Reserva Las Tangaras — Attraction in Mindo

We did the morning Andean cock-of-the-rock (ACOR) tour and it was so worth it! The tour starts at the main cabin in the Reserva at 5:20am. To get there, you will first need to hike about 2km through the dark*, so definitely bring a flashlight. When we got there, we were welcomed by Karen and James with a warm cup of coffee, before heading off on another 30min hike to the lek. As we arrived, the first ACOR sounds greeted us - which turned into a very impressive cacophony as the sun came up. Such a memorabele experience to see these unique birds in the wild! The tour only costs USD 25 pp which is directly used to fund the research station - a real deal. You get back to the cabana around 8am, and I would strongly recommend to explore the rest of the Reserva afterwards if you have time. There are some beautiful trails, bird life and a stunning pebble beach to go for a swim and spend your day. We saw toucans, woodpeckers, tanagers, a trogon, mot mots and more while exploring the rest of the reserva.

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Must visit in Mindo!

A birding research station, where you can stay for one or more nights as a guest. The house is a ±35 minute walk from the main road, making it a perfect location for birdwatching, hikes and relaxing, without having many other people around you. Me and my partner had an amazing time here. The hosts, Danielle, Joshua & Parker do everything to make you feel welcome. The food is amazing, and the vegan and vegetarian meals are delicious. We learned a lot about birds during our stay. The house has a nice terrace from where you can watch birds. From the house we saw countless birds, at least 20 different types of hummingbirds, multiple toucans, and even an Andean cock of the rock. Also we encountered other animals like an armadillo! The bed is comfortable, and equipped with a mosquito net.

If you're going to Mindo for either birds, jungle or some time to chill at a beautiful and calm location, this is the place to go.

I do recommend to bring a power bank for you phone, and a headlight for the early morning...

Our favorite memory in Mindo and that's saying a lot! This little advertised reserve, tucked deep in the Mindo cloud forest, offers a rare chance to witness an Andean cock-of-the-rock lek in action!

The reserve is run by volunteers who study the bird's behavior so not only are you guaranteed to see the ultra famous Andean cock-of-the-rock but you'll also get to learn a lot about it at the same time.

We only found out too late that you can actually stay overnight at the reserve, so instead we had to hike an hour through the dark forest at 4am to make it on time for the spectacle. Not for the faint of heart! If you’re planning a visit, we highly recommend staying the night before… and maybe even an extra night or two!

Bonus points for the family of armadillos currently living around the property - word has it that sightings are practically guaranteed 😉

Huge thanks to Joshua for being a fantastic guide and to Daniele, the best jungle...