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Published: September 23rd 2015
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My Hostal From Otavalo I travelled to Mindo cloud forest (west of Quito) to stay for 3 nights, get some birdwatching in and maybe an adrenaline fix or 2 as well in one of the most laidback towns on Earth.
How to get there: Caught a Quito bound bus from Otavalo $2.50 (2hrs). Taxi from Carcelen terminal to La Ofelia terminal $3.50. 1pm Quito to Mindo bus $3.10 2hrs.
Buses direct to mindo only go from La ofelia terminal which is about a 10 minute taxi ride from Carcelen (Terminal Norte). The bus departs from directly outside the ticket office & luggage is stowed underneath. You can also catch a number of buses leaving from carcelen which will drop you at the mindo road junction but that is a few km out of town.
Where I stayed: Mindo Biohostal $14/night. One of the cheapest hostels in Mindo (everything is more expensive here), room in 5 bed dorm including breakfast, towels & soap & free wifi. I stayed for 3 nights.
Room is clean & I had a pick of beds as I was the only one, so I got a queen! Shower did get hot
as stated after a couple of minutes not. Told wifi only works in communal areas but my phone picked it up ok in my room, may be as not many people in hostel. Good breakfast included (fruit, eggs, bread, jam & juice) and Luis is very accommodating when it comes to having a late breakfast because of birdwatching.
Ate: At a Quinoa (keen-wa) restaurant walk towards the big chocolate factory & it is on your left before the hill. I had a Quinoa burger & Quinoa pudding with fruit and ice cream (Taxo & Fig) $5.50 excellent owner who spoke very good English.
Quinoa vege chop suey $3.50 & Hot Ham, cheese & pineapple sandwich + banana juice $4
Pizza place on the main street (also a bakery) $3.50 for small Hawaiian - enough for 1.
What I did: Friday: Met an australian couple from the hostal & we have booked birdwatching and tubing together (+ I tagged on at dinner) Being a 3rd wheel isn't so bad & at least I've had practice at home! 😉 . Also went around the orchid garden & watched the hummingbirds $3/person although
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Butterfly on my hand!! I wouldn't have believed orchids could be that small.
Saturday: Went birdwatching $60 for 3 people we started out from the hostal at 6am & got back just before 11am. We saw tangers, egrets, a hawk, a couple of types of toucan, a falcon & a rufus mot mot. The birds were quiet this morning but we still saw quite a few.
El quetzal chocolate tour $6 you get a tour around their small chocolate factory & an explanation from bean to chocolate. You also get a tasting session & a brownie at the end.
Met a girl called Ann from Germany whilst eating at the quinoa place for the 2nd time! So spent most the evening chatting to her before heading to our separate hostels.
Sunday: Visited the butterfly farm (Mariposa de Mindo) which is about 4km out of town along a flattish track $6 to get in & you are surrounded by butterflies. You also get a talk about the life stages of the butterfly (in English or Spanish) & get to see some of the eggs/ caterpillars / pupae. They also have some orchids for the
butterflys.
Tubing $8/person approx 1/2hr going down the river mindo, good fun although you do get wet! The agents in town include transport as well which waits for you to finish with your stuff & then drives you back down town.
Hummingbird garden $3/person. Loads of hummingbirds / tanagers & I even saw 2 woodpeckers! In high season toucans & parrots also visit more often.
Monday Morning: Me, Ray & Gaya went to watch the Cock of the rock- Another early start at 5.30 today! We went back up by the waterfalls again afterwards & saw Parrots, 3 types of toucan (chocolate, green & another), broad billed mot mot, kite, tanagers & woodpeckers. Then another hearty breakfast before I headed to Quito.
It was low season in Mindo whilst I was there (sept) so it was quite quiet. I would definitely recommend the butterfly farm, birdwatching - Our guide Irman (booked at the hostel) was very good! Also tubing was a good laugh, however I wouldn't bother with the orchid garden (unless you are really into your flowers) & to go to the garden of birds instead to see hummingbirds.
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