Private tour in Quito Vivian V

Mindo Cloud Forest - Beautiful One Day Tour

5.0

(131) reviews

-
Hours icon 9 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-3 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 9 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-3 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Vivian V.

5.0

Guide rating

555

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

One of my and travelers' favorites! Quito has dozens of interesting and beautiful sites, but it is still a big city like all big cities, full of concrete, cars, noise and people in a hurry. After seeing Old Quito and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, if you have another day, why not go down, down, down and out to rural, cloud forest, gorgeous Mindo and see nature at its best? You'll never see more lush forest, more exotic birds, hundreds of hummingbirds and butterflies than in Mindo. Use my Nikon binoculars to see these things, both close and distant, up even closer. If enough time we can walk to a beautiful waterfall or take a zip line ride or a steel basket ride over the jungle or stop at the Middle of the World or visit Pululau volcano rim, one of only two active volcanos in the world with people living and farming in the crater.

Recent Reviews

JoAnn G.United States
2 weeks ago

Vivi is an exceptional tour guide who knows Quito, it’s Flora and fauna inside out! She is very knowledgeable, sweet, funny, and turned our Mindo Cloud Forest tour into something spectacular, exceeding our expectations! She is a terrific communicator and gave us so much information beforehand, as well as custom tailored our tour so we experienced everything we wanted and then some. My husband has mobility issues and Vivi saw to it that all his needs were met. You’d be lucky to book her and don’t hesitate for a minute to do so, you will be thrilled with her!

Melessa M.United States
August 2026

Wonderful tour. Highly recommend Vivian. Thank you

Kaija F.United States
August 2026

Vivian was fantastic! She’s personable, knowledgeable and an all around delight. My husband wasn’t feeling the best for this day trip and she did everything possible to make it as easy and pleasant of a day for him.

Alan M.United States
July 2026

Had a great day trip to Mindo with Vivian. She was prompt, attentive, enthusiastic and most of all friendly. I explained what sorts of activities interested me, and my physical capabilities, and she took it from there, proposed a well paced series of events starting with breakfast. The day’s activities included: a short hike, zipline, butterflies, orchids, and chocolate. At breakfast and lunch, we observed “swarms” of hummingbirds and other tropical birds (including Toucans and Guans). Vivian’s English is excellent and allowed me to learn much about what I saw and Ecuadorian culture as well, and her friendliness and enthusiasm made for a great day!

Kiersten M.United States
July 2026

Vivian was a wonderful tour guide and we managed to fit so many activities in our day. She knew the best times to get to the various locations to avoid crowds and tailored our experience to meet our needs. I highly recommend starting your day as early as possible if you want to maximize the day!

Edward B.Ecuador
June 2026

This is our second tour with Vivian. Did a great tour of Mindo. Chocolate facory, Butter Fly exhibit.

Your Quito tour itinerary

Depart hotel 7am if comfortable that early Travel out and down from Quito in northwest direction toward Mindo (2 hour trip) Take a zip line ride over the cloud forest? Less adventurous? Take a steel basket ride over the cloud forest. Arrive in Mindo and walk the tiny town, visit a truly amazing butterfly exhibition, a little chocolate factory that takes you from pod to finished products, an orchid exhibition, a jungle waterfall and a cloud forest hike if you desire. We can't do all of these things, but we'll come close and do what you want. Lunch Return to Quito with stop at Pululau Volcano and/or Middle of the World site IF TIME ALLOWS and client desires. Arrive at Quito hotel approximately 6pm

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: Bus

Vivian driving her almost new, perfectly maintained for safety, SUV for up to three people. She is a commercially trained and licensed driver with a perfect driving record over 33 years and over 9,000 travelers toured; she is not regularly licensed. Safety has always been her first concern. For more than 3 travelers ask Vivian for a quote as she must hire a professional, commercially licensed driver and specially licensed and inspected vehicle. She, personally does not charge more for touring more people; it is only the additional cost of driver and vehicle as required by Ecuador law for your safety. This is a beautiful but 3rd world country of roads and other drivers.

What's included
Private Guide
Private Transportation
What's not included
Other: Personal expenses. Nominal entrance fees ($26 +/- total per person) for client desired exibitions Lunch: $7 and up depending on the client's preference
Food Drinks Snacks
Meeting location

Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador

Airport, hotel, or any other location specified by Guide or client

  • You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
Nature Wildlife And Safaris
Bird Watching
Adventure
Architecture
Tour reference number
300748
Languages
Spanish
English
Activity level
Moderate

Traveller reviews

5.0

FAQs

Who is this private tour in Quito best suited for?

This private tour is perfect for nature enthusiasts and those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Quito. It's ideal for travellers interested in exploring lush forests, exotic birds, and unique experiences like zip lining or visiting a chocolate factory. It's also great for those who want to connect with a local guide for deeper insights.

What should I bring or wear?

Can this private tour in Quito be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?

How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?

Where does the tour start and end?

Is transportation included?

What happens if a site is closed, crowded, or the weather changes?

What languages is this tour offered in?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 9 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-3 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 9 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-3 people
Your party size

1

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