Off-Grid Nature Retreat in Pichincha, Ecuador

Mindo is a town located 1 1/2-2 hours northwest of Quito, with a population of about 5,000, whose main industry is tourism. The town is quaint with a lot of charm and forward thinking. You will easily find peers with whom to associate, as this area is for nature lovers.

Our retreat center consists of 3 hectares and is ideally located in that we’re on the side of Mindo that is close (within walking distance) to most all tourist activities. We’re a 30 minute walk to town, a 10 minute walk to the Butterfly Farm, a 10 minute walk to the beginning of tubing (on the Mindo River), and a 5 minute walk to the Chairlift. The Chairlift takes you across two valleys (an approximate 18 minute ride), to the Tarabita (a local, rustic gondola which leads you to lots of forest trails, natural pools & waterfalls), and the chairlift also leaves you at a 20 minute walk to the 2 local Ziplines.

For perspective, and from a tourist’s point of view, you can easily access two valleys away, all from a 5 minute walk from our property. Walking distance to the ziplines is about 1/2 hour from the property and 45 minutes to the tarabita.

Some of the other activities in and around Mindo include:

• hiking
• biking
• zip lining
• birding
• night walking (tour)
• mountain climbing
• river tubing (3 different rivers)
• horseback riding
• coffee tour
• chocolate making tour
• frog concert
• open air gondola (tarabita)
• chair lift (spectacular views)
• butterfly garden
• orchid garden
• nighttime bike tour
• tarzan swing

On July 25th, 2018, Chocó Andino de Pichincha, where Mindo is located, was declared a new Unesco Biosphere Reserve. This covers an altitudinal range of 360 to 4,480 meters, encompassing a region considered to be one of the most biodiverse hotspots in the world. With a biosphere representing over 270 species of mammals and greater than 450 species of birds (in the Mindo region alone), the Cloud Forest boasts a diverse flora & fauna, unlike anything most have ever seen. Between ourselves & guests, we’ve counted around 150 species of birds, throughout the year, on our property alone. Even if you’re not an avid birder, most guests partake in it, at least once during their stay.

Mindo is located at an altitudinal range of about 3,500 feet (1,066 meters) and does not have any mosquito born diseases such as malaria, dengue or chikungunya, due to its altitude. The weather year round is a temperate, eternal spring, with highs in the 80’s and lows in the 50’s (at night). The dry season lasts about June-December, and the rainy season about January-June. This of course, can vary, but generally speaking, mornings are clear and sunny both seasons, and afternoons will cloud over and cool off in the dry season, and cloud over and rain in the rainy season.

The sale of this resort comes with the business included and is completely furnished. Please inquire for information about our website and Yoga Retreats, and view our 2 Airbnb listings below to see all of our 5 star reviews. I’m a super host on Airbnb and have never received less than a 5 star review. Both of our listings are two of the most booked listings on Airbnb for the Mindo area:

airbnb[dot]com/h/off-grid-solar-house-in-mindo-ecuador
airbnb[dot]com/h/off-grid-solar-cottage-in-mindo-ecuador

We personally have chosen to reserve our recycled cabins for retreats only, but depending on your vision, you could easily rent out all 3 cabins and both houses for a bustling & very prosperous ecological resort.

This property is more stunning than words, photos or video can describe. The construction and setting are one of a kind and make you never want to leave. Regrettably, for family reasons, we need to return back home, and so are selling this much loved and cherished property.