The Cloud Forest of Mindo
Far away from the city lights, the hectic bus lines, and most of all, other tourists, I have found my place. You know, the place where the world just seems to fade away. Where everything is made of bamboo, shoes must be removed for entry, and most seats are of a hanging nature.
Hidden within the last remaining Cloud Forests of Ecuador, Mindo is a mysteriously magical place, where the warm Pacific winds collide with the steep peaks and jagged ridge lines of the Andes, creating a high-altitude Amazonian rainforest. The uncharacteristic humidity sets the vegetation in motion, but it is the uneven jungle surface, allowing more light to penetrate the canopy, that continues the process, giving birth to a myriad of orchids, plants, and mosses. Thousands of bird and butterfly species also populate the area, affording a magnificent glimpse into the lives of many rare, airborne beauties. And, if ‘bird watching’ is not your thing, how about becoming one? Well, sort of anyways. Harnessed into a series of zip lines, “Canopying”, supplies a birds eye view of the exceptional flora and fauna below. |
Teaming with various eco-lodge hostels, Cecilia is just one or many local owners who has opened her house to visitors. A weather-worn Ecuadorian grandma, who runs her hostel not for profit, but for socializing. She loves sharing a slice of her jungle paradise with visitors and only asks for a few dollars and a few travel stories in return. Her rooms are more then basic, with mosquito netting for decoration and bamboo woven rugs for flooring. However, her terrace is pure magic.
|
Swinging back and forth in one of many hammocks, the sound of hummingbirds rigorously flapping their wings fills you’re your ears, the smell of sweet, exotic flowers overwhelms your nose, and the glorious sight of butterflies dancing through the soft haze of clouds, is almost unimaginable.
“No shirt, no shoes, no problem”, is not only the norm, it is an unwritten rule when in Mindo. So, kick back, relax, and breathe deep…it doesn’t get much better then this. © |