Mindo, Ecuador 🇪🇨 

Up early today as apparently the best time to spot birds is from 6am. I walk up to the yellow house at the corner of Mindo where the trails begin, to be met by a lovely old lady who gives me a map and sets me on the path. It is all up hill as I set off on a dirt track to the first trail, I can hear bird chatter but can’t see them. At the entrance to the trail is a notice which includes the advice, not to disturb the Spectacled Bear if you see them. This heightens my senses to every sound as I prepare to run at the slightest sighting.
The early sun, mixed with super large ferns and plants creates a magical setting and I enjoy tramping the first route. I start to see more birds flying around and mainly away from me until I spotted a blotchy painted toucan land on a branch. Toucan’s actually make quite a bit of noise flying so seemed to be easier to spot and I see a green one which I’ve never seen before. The next trail takes me higher to a mirador that lays the forest out in front of me and I can see Mindo far below. I hadn’t realised how far I had climbed. I see a big more traditional Toucan fly in and then see other birds darting from branch to branch, a little red one and a black & yellow one. Scurrying behind me and up a tree is a squirrel which has a auburn coloured belly, unusual.

Finally routing back after 3 hours the heat seems to have waken up the butterflies that flit past me as I walk back down. The lady welcomes me back with a cold juice and invites me onto the porch to watch the hummingbirds that visit her feeders. There are loads and lots of types, she says that there are 3 colonies in the trees in front that feed all day, they are beautiful. After watching them for about 30minutes I quickly walk back to my hostel before breakfast finishes, and it is worth rushing for.

It is a glorious day and as the midday sun passes, I venture up the hill to a zip lining course. There are 3 others that join me on this trip with 2 guides, covering 10 lines over the forest canopy at heights up to 90metres from the ground. It is lots of fun and there are some great views as I whizz past. I bravely try the upside down ‘butterfly’ position which is disorienting and more scary, then discover the ‘superman’ position which lets to see more of the forest as you fly over the top. We Zip for about 2 hours which is awesome, before heading back to town for a well deserved long shower.