Casa del Rio

Set beside a beautiful river and surrounded by nature, this is an amazing place to stay in Mindo. The property has everything you could need, and the owners and staff are friendly and accommodating. I'd happily recommend it to anyone looking for somewhere to stay in mindo. I'll definitely come back. 5 stars all around.

The owners let me cook in their facilities, and even helped dry my wet clothes and shoes after I got caught in a rainstorm. They're kind and fair, and clearly love birds and nature. They shared lots about local birds, pointing out a motmot, a green tanager, and several others. The property is quiet and peaceful, which is rare in Mindo, and every room looks out over the beautiful river. Each floor has one suite, and the buildings are only two stories. Rooms have cathedral ceilings, with a loft in the upper-floor suites. The rooms are beautifully built, with close attention to detail. Felipe is a master carpenter who spent years making them. The woodwork is stunning, with lovely counters and tables made from local wood. The main house and cabanas have the most beautiful architecture I've seen in Ecuador, built sustainably with bamboo and local wood. The bathrooms are lovely and well equipped, with amazing water pressure and hot water. They even have a blow dryer. A nice breakfast is available for four dollars extra, served on a veranda overlooking feeders for hummingbirds and larger birds. I saw a motmot this morning. I can't recommend Casa Del Rio Del Mindo enough. I stayed at three other places in town that were much more expensive and extremely shabby by comparison.

The attention to detail is great, and Felipe, Vitalia, their daughters, and their son run the place. Birds and the river right in front of the casitas make it special. I've stayed at Casa del Rio four times, and my family spent three weeks there. It's the BEST place to stay in Mindo. Making good.

We came from Europe, have travelled a lot in Ecuador, and this is one of the nicest places we've stayed, at a reasonable price. We only wish we could've stayed longer. The owners are a local family, very welcoming but discreet. We arrived in Mindo later than planned without a booking, and quickly looked online for a hostel with rooms available. What a hidden gem. It's quiet, surrounded by nature, and overlooks a river, yet only a two-minute walk from the centre and its services. Our garden cabin was perfect for our two kids, who loved waking up to nature sounds and views. There's a covered riverside porch with a hammock, plus a terrace at the main house where you can watch all the birds, have coffee, or work on a laptop. Free WiFi and plenty of charging spots too. The new rooms and cabins are beautiful and thoughtfully finished. Our room was spotless, the beds and pillows very comfortable, the shower good, the hair dryer decent, and the towels soft. Breakfast was amazing, with fresh rolls, butter, jam, dulce de leche, eggs, sliced fruit, fresh juice, and delicious French press coffee.