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World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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World Trip 2024-25: Day 15 – Quito, Ecuador

Mariposario Mariposas de Mindo (Butterfly Farm) – Mindo, Ecuador

Friday 13 December 2024
Highlights: Hummingbirds Paradise Alambi Reserve, El Quetzal de Mindo (Chocolate Factory), Mariposario Mariposas de Mindo (Butterfly Farm)

Setting out at 7.30 am we had a day of adventure and discovery on the final day of our Ecuador’s Amazon and Volcanoes tour. Today’s activities were replacements for not being able to stay in the Amazon earlier in the trip.

First up was a visit to Hummingbirds Paradise Alambi Reserve located in the Tandayapa Valley. While it was raining we still got to see this amazing animal zoom around and eat. I even got to directly feed some hummingbirds with them sitting on my hand. An amazing experience as I could feel their racing hearts as they ate.

Hummingbirds Paradise Alambi Reserve – Tandayapa Valley, Ecuador

Next up was a drive to Mindo to El Quetzal de Mindo with a Chocolate Tour. This was a detailed explanation of chocolate and how it, and coffee, is created. We got to feel and taste the cocoa seeds which are a fruit.

El Quetzal de Mindo (Chocolate Tour) – Mindo, Ecuador

We learnt about why chocolate and be both good and bad for you depending on the percentage of chocolate, with 100% being best as it doesn’t have other ingredients like sugar. The highlight was tasting different chocolates and sauces, especially after learning how it is made.

Our last activity for this tour was visiting the Mariposario Mariposas de Mindo (Butterfly Farm). We got to directly interact with butterflies. Erin managed to feed 5 butterflies from her hands at the same time. Fascinating creatures that are in many ways born twice. 

Mariposario Mariposas de Mindo (Butterfly Farm) – Mindo, Ecuador

We got back to Quito after the briefing for our Galapagos Tour had started. We checked into our new hotel and then quickly joined the tour briefing already underway. Getting the essential information i.e. needing to be ready to go by 4.30 am tomorrow, we walked back to yesterday’s hotel for our final dinner as a group.

Due to power cuts, we mostly ate with candlelight or portal lights. We shared stories, thanked each other for being supportive, and acknowledged our CEO Angeles Valencia’s great work in organising replacement activities after losing the Amazon nights.

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