Tourism is big business in Ecuador. There are so many wonderful cities and towns with beautiful architecture, traditions and artisan crafts. Beyond the cities and towns are all the amazing geographical wonders and unique ecosystems. The results are the many options for eco-tourism: the Amazonian rain forest, the beaches, the Galapagos Islands, volcanoes and cloud forests.
One of the most popular tourist sites near Quito is the cloud forest of Mindo. It is a place that attracts everyone: tourists from around the world, tourists from across Ecuador and local Quiteños (people from Quito). Everyone wants to see Mindo, and for good reason. The landscape is beautiful with lush, overgrown ferns, trees and flowers. The views of the mountains on the winding road to Mindo are a spectacular show on their own, too.
At 98 kilometers (60 miles) away, it shouldn’t be a long drive. The winding, single-lane road can be slow going at times, and challenging if you are prone to motion sickness. The drive takes about two hours. I’ve been to Mindo three times, and the drive always gets to me. My hometown of Lubbock is surrounded by flat expanses of open farmland. Driving down the highways at home, you can see what’s coming ahead and behind you for miles. Mountain landscapes are outside of my usual experience.
