The best time to visit Mindo is another example of how terrain and geography have a stronger effect on the conditions of the environment than the very seasons itself. Ecuador is a very fascinating country because, despite of its relatively small size, it contains four distinct ecological zones – a truth usually reserved to nations with large geographical coverage (ex. United States of America, China, Mexico, and Brazil). The town of Mindo is located to the northwest of Quito, Ecuador’s capital city. Despite the close proximity with one of the earliest Spanish settlements in the New World, Mindo was only established in 1861. Its current population of 30,000 seems to reflect the city’s relatively short existence. One of the most important tourist draws of Mindo is bird-watching. The area around Mindo is home to over 450 species of birds. Although bird watching in Mindo is a popular activity, ecotourism abounds in this area because of the presence of various types of other unique animals  such as butterflies, reptiles and amphibians.

1. June to September

The best time to visit Mindo is the dry winter season, which occurs from June to September. Like the capital city of Quito, the town of Mindo is located within the Andean ecological zone. Mindo’s terrain, therefore, is characterized by its incredibly high altitude, rugged terrain and generally cooler climate. The main advantage of choosing this time of the year is that driving through the Andes road networks will prove to be a lot safer. With less humidity, there are less accidents on the road due to better wheel traction. Besides, with bird-watching being the most popular tourist activity, it would be a lot more difficult to spot these winged feathered creatures when it is raining!

2. December to March

The summer months of December to March are not the best time to visit Mindo for several practical reasons. First of all, when there are no rains the daylight can be harsh. Mountainous areas often trick physical conditions and one may overlooking getting sun burnt skin despite the cool breeze. Secondly, since summer season is damp and rainier, it is more hazardous to travel in and out of the settlement. The roads in the Andes are known to be some of the world’s most dangerous. Rains have a crafty way of eroding the edges of roads causing collapse. The humidity could help misty air develop reducing the visibility.