Best Places To Stay in Mindo: Mindo Hotels Guide [2024]
Hidden in the heart of Ecuador’s cloud forest, Mindo is a tiny yet incredibly picturesque town that is easily one of the best places to visit in Ecuador. As you plan your visit to this memorable destination, there are a few things to keep in mind to have the trip you’re dreaming of.
During the years we spent living in Quito, Ecuador, we fell in love with Mindo as one of the best day trips from Quito and visited numerous times for everything from day trips to week-long stays. Read on for our local tips on all the best places to stay in Mindo, including Mindo hotel recommendations and where to stay in Mindo on every budget.
This post contains affiliate links that may reward me monetarily or otherwise when you use them to make qualifying purchases – at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please read our disclosure policy.
Where To Stay in Mindo
A small town hidden away in the cloud forest, Mindo is not much more than a few paved streets, an array of restaurants and cafes, and a few tour companies that help facilitate excursions into the Mindo cloud forest that surrounds the town.
With that being said, there are only two real choices when it comes to choosing where to stay in Mindo: staying in Mindo town center, or staying outside of Mindo.
Mindo Town Center
The town center is where to stay in Mindo if you’re on a backpacker budget or looking for the convenience of easy access to restaurants, cafes, and all the things to see and do in Mindo. The highly walkable and compact center of town is home to most of the hostels in Mindo and more budget-friendly places to stay in Mindo (our favorite, by far, is Casa de Cecilia).
Outside of Mindo
The lushly forested areas around the center of town are where to stay in Mindo if you’re looking for a more immersive jungle experience. Jungle lodges and hidden-away hotels around Mindo offer seclusion and privacy, and often have stunning views, though they come with a slightly higher price tag. Affordable taxis into town mean you generally won’t be too far from all the best things to do in town.
Plan a Trip to Mindo
Best Places to Stay in Mindo
Looking for a few quick recommendations for the best places to stay in Mindo? These are the places that we recommend to travelers – of every budget! – looking to enjoy their time in Mindo:
- Casa de Cecilia – $
- La Bicok Ecolodge – $$
- Casa Divina Lodge – $$ – $$$
- Mashpi Lodge – $$$$
Looking for more details before booking? Read on for our complete reviews of these places to stay in Mindo and more, as well as photos and tips to help you decide where to stay in Mindo.
Mindo Hotels and Hostels
Casa de Cecilia – $
Our favorite place to stay in Mindo has always been Casa de Cecilia, an affordable hotel and hostel on a quiet side street in town. While Casa de Cecilia is centrally located, it backs up to the forest and to a babbling river, making it feel like its a world away from everything; it’s a great mix of everything you’d could want out of a stay in Mindo.
Rooms at Casa de Cecilia are quite simple but comfortable, and range from dorm rooms to privates with bathrooms. A fire pit area and covered lounge with hammocks, plus a large outdoor dining area next to the river are popular hangout spots. Trust us – you’ll absolutely love Casa de Cecilia!
Reviews and Bookings: Casa de Cecilia
La Bicok Ecolodge – $$
A small sidestreet just two or three blocks from the center of town cuts into the cloud forest to reveal La Bicok Ecolodge, one of the best places to stay in Mindo for a slightly nicer hotel experience without the expense and hassle of getting outside of town.
La Bicok Ecolodge offers individual rooms and private cabañas so there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to a stay. Amenities include an incredible breakfast spread and a swimming pool that feels hidden among the jungle, where hummingbirds and butterflies flutter by.
Reviews and Bookings: La Bicok Ecolodge
Travel Essential
Don’t head out on your adventure without comprehensive travel insurance! Good travel insurance may cover lost or stolen gear, medical emergencies, delayed or canceled flights, and more. Check out the policies available from SafetyWing or compare plans using Visitors Coverage.
Casa Divina Lodge – $$ – $$$
For a relatively affordable ecolodge experience away from the town of Mindo, Casa Divina Lodge is one of your best bets. The lodge features a huge lounge with tables and couches overlooking the valley and mountains of the cloud forest. It’s a real jungle escape without the price tag of some more remote places to stay in Mindo.
Casa Divina Lodge is one of the best places to stay in Mindo if you’re looking for some excellent birdwatching opportunities, as it arranges its own birdwatching tours with local guides, as well as excursions of other kinds as well. No matter your interest, you’ll love what you find here.
Reviews and Bookings: Casa Divina Lodge
Mashpi Lodge – $$$$
Nestled on a private, protected reserve in the heart of the cloud forest, Mashpi Lodge is a luxurious lodge that makes staying in the cloud forest even that much more memorable. It’s considered one of the best places to stay in all of Ecuador.
Among the incredible ways to enjoy the cloud forest that are unique to Mashpi Lodge include an observation tower that allows for dramatic views over the cloud forest, a state-of-the-art spa that calls on local indigenous practice, and biologist-lead hikes and birdwatching tours. It’s a true experience all its own, perfect whether you’re looking for a quick stay to replace a visit to the Amazon or an extended encounter with Ecuador’s rich cloud forest biodiversity.
Reviews and Bookings: Mashpi Lodge
Cinnamon House – $
Located in the heart of Mindo, Cinnamon House is one of the most popular hostels in Mindo. Walkable to all the best things to do in Mindo, and with a social vibe that stops just short of making it a party hostel, Cinnamon House is one of the top places we love to recommend to travelers.
Rooms are basic but comfortable, with all the hostel-type amenities you could ask for, like lockers and clean, well-kept bathrooms. The real highlight of Cinnamon House is the hostel’s multiple common areas, which offer jungle views and plenty of space to spread out and work remotely, hang out with friends, or just unwind.
Reviews and Bookings: Cinnamon House
What To Pack for Ecuador
Check out our Ultimate Ecuador Packing List to help you pack for your trip – we’re sharing exactly what to bring to Ecuador and what we never travel without.
Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve & Lodge – $$
Long one of the most well-respected and well-loved places to stay in Mindo for those looking for birdwatching experiences and naturalist tours to discover the rich biodiversity of the cloud forest, Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve & Lodge should be at the top of your list when considering where to stay in Mindo.
Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve & Lodge is a certified ecolodge that sits on a private, protected 700-hectare nature reserve filled with some of the richest biodiversity in Mindo. It recently underwent some impressive renovations, which make it an even more enticing place to stay than ever. While rooms are nothing special, they’re comfortable, spacious, and offer next-level jungle views.
Reviews and Bookings: Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve & Lodge
Travel Essential
Don’t think about traveling without a good VPN (Virtual Private Network). Using a VPN while connecting to the internet is an easy way to keep your personal information safe from hackers and trackers. We’ve used NordVPN for years and couldn’t recommend it more – it’s a must for safety online, at home or abroad.
El Monte Sustainable Lodge – $$
Nestled in the hills outside of Mindo, El Monte Sustainable Lodge is an eco-conscious paradise for birdwatchers, adventure travelers, and anyone looking for a destination that feels like a respite from busy Quito or busy life! Simple rooms and ample open common spaces let the next-level jungle views shine.
Many of the guests at El Monte Sustainable Lodge happen to be birdwatchers and naturalists, though anyone will love the seclusion and privacy of the lodge’s 110-acre protected reserve in the cloud forest. The hotel is under two miles outside of the town of MIndo, so its also easy to access all the adventure sports and tours that depart from town.
Reviews and Bookings: El Monte Sustainable Lodge
Carley Rojas Avila is a bilingual New York-based travel writer, editor, content marketer, and the founder of the digital travel publications Explorers Away and Home to Havana. Carley is an expert on all things Latin America, the Caribbean, and Cuba, having lived and worked in four different countries in the region. Her writing has appeared on the Associated Press wires and in Travel + Leisure, Yahoo, MSN, Euronews, The Weather Channel, and more. When she's not writing about her travels, find her front row at a Bad Bunny concert, befriending street cats, and taste-testing every pizza in Havana.