Private tour in Quito Vivian V

Best TWO DAYS tour to Mindo cloud forest

4.9

(12) reviews

-
Hours icon 2 days
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-3 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 2 days
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-3 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Vivian V.

5.0

Guide rating

553

Reviews

Tours delivered

4 hrs

Avg. response time

For 34 years I have guided, toured and helped people plan everything there is to do in Ecuador from a one day tour to a week or more. I guide not just the Quito area but the entire Andes chain including Otavalo, Mindo, Papallacta, Banos, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Ingapirca, Cuenca, Guayaquil and everything in between as well as the Galapagos and Amazon jungle. I guide only my native Ecuador but have been named the current #1 guide in all of South America and the Caribbean. The City of Quito hired me to tour Miami based, world syndicated radio and newspaper travel writer, former Colombia diplomat, expert on South America, Enrique Cordoba Rocha, who wrote I am the best Quito guide and sends referrals from his listeners and readers. I have never missed a tour, never even been late for one. I am 56 years old and was the 4th nationally licensed guide in the history of Ecuador and have toured over 9,000 travelers even for the Ecuador government (the Minister of Nepal, 17 person entourage and police escort - PHEW!) and top travel agencies in Ecuador and abroad. I am the "go to" guide the City of Quito asks to tour VIPs such as a PGA (U. S. golf) pro during the Quito tournament, the second highest ranking Russian official and entourage with body guards (Phew! again), a U. S. State Department official, an Arabian sheik and entourage, "Travel and Leisure" magazine personnel, foreign diplomats, the past U. S. ambassador. I was U. S. sales director for Klein Tours and traveled the world promoting Ecuador for it and Metropolitan Touring, the two largest Ecuador travel agencies and largest Galapagos yacht owners. I also designed tours for each. I have a U. S. (Miami) phone on my Quito desk to assist clients with trip planning. I can help you plan the perfect partial or total Ecuador vacation short or long. I am an Ecuador and a U. S. citizen. The tour guide you choose will be the difference in your day or trip. I have the guide maturity and vast contacts to make my clients secure. I speak, read and write perfect English (and French) because I lived and worked for Marriott in the U. S. , lived a year in France and traveled the world promoting Ecuador. With me there will be no canned or stilted speeches, talks. I am known for my flexibility while touring and can change itineraries even "on the fly" the day of a tour due to weather and other factors, even your whims. I have degrees in tourism and hotel management, and my avocation is Ecuador history. My English, knowledge, happy disposition, energy, experience and reliability make me the perfect guide for Quito or the entire country including the Galapagos and Amazon jungle. I love my work and have more than 4,500 recommendation letters on file without a single bad review, all five stars. I am one of four, elected, unpaid officers who run our National Tour Guide Association. Ecuador National Tour Guide 004 Tour prices quoted here are for up to 3 in my nice, newer SUV. I am a commercially licensed driver without ever an accident. I tour groups up to 50. For 4 or more simply ask me for a quote. I, personally, do not charge more for the guiding, but must, under strict Ecuador transportation law to protect your group, hire a special driver with specially inspected, commercially licensed vehicle, and this adds to the cost. Not all museums in Quito are closed on Mondays, most are now open. If this is your only available day please send me your inquiry, and I will create a customized itinerary.

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Vivian V.

Overview of your Quito tour

Mindo deserves at least a couple days stay in its surroundings. This is one of the best preserved areas of native cloud forest in the entire South American Andes chain. It is also considered the best spot in the country for bird watching with its more than 465 species of regional birds. I will loan you several pair of high quality, Nikon binoculars. Also, for nature and adrenaline sport lovers, this is a great area to hike, trek, raft, zip line climb or simply admire the scenery. I will refer you to and assist you booking one of several hotels of different types and costs; one is amazing, high up and built into cloud forest like a tree house. This tour price is for up to three people. This tour can be for up to 10 people - see below

Recent Reviews

Susan L.
July 2025

Traveling with a big family can be overwhelming — unless you have Vivi. She didn’t just guide us through Ecuador; she crafted an experience we’ll remember for a lifetime. Her knowledge, patience, and intuitive understanding of what each person needed (even before we did!) was remarkable. From butterfly sanctuaries and waterfalls to the best local empanadas, she infused every moment with joy and meaning. She kept things flowing seamlessly while connecting with everyone in our group — including our youngest travelers. Vivi was calm, capable, and genuinely passionate about her country. We feel so lucky to have had her as our guide.

Raia W.Australia
March 2024

Excellent full days in Mindo and on the journey there. Vivian is very knowledgable and passionate about the region - we experienced so many diverse activities: from the (real) equator line, scenic lookouts, archeology, local sights and foods, zip lining, hiking and some very special birds. Thank you!

Krishna B.United States
July 2023

The Mindo trip was perfect. Vivian does a great job tweaking the trip based on available time and the family. We got to do a lot of fun stuff without feeling rushed. The ziplining, early morning cock in the rock bird watching, and humming birds stood out.

Jerry O.United States
September 2022

Vivian was great, and everything you want in a guide: knowledgable, upbeat and able to go with the flow and adjust as conditions changed. My wife and I spent two days with her in and around Mindo, and it was the best part of our trip!

Roberta N.United States
August 2022

Vivian was not only a fabulous, thoughtful, and kind tour guide but also felt like a friend! You won't regret booking with Vivi!

Monica T.United States
December 2021

I wrote Vivian months ahead of our trip to let her know we wanted to go birding in the Mindo area, and we were interested in anything in nature around there. She arranged a fabulous tour, both at publicly known sites, for hummingbird, frog, orchid, and butterfly experiences, as well as with local private landowners and conservationists, where we were wonderfully surprised to see bird species and behaviors that we had no idea was possible to see! She knew where to go and how to get there for everything!

Your Quito tour itinerary

Depart your hotel En route to Mindo visit the "Tulipe" museum and learn about the Yumbos, a primitive culture that lived in this region before the arrival of the Inca. See an amazing profusion of hummingbirds up close, flying around you. Ride jungle zip line or cable basket out and over the jungle but only if you like. Visit a butterfly farm with hundreds of butterflies flying around you. Marvel at hundreds of different orchids, some giant and some so miniature that you will only see them through a magnifying glass. Visit a very interesting demonstration of chocolate production from bean to finished products. Trek to a waterfall while you learn the different plants and trees of the area. Hike a cloud forest trail with mountain views, birds Stop at Pululahua volcano or Middle of the World or gorgeous Yunguilla (see my Heaven on Earth tour) We probably cannot see and do everything listed above, but we will try. Return to Quito hotel

Want to customize this tour?

Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.

Transport details
Type: Private Transportation / Category: Suv

1 or 3 people by nice, SUV with Vivian driving. MORE THAN 3 PEOPLE AND UP TO 10: ask fir price for safe, comfortable, spacious, commercially licensed driver and larger SUV, touring van or small bus depending on number of people - includes Vivian - Ask me to prepare a Tours by Locals Custom Tour with the price for you.

What's included
Private Guide
Private Transportation
What's not included
Other: Entrance fees: hummingbirds $5p/person. Bird watching tour $25p/person. Butterfly farm $8.50p/person. Chocolate making tour $10 p/person. Orchid garden $4 p/person.
Food Drinks Snacks
Accommodation
Private Transportation With Driver
Meeting location

Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador

Airport, hotel, or any other location specified by tour guide or client.

  • You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
Family
Nature Wildlife And Safaris
Bird Watching
Day Trip
Tour reference number
278937
Languages
Spanish
English
Activity level
Moderate
Accessibility
Kid Friendly

Traveller reviews

4.9

FAQs

Who is this private tour in Quito best suited for?

This private tour is perfect for birdwatchers, nature lovers, and those looking to completely relax. It's also ideal for travellers who want to connect with a local guide like Vivian V. for deeper insights into the Mindo cloud forest.

What languages is this tour offered in?

Where does the tour start and end?

Is transportation included?

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?

What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 2 days
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-3 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 2 days
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-3 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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