Visite privée de la forêt nuageuse de Mindo : observation des oiseaux, oiseaux et nature

I had an absolutely fantastic day visiting the Mindo Cloud Forest, and a big part of that was thanks to our guides, Isreal and Linda. They were both incredible- punctual, communicative, and genuinely pleasant to spend the day with. Isreal was especially knowledgeable about both the history and current events of Ecuador, which made the drive to the cloud forest fly by. We had great conversations along the way, and he made the entire experience feel personalized and engaging. I mentioned that bird watching was my top priority, and Isreal completely understood that. He never rushed me at any of the Mindo reserves and was very attentive to spotting and identifying different species. The birding locations he took us to were absolutely stunning, and the birds themselves were truly otherworldly! A dream experience for any bird enthusiast. Linda made the experience even more special, particularly at the family-owned coffee plantation. She was enjoyable, engaging, and added so much to the chocolate-making demonstration, making it both fun and informative. Lunch at a local Mindo restaurant was another highlight- delicious food and great recommendations from Isreal. We also made stops at local street vendors to try fresh mango and yucca bread, which added an authentic and memorable touch to the day. Isreal also mentioned that he offers tours to see the Andean condor, which I will definitely be coming back to do. That alone is reason enough to plan another trip! Overall, it was an unforgettable experience. I would absolutely do this tour again in a heartbeat and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Ecuador!

Israel and Linda were great guides, and Eco Venue itself was fun and enjoyable. However, the touring vehicle was overcrowded due to the addition of another passenger at the last minute, despite our expectation of a private tour experience. We were also delayed by approximately one hour for pickup because of this change. Unfortunately, the additional passenger became verbally aggressive and violent over which created an uncomfortable atmosphere and significantly affected the overall experience. While we appreciated the guides and venue, this situation ultimately overshadowed what we hoped would be a memorable trip.

We did this trip in a very rainy day and therefore were not able to go trails in cloud forest. But we ended up to see various birds in two different places and it was very enjoyable. Israel is very kind and has a good knowledge about cloud forest. I had a very nice day.

I did this trip with a friend, on a very rainy day. Instead of walking through cloud forest trails as I expected, we visited two different nature preserves and sat under shelters observing wildlife instead. Although not what we had expected, it turned out to be a very good alternative to slogging through muddy trails in the rain, and we saw a phenomenal amount of bird (and even some mammal) wildlife that I doubt we would have ever seen on the trails. And all while being dry and comfortable! Guide Israel seemed to know just where to go under adverse conditions!

We had a wonderful private tour with Isra. We could tailor the tour, he gave us options on what to do, we visited small places without many tourists but lots of birds, especially. hummingbirds. Isra is very knowledgeable about the birds, cloud forest etc. We finished with a tasty lunch at an Ecuadorian restaurant (meal cost not included in tour) while watching lots more hummingbirds. Isra picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel. He was very pro-active and reached out the day before to confirm everything. We can highly recommend Isra and his private tour.

My day with Isra was everything I had hoped for and full of superlatives. I was picked up directly from my hotel and was able to shape the entire day exactly the way I wanted. Starting with hundreds of hummingbirds, followed by several amazing bird-watching spots, I got to discover many beautiful, colorful endemic birds together with Isra. We then took a break and enjoyed some delicious traditional food. I can also highly recommend the chocolate and coffee tour. I will always remember this day as something truly special. Thank you, Isra!

We had a nice day with Isra exploring the cloud forest. The highlight for us was definitely the hummingbirds—such a magical moment! Isra also recommended a stop at some nearby Incan ruins (that were unknown to many) and took us to a small, family-run restaurant, which we really appreciated as a way to support local businesses. Isra gave us free time to explore the bio reserve and while we enjoyed the freedom to explore, we would have preferred more guided bird watching with Isra alongside us, sharing his knowledge. If this is something you'd like, just make sure to let Isra know (we could have communicated it better). Isra was also great at communicating the day before but me being a planner, would have preferred communication further in advance. Also, keep in mind the drive is about two hours each way on winding mountain roads—something to be prepared for if you’re sensitive to motion. Overall, we enjoyed a beautiful day in nature and a good option for those looking to experience Ecuador’s biodiversity with a focus on small, local touches.

Incredibly knowledgeable guide. Informative and super helpful. Speaks great English. Great driver. Hummingbirds were incredible. Coffee tour was amazing.

Absolutely amazing trip. Worth every penny. Our guide Israel was so knowledgeable and we learned a lot. He went above and beyond to make sure our trip was enjoyable. The hummingbirds were incredible “Eating right from our hands”We were also taken to a restaurant for lunch and snit very much. Israel catered the trip to our interests. I would highly recommend this excursion.

Great experience. You are in the car for quite a while as you are going quite a distance. However Isra was a great guide and the hummingbirds are just amazing. Little disappointed with the orchids but I think that was down to the time of year. Overall a great experience and gets you out of the city and see a bit more of the countryside.