Mindo and the Chocó Bioregion

The Chocó is a zone of wet forest (bosque nublado), between the Andes mountains and the Pacific coast of western Ecuador and Colombia. It is home to an incredible diversity of plants and animals, many of which are unique, and there are more endemic birds here than anywhere else in the New World. Much of the original lowland Chocó forest has gone, but you can stay in some beautiful highland lodges, particularly around Mindo.

Carmelo de Mindo -www.mindo.com.ec

An Ecuadorian-run lodge, nested in the beginning of the cloud forest at Mindo. 26 rooms and treehouse cabins constructed in wood and bamboo, along with two pools and outdoor jacuzzis. Navigation on their website doesn't work properly but you can find pages through the 'site map'.

Address in Quito: Yánez Pinzón N 25-70 y Av.Colón Edificio CRYOM Planta Baja Oficina 1-3
Tel: (593-2) 2 222 837

Celular: (593) 93071 459

Mindo: (593) 3900 409

 

Casa Divina -www.mindocasadivina.com

Efrain Toapanta and Molly Brown are an Ecuadorian/American couple who run this lodge on 6.5 acres of secondary cloud forest, where they promote sustainable living. Accommodation is in three two-story luxurious wooden cabins with meals and cocktails served in the main house.

tel (593-9) 0509626 / (593-2) 2-170157

 

Hosteria Bellavista (pictured) -www.bellavistacloudforest.com

A tree house lodge in a geodesic structure in the forest canopy. Less than two hours from Quito it offers a range of nature tours in a private reserve of 1500 acres in the cloud forest.

Address in Quito: Jorge Washington E7-25 y 6 de Diciembre, Quito
Office fax: (593-2) 290-3165.
Celular: (593-9) 9-490-891
Telephone at Bellavista Reserve: (593-2) 2116232 and (593-2) 2116047

 

El Monte -www.ecuadorcloudforest.com

Stay in beautiful sustainable two-story handmade A-frame cabins with river views at Mindo. You will need a good head for heights as you must travel by Tarabita cable car to greach the lodge.

Quito Office: Roca 736 y Amazonas (Pasaje Chantilly)
Direct Line to Mindo cell: (593-9) 3084 675 or (5932) 3900 402 / Phone: (593) 2 2558-881

 

Maquipucuna, Chocó Bioregion/Cloud Forest -www.maqui.org

Ecotourism Centre and research station in a small modern lodge 50 miles north west of Quito. Operated by the Maquipucuna Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of Ecuador's biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources. The open-air design design of the accommodation for 30 people allows intimate contact with nature and the soothing sounds of the rushing river -you can observe exotic species of birds, moths and butterflies, and flowers in bloom such as orchids and bromeliads.

Baquerizo #238, P.O. Box 17-12-167, Quito

 

Mindo Gardens -www.mindogardens.com

A mystical ecological lodge at 1100m above sea level. in its own private reserve of over 700 acres, some 90km from Quito.

Tel: (593) 97 33 10 92

 

Pachijal Reserve -www.pachijalreserve.com

Offer a small lodge accomodating up to 18 people in the ecological reserve; where they can of birding and wildlife tours in the area of Yumbos' Culuncos.

 

Sachatamia Lodge -www.sachatamia.com

Cosy, rustic lodge set in 120 acres of sub tropical eco reserve in the cloud forest at Mindo Nambillo. Not suitable for children under 12. Telephone: (5932) 390 0907 / 390 0906.

 

Santa Lucia Cloud Forest Reserve -www.santaluciaecuador.com

 

Septimo Paraiso -www.septimoparaiso.com

Hosteria located near Mindo, one and a half hours from Qucto, with 22 luxurious rooms with private bathroom, hot water from their own spring with an old elegant country style decoration. Tel Mindo (lodge): 09 3684420 or 21.

Our friends Andrew and Heloise stayed here in Christmas 2006 and wrote the following:

"Oblivious to Christmas looming, we spirited ourselves away to Mindo, a centre for wildlife, to find ourselves like Handsel and Gretel the only guests in a vast bavarian style eco lodge surrounded by hundreds of hectares of tropical cloudforest and orchestras of birds and things. Were well looked after and generously included into the families celebrations."

 

Tapyanda Lodge -www.tandayapa.com

Located to the north west of Quito, it describes itself as the only lodge in the world designed by birders, owned by birders, and run for birders by birders. They say that over 600 species of bird have been observed on day trips from the lodge.

Telephone/Fax: (+593) 2 244-7520

 

Urcu Puyujunda -www.cloudforestecuador.com

Cloud forest reserve located northwestern of Pichincha by Nanegalito Mindo road in Las Tolas town.

 

See also

Hostels in Mindo -budget accommodation

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