Bird of Paradise Tours
Offers birding tours to see the andean cook of the rock, the long wattle umbrela bird and others. you can also do the lloa-mindo trek, rappelling, canopy and more. [email protected], 02 2 170 045
Reserva Ecologica Pachijal
At Reserva Ecologica Pachijal (http://www.pachijalreserve.com), an Eco & Bird Lodge, they offer birding guided tours inside the reserve and excursions to Yanacocha Reserve, Tandayapa Pass & Bellavista Reserve, Birds Sanctuaries of Milpe and Rio Silanche.
regata
Travel downriver in an inner tube. This is called a regata and can be arranged in almost any shop. You can do a short trip 20 mins or so down the river near Mindo or you can go to Rio Blanco, which is a much longer 2 hour and altogether faster and more furious experience! Ask around for prices, you may be able to barter as well.
Birdwatching Tours
In mindo, birding tours of the local surrounding and interior cloud forest are available.
Tours de Fotografia
Day and night photography tours for professionals or those who are interested in birds and nature.
orchid farms
Visit one of the orchid farms.
Mindogarden
Try to entice tropical butterflies to eat banana from your hands at the Mindogarden butterfly farm.
birdwatching
Hire a local guide to take you birdwatching.
El Quetzal Chocolate Making Tour
Mindo Chocolate Makers, Bean to Bar Chocolate making seven days a week at 4:00 pm. Possibly more often: the Saturday we were there they had them at 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm. $5.00 at El Quetzal de Mindo. Learn about the history of chocolate and how chocolate is made from the fruit of the cacao plant. See cacao plants growing, experience the fermentation process, drying beds, roasting, grinding cocoa nibs, conching, bar molding, pressing cocoa powder and cocoa butter, learn how white chocolate is made. Chocolate samples included in tour. Coffee roasting on site too. Organic gardens tours are free but by appointment only.