Mindo for the broke, Ecuador

Tucked away in the cloud forest on the slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes lies the sleepy town of Mindo — a lush, misty haven perfect for all kinds of adrenaline-pumping activities.
Tubing, canyoning, mountain biking, ziplining, hiking… you name it, Mindo’s got it.

But not for me.

Due to a physical limitation, I was unable to partake in any of those thrills — so I had a very different Mindo experience than most visitors. And yet, it became my favourite place in all of Ecuador.
There’s something magical in the air in Mindo.

Since I couldn’t chase waterfalls at full speed, I came up with my own itinerary — let’s call it “Mindo for the Broke.”
Now, to be fair, we weren’t actually broke. But I figured this was also how I would explore what Mindo if I had run out of money: without splurging on pricey (albeit relatively cheap) adventure sports.

Turns out: it was wonderful.

My ‘Mindo for the broke’ itinerary mainly consisted of…

Eating.

Broke or not — a woman’s got to eat, right?

Mindo may be tiny, but it’s packed with excellent food. I made it a mission to eat in nearly every café and restaurant in town — not hard, given the town’s small size — and every single dish blew my socks off.

Granted, we arrived after spending nearly two months in a remote beach village with very limited food options, so that may have heightened the experience. Still, some meals were truly next-level:

• The steak in coffee sauce at El Quetzal

• The Mindo burger with chocolate barbecue sauce at Inti Killa 

Unforgettable.

Coffee and cakes.

Here’s where my “budget” itinerary veers off course. Because let’s face it, caffeine and sugar aren’t technically essential… (or are they?) But I figured, if I can’t have the adrenaline rush, why not go for a sugar and caffeine rush?!

Rain is a frequent guest in the cloud forest, so we took every rainy opportunity to duck into cafés, sip something warm, and indulge in carbs.
El Quetzal served what I can confidently call the best brownie I’ve ever had.
Ever.

I would go back to Mindo for that brownie alone.

Joining a chocolate tour.

Still dreaming of that brownie, I noticed El Quetzal also offered a $6 chocolate tour. It sounded a bit cheesy, but I caved and joined a friendly group of older tourists to learn how chocolate is made — from bean to bar to brownie bliss.

Was it a little touristy? Yes.
Was it still worth it? Absolutely.

Hiking to the waterfalls.

Just outside of town lies a trail network leading to a series of enchanting waterfalls, surrounded by thick foliage and misty air.

To reach the trailhead, we soared over the canopy in a cable car — a short but spectacular ride that might feel like an adrenaline rush if you’re afraid of heights. For everyone else, it’s pure scenic joy.

Once on the trail, we took our time — breathing in the crisp mountain air, chasing butterflies, and splashing our faces with icy spring water.
The hike itself is free, and the cable car costs just a few bucks. Easy win.

Hummingbird gazing.

My absolute favourite Mindo moment was spent in a hummingbird garden.
We paid a dollar or so to enter and sat with a drink in hand, surrounded by hundreds of hungry shimmering hummingbirds.

I’ve never experienced anything like it — the soft whirr of their wings, the electric movement, the colours. It was hypnotic.
I could have easily spent the entire day there.

To find the hummingbird garden, just walk into any tourist office in town and ask where to go. They’ll point you in the right direction.

And so ended our four relaxed days in Mindo lindo — full bellies, no adrenaline, lungs filled with fresh air, and hearts filled with that warm fuzzy feeling only truly magical places can give you

Are you into adventure sports? 

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