Casa Divina Eco Lodge

The staff were friendly and helpful, and made us delicious breakfasts and dinners. We spent two mornings at the main lodge's observation deck, watching birds over coffee. With a guide, we saw more than sixty species on the first day. We stayed in Cabana Canopy on the second level, with a balcony surrounded by trees. The spacious room had a beautiful, spotless wood floor, so clean we always took our shoes off. At night we left the window open and fell asleep to cool air, the stream, and crickets. This was our favorite of the ten hotels, lodges, and camps we stayed at over three weeks in Ecuador. It's outside town in a quiet, lush spot, and we wished we'd planned more days in Mindo.

The gardens and hiking trails were gorgeous, and the photos don't capture how beautiful they are. We loved it at Casa Divina. The lodge was clean and comfortable, with plenty of hot water, and the staff were super friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. I wish we'd stayed longer.

Getting to town isn't convenient, since Casa Divina is a bit far from Mindo and you shouldn't count on walking there. But everyone was amazing, helped with recommendations and taxis, and arranged our ride from Quito. The Night Walk is a must, as is the morning Bird Watching. Breakfast and dinner were stellar and filling. The spacious rooms were comfortable, and the soaking tub was a nice surprise. Gentle rain while relaxing in the hammock will lull you to sleep.

The room was clean, very nice, and comfortable. My son and I were on a self-guided birding trip around Ecuador, and we birded much of the Mindo area, though not on the property. From the balcony, we saw a Tropical Screech Owl and a Wattled Guan just outside our room. There were two downsides. Breakfast starts at 0800 and lasts only an hour, which is a bad time for birders since it's peak bird activity. They might offer a packed breakfast for an early birding start, but nobody mentioned it when we checked in. Also, the parking lot is around 75 meters from the rooms, slightly uphill. Hauling luggage that distance can make you sweat. No one offered to help with our bags, though I assume you could ask if you really needed a hand.