Mindo
Mindo is the capital of a rural parish in the canton of San Miguel de los Bancos in the Ecuadorian province of Pichincha . It has about 2,250 inhabitants and is about 60 km as the crow flies or two to two and a half hours by car west of Quito off the road that connects Quito via Calacalí with Esmeraldas. Mindo lies at an altitude of about 1,250 m and is the center of a subtropical nature reserve, the Bosque Protector Mindo - Nambillo (forest reserve Mindo - Nambillo). The rural parish of Mindo was established as an administrative unit in 1891.
Bosque Protector Mindo - Nambillo
The forest reserve Mindo - Nambillo is a cloud and cloud forest area at the level of the equator line . It is around 19,200 hectares in size, at an altitude of 1,400 to 4,780 m, also includes mountain rainforest and extends to the western flank of the Pichincha volcano . The Choco bioregion to which it belongs is one of the most biodiverse in the world. The nature reserve is characterized by high mountains, deep forests and clear rivers with numerous waterfalls.
Around 500 different species of birds have been recorded in this area and still unknown species are being discovered. Flycatchers , ant pittas , swallows , finches , lazy birds and the quetzal as well as colorful parakeets and mountain toucans live in the reserve . Rare butterflies and orchids are also native here. Mammals, including the endangered spectacled bear , pumas and squirrels, also live in the forest reserve.
The Oleoducto de Crudos Pesados (OCP), the largest and most modern oil pipeline in Ecuador, runs through the forest reserve .
Coordinates: 0 ° 20 ′ S , 78 ° 48 ′ W