Mindo - A bird watches paradise

Description

Located in the Andean foothills of Ecuador is the small town of Mindo. The town is a popular destination for birdwatchers and also attracts people interested in nature. The town is set in lovely cloud-forest, the Mindo-Nambillo Cloud Forest.

The Mindo-Nambillo Cloud Forest close to Mindo is known to be one of the best spots for bird watching not only in Ecuador but in all of South America. There are around 400 species of birds that have been identified in the area. There is a cable car facility that takes visitors across the treetops to the entry point to the Santuario de Cascadas. From here you can hike along the trail that takes you through six different waterfalls.

Another popular activity that visitors enjoy in the city is tubing down the Mindo River. It is advised that you take the help of a guide to navigate through the river. During the wet season, the river can get rough with lots of rapids.

There are also a number of Orchid farms in Mindo that can be visited. Take a chocolate making tour at El Quetzal, here you can learn more about chocolates and its production process. The Mindogarden butterfly farm has tropical varieties of butterflies.

You can buy fresh roasted coffee while in the town. There are also several craft shops around the town where you can buy local hand crafted items.

The best way to get around Mindo is walking. You can also hire taxis to get around the nearby areas. There are a number of tour operators in the town that offer guided tours to the forests and the surrounding areas.

Halal Restaurants

There are no halal restaurants or masjids in Mindo, the closest masjid to Mindo is located in Quito. However, there are a number of restaurants that serve vegetarian delights that you can relish.