Mindo

The western slopes of the Pichincha volcano are dressed with a wonderful dense ecosystem: the cloud forest. This ecosystem, also called "Andean eyebrow", is one of the most diverse in the world. Many of its characteristics are similar to the rain forest. However, given the fact that it is not on a plain but on a slope, the sunrays are able to penetrate deeper inside the forest, thus giving place to endemic flora and fauna.

The cloud forest is perhaps the ecosystem that holds the greatest variety of birds and plants in the world. It includes birds and plants from the rain forest, some from the highlands, and others that have evolved in this unique ecosystem. Some of the most impressive bird species of the cloud forest are: Cock of the Rock, an abundance of Hummingbirds, Tanagers, Mountain Toucans, Cotingas, Manakins, among others.

Ecuador is a paradise for bird watchers and ornithologists! Of the 32 Bird World Life Zones, 26 are found in Ecuador. Although this small country occupies approximately 0.02% of the world's land surface, it holds about 10% of all the bird species of the planet. Many of these species are endemic to the different ecosystems found in the country.

Mindo is a very special site, not only for birdwatchers. The town of Mindo itself has a beautiful orchid display, a butterfly center, and other tourist and scientific attractions. Opportunities for rafting in the nearby rivers are also offered. The people from the town have also invented a fun water sport: rafting on big water tubes on not-so-wild rivers.

Ranging from approximately 1400 to 4780m of altitude on the cloud forest that climbs up the Pichincha volcano is the natural reserve Mindo-Nambillo Protected Forest. This reserve holds a vast variety of flora and fauna species. Among the flora, the most spectacular are the hundreds of orchid and bromeliad varieties. A number of waterfalls and small rivers are also featured.
The best accommodations in Mindo are offered by "Mindo Gardens", one of the resorts included in the "Casablanca Circuit".

Text by: Cristina Vallejo D

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