Activities & Itinerary
Visitors can choose from a variety of different daily activities. You may get up that morning and after having breakfast and enjoying the morning sounds, you may decide to go for a short horseback riding or biking and venture for an early morning sightseeing.
Fishing
Part of the experience with us may be helping Efrain catch the fish that will be on your plate moments later.
Bicycling
The entire Mindo region lends itself to great biking, from leisure day trips to nearby streams and rivers, to extreme biking in all-weather camping situations.
Tubing
This is perhaps the most popular sport activity in Mindo. This region hosts complete and safe tubing outfits in the Town of Mindo. A favorite of many of our visitors is an exciting inner-tubing ride down the Mindo River. With the aid of an experienced guide, and joined by several other visitors you will navigate down the river with a rubber tube beneath you, and a life jacket and helmet on you. River water tubing is one of the perfect rainy afternoon activities. In the rainy season the river swells and it offers an even more exciting white water activity.
Nature Walks
These are unique nature walk experience lasting anywhere from one hour to all day, where our experienced guide, Efrain, will help you observe all of the surrounding nature, and discuss with you many species of plants, the majority of which are medicinal. They will also spot birds and other wildlife for you.
Big Waterfall
You may want to visit a waterfall and streams, where you may decide to jump from a cliff beside the falls, or you may just swim beneath the waterfall in the refreshing waters of the Saloya River.
Earthly hydro massage
Alternatively, you may to cater yourself to a rejuvenating mineral-rich hydro massage from the streams.
Forest Meditation
Or just relax and meditate in our lodgings or alongside the sandy beaches of the Cinto River in a hammock and with your favorite drink.
Workshops
And if you feel like having hands-on experience in the local culture you can take the culinary, medicinal plant recognition and local fishing techniques (antaraya) workshops offered by Ronald, Olga and Efrain.
Sample Itinerary
Below is an itinerary to be used as a sample…..just to give you an idea since part of our vision is to cater and be completely flexible according to your wishes, number of days you plan to stay, the company you are with, and personal interests.
If you wish, transport can be arranged to pick you up anywhere in Quito and bring you directly to our lodge. Or you can economically use public transportation to get to us, and we’ll help you plan your trip, and guide you safely to our cloud forest.
Day 1
Noon,
Arrival
to Cinto
Cloud
Forest.
You
will
be introduced
to your
hosts,
and
will
have
available
as courtesy
coffee,
tea
or freshly
made
organic
juice.
Settle
a little
bit
in your
cabana,
and
have
the
host
give
you
a quick
tour
of the
garden
and
the
immediate
surroundings.
1:00PM
Lunch,
comprised
of organic
vegetables,
fruits,
rice,
plantains
and either
chicken
or fish
(this
is a typical
meal).
3:00PM.
A Nature
walk where
butterflies,
orchids,
birds,
animals
and medicinal
plants
are observable.
6:00-7:00PM.
This is
a time
for you
to relax,
socialize
with the
surroundings,
join the
fun in
the natural
bar or
take a
nice refreshing
bath in
the house,
or like
many visitors
do, take
a 50 foot
walk to
an invigorating
stream
waterfall
cleansing
shower,
surrounded
by nature.
7:00PM.Dinner.
8:00PM.
Bon fire
with a
brief
cultural
history
narration
and discussion
of the
rich cultures
that once
inhabited
this area,
as well
as making
plans
for the
following
day’s
activities.
Day 2
6:00AM.
Wake up
nice and
slow with
the early
unique
sounds
of a millenarian
forest.
6:00-8:00AM.
Nature
guided
walk to
observe
birds
and butterflies,
and any
other
encountered
early
forest
dwellers.
Some of
the various
birds
inhabiting
this area
are toucans,
quetzals
and parrots.
8:00AM.
Breakfast,
consisting
of fresh
juices,
fruits,
yucca,
cheese,
plantains,
bread
and fruit
jam.
9:00AM.
Big waterfall
walk.
This ascending
walk takes
you on
a trail
that goes
up to
the top
of the
mountain,
and then
descends
behind
it, ending
up at
the Saloya
River
big waterfall,
with a
crystal
clear
pool underneath.
This guided
excursion
is usually
about
5 to 6
hours
long.
Lunch
will be
brought
along.
You will
have a
wonderful
picnic
surrounded
by the
soothing
sounds
of the
waterfall
and observing
the forest
at mid-day
play.
3:00-6:00PM.
This is
a good
time to
relax
on the
hammock,
socialize
in the
natural
bar, take
a soothing
bath,
visit
the organic
vegetable
plots,
learn
from a
workshop,
and just
enjoy
the moment!
7:00 PM.
Dinner
8:00PM
Bon fire
Day 3
6:00AM.
Let the
early
bird singing
and hummingbird
garden
feeding
wake you
up slowly.
6:30AM.
Nature
walk to
the streams
to enjoy
a relaxing
and purifying
natural
morning
shower.
7:30AM.Breakfast.
8:00AM.
Guided
walk to
the Cinto
River
to bathe
in crystalline
waters,
cross
the river
in rope
and pulley
to visit
our hospitable
neighbors
and their
farm animals,
and enjoy
the energy
of river
dwelling.
11:00.
Rest
Noon.
Snack
12:30PM
Return
to Quito
via our
private
transport
or will
assist
with bus
transport
from the
Town of
Mindo.