. Mindo is doable as a day trip from Quito but you will feel rushed. Staying one or two nights gives you time to do the Ruta de las Cascadas properly, take the chocolate tour, and actually absorb the place.
Is Visiting Mindo Ecuador Worth It?
Yes, without question. We have been twice and would go back a third time. Visiting Mindo Ecuador is unlike anything else in the country — the cloud forest, the Ruta de las Cascadas, the butterflies at Mariposas de Mindo, and the Mindo Chocolate tour all make it worth the drive from Quito.
Just go in with updated expectations. Mindo has grown and gotten more expensive. It is no longer a hidden gem in the way it once was. But the things that make it special — the forest, the waterfalls, the biodiversity, the people — are all still there.
If you are still planning your Ecuador itinerary and deciding which day trips to prioritize from Quito, head back to the full guide on the best day trips from Quito for the complete breakdown.
