Mindo Garden Lodge

The cabin was comfortable, and the electricity and water worked reliably. The grounds have dense vegetation, with cabins spaced along a winding cement path. Still, Mindo Garden is a long way out at the end of a dead-end dirt road, about a 10 or 15 minute drive from Mindo. For the price, I expected more. The room wasn’t cleaned daily, and the shower had no hot water. I told the establishment the next day since the desk isn’t staffed at night. They later said it was fixed, but it wasn’t. If you leave before breakfast service, the take-away option is mediocre and disappointing. There were only three other guests, yet two were put in the room right above mine in another building. The squeaking that followed did at least stop early. I wouldn’t recommend it.

It’s a lovely place in the rainforest, and staying there gives you a natural way to experience Mindo. The facilities and hikes are nice, and the setting is marvelous. You’ll want a car, though. It’s far from the city centre, so getting around could be complicated without one. The pool is 1.8km away on another property, and breakfast could be better.

The riverside setting is beautiful, with nature all around. Valentina was incredibly kind, friendly and helpful, and made dinner feel one of a kind. We went for our anniversary tonight, and they opened just for us even though they were meant to be closed. The food was lovely. Do yourself a favour and get the Mindo Garden Trout, cooked in a banana leaf and super tasty. Don’t miss this place when you’re in Mindo.

I spent hours wandering the grounds and taking photos. The place is right by the Mindo river, with lovely log cabins, and it’s an easy walk to the butterfly gatden. Breakfast is included and was great. Lunch and dinner were great too, and there’s free WiFi. I had a great three-night stay and highly recommend spending a few nights here.