Mindo Canopy Adventure
Mindo Canopy Adventure
4.5
Zipline & Aerial Adventure ParksNature & Wildlife Tours
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
We are an Ecuadorian company, dedicated to the best canopy tour. We are the original canopy in Mindo, the first company to carry out this activity in Mindo. We were also the first to implement and develop the double cable system. We have 12 years of experience. We also offer you the extreme swing and our new COFFEE TOUR. Fun and safety at the highest level.
Mindo, Ecuador

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles353 reviews
Excellent
271
Very good
61
Average
16
Poor
1
Terrible
4

Nicki E
Illinois593 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
On the recommendation of our tour guides in Quito, we went with Mindo Canopy Adventure (the one with the bird on the sign) and it was a blast. We took a taxi there as its all up hill and asked for the Ziplining/Tarzan Swing/Tarabita combo ticket ($23.50 when purchased on site). That included 10 lines of ziplining and we each got the chance to do a special position on one of the lines—Superman or Mariposa. There’s a lot of hiking uphill throughout the course.

The guides were excellent and made very clear how to hold yourself in the proper position. They took care of hooking and unhooking all of the equipment each time, so there’s no need to think at all. You don’t even need to worry about slowing down at the end as they have a stopper in place. It all felt very safe.

I didn’t expect to do the Tarzan Swing, but with adrenalin pumping, I gave it a go. Not going to lie, it was terrifying standing on the edge of platform and leaning forward to grip the rope, knowing I’d be free falling in a matter of seconds. But I’d screamed “Just do it!” at Amazing Race players on my TV too many times to chicken out now. I dropped and swung and screamed “Pachamama!” and it was AWESOME. A guide was there at the bottom with a ladder to safely lower me to the ground when it was time.
Written October 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KristineLynnBowman
Banos, Ecuador33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Exceptional fun! My partner and I both ziplined, and I did the Tarzan swing. The ziplines were awesome and afforded great views over the valley. A couple lines were so long that you were in clouds for a few seconds - not able to see either where you came from, or where you were going. Magical! Two lines you had the option of going either butterfly (head down, feet up), or superman. I did both variations. Butterfly was incredible, superman was fun but the harness is hard on your guts.

I am soft skinned, so I did end up with slight bruising on my back from the harness.

The Tarzan swing was one crazy rush, highly recommend trying it out.
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ftlausa
Florida4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Couples
This was a very professional and safe experience. The guides clearly explained how to do the lines and they have two cables with three total connections to the cables for safety. They use a braking system that is controlled by the guides that ensures you safely stop at the end. At other zip lines I have done elsewhere, you have to stop yourself with a gloved hand. The system here is a real improvement.

They connect you to the lines and double check the connections. There are two guides - one in the front and one at the end - doing the connections and checking everything.

One of the guides took my wife (who hates heights) on the first couple of lines to make sure she was comfortable. The guide made her feel very comfortable and she really enjoyed the experience.

They have a total of 10 lines that are well organized and easy to navigate to. The lines varied in length and traversed back and forth over the jungle. This was the best zipline experience I have had.

The cost is very reasonable at $20 for the 10 lines. I highly recommend this operator. I would go again without hesitation and will go again if I come back to Mindo.
Written April 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Laura M
10 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021 • Couples
Everything started out well. We did the Tarzan swing with a very attentive guide then went on to do the 10 zip course. On the third line, one of the guides disappeared and the other one said that we were going all three together, myself my husband and the guide. We’ll it was absolutely terrible. We got stuck three quarters of the way there on the cable and had to desperately pull ourselves to the other side. It took over 15 minutes and was exhausting uncomfortable and very scary. There was no one to help us, the guide attached to us was basically useless. Once we finally got back we told the owner what had happened and he was shocked that the guide would put all three of us together. But that was all. My recommendation is to avoid this place.
Written November 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MARK T
Bath, UK3 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
Really feels like they just want your money. Staff were unresponsive and did not listen or explain clearly apart from barking the basic 2 rules. Was excited about doing more zip wires after Baños but this was tame and left feeling it was time wasted. The staff did not explain that they would ride with me on the final wire - I did not l want this at all and it was even more annoying to finish the rides this way.
Written March 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lisvelasco2001
Selbyville, DE370 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
Four of us did the Mindo Canopy Zip Line. There were 10 zip lines of varying lengths over the forest. Our ages ranged from 58-69. We had a great experience. The guides were awesome at explaining everything and making sure we were safe and having fun. Would definitely recommend this.
Written January 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephan G
Utrecht, The Netherlands79 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2017 • Solo
This park is advertised as "aventura segura" but something went wrong on the second zipline. They told me/us we shouldn't adjust our moving direction while moving, but I think your head is not supposed to be pointing in the direction that you are going, which is exactly the direction my head/body spun in. Upon almost reaching the end, I got scared as (1) my head was pointing towards a tree that I thought I'd bash into, and (2) I didn't see the brakes that were there on the first zipline, but instead saw the guide with a facial expression that said "my God he's here already" and then saw him trying to quickly arrange the brakes. One sec after that I bashed my head (thank God I wore a helmet) into the breaking system at full speed. I wasn't badly hurt but in the end I started noticing a subtle headache and neck ache, which remained for a couple of hours after. The guide blamed this on "bad luck". Upon paying I tried to explain that this was not what I was supposed to be paying for, but they disagreed and insisted I pay the full price. Thank the Lord that the breaking system was at least quickly half arranged upon my arrival at the end of the zipline, because who knows what else might have happened.

All in all they do their best and I don't usually write bad reviews, but I was surprised they made me pay the full price after what happened and just blamed it on bad luck instead of making an effort to make up for something that I think could have been prevented.
Written January 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David G
24 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2017 • Couples
There has been considerable on-line debate about the safety of this facility. As someone who has designed, built and operated a zip-line installation in the UK, I feel able to add some objectivity and informed opinion following a recent visit.

From my understanding of the relevant regulations and industry best practice, I would conclude that the subject facility falls some way short of UK and European standards in the following areas:
~ Braking system
~ Operating procedures
~ Riding position
~ (and potentially) Anchor arrangements
(For those interested in the details, I have substantiated these conclusions below.)

I am also an expedition leader taking school and youth groups overseas, in which capacity I have to assess the suitability and safety of activities, transport, accommodation, etc. for such groups. Based on my recent observations, I would not allow any of my groups to participate in this activity.

In the interest of fairness and balance, I am not conversant with the regulative environment for high ropes activities in Ecuador and would therefore hesitate to condemn this operation as dangerous. (After all, my wife and I participated in the activity during our visit!).

If you do decide to use this facility, I would advise taking the following sensible precautions:
~ Tie back long hair and ensure that loose clothing (especially hoods, drawstrings, scarves or similar) are removed or well tucked in to avoid possible entanglement with running gear.
~ Insist that the preceding rider is clear of the zip line before your own ride commences (they will not like this!).
~ Do not accept a helmet that has been painted.

DETAILED ANALYSIS

Running gear & safety equipment

Harnesses, slings (used for cows tails) and karabiners seemed in fair order based on a visual inspection of my own equipment, and had CE approvals. I did not recognise the running gear (twin single pulleys) as being proprietory and they bore no manufacturers identification or official standard marks. They did have some form of serial number / asset tracker. Some climbing-style helmets appeared to have been painted. Depending on the type of paint used, this can seriously compromise their structural integrity.

Each run had twin hawsers with a pulley attached to each and an additional cows tail clipped with a karabiner to the lower hawser as a back-up. However, the potential benefit of twin hawsers was undermined somewhat by a common anchorage (see below).

Braking system.

On most of the runs, the primary braking system comprises a bobbin-shaped block (wooden / dense plastic?) sleeving the lower hawser and attached to a rope that is doubled round a krab and the free end held by an instructor who controls the final deceleration by allowing the rope to slide through their hands. Such manual arrangements carry a higher risk than an automatic, fixed system. This risk is significantly compounded by the absence of a secondary braking system - failure of the primary system would result in the rider colliding with the side of the hill or end supports.

In mitigation, it should be acknowledged that hawser cadence is such that the final approach speed is modest.

However, a number of the runs are much faster and require the rider to check their speed during descent by holding the lower hawser with a reinforced leather gauntlet. In the event that a rider became incapacitated or otherwise unable to check their speed in this manner, the rudimentary primary terminal braking system and absence of any backup as noted above could have catastrophic consequences.

Operating procedures.

Riders are attached to and removed from the lines by staff, although some rider assistance is required - specifically the need to relive tension on the hawsers to facilitate removal of running gear and even having to jump up on occasions.

Staff release riders from the top of lines before the preceding rider is removed. THIS IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS and exacerbated by the need for active rider cooperation for dismount.

Riding position.

The set-up of running gear is such that a rider's head is at the same level as the lower hawser, thereby posing a significant risk of entanglement with hair or loose clothing. Riders are instructed to lean back in their harness away from this danger, but such riding stance is likely to be counter- intuitive for a nervous participant.

Anchor arrangements.

Hawsers were generally noted as being anchored to a minimum of two trees. It would be irresponsible to condemn such arrangements without a detailed arboricultural assessment, but it should be noted that trees in this region are typically shallow-rooted due to a combination of thin organic covering and high levels of natural precipitation & humidity (hence frequent landslides in the region). This causes one to question the adequacy of natural anchor points (with some tree specimens used for such purpose also seeming somewhat on the slender side).

Again, in the interests of balance, some anchors were metal posts set in concrete bases and it is understood that the operator intends to gradually replace tree anchors with this arrangement - a practice that is both welcomed and encouraged.

Some minor details.

~ Screwgate krabs were not gravity-loaded or opposed as would be required under UK best practice.
~ Only two or three clamps were used to secure hawser ends, all fastened on the same side. UK best practice is to use a minimum of four, with pairs opposed.

I hope readers find this information useful and that the facility operators accept it in the spirit in which they are composed. Hopefully, my comments will provoke further improvements to the enjoyment and safety of this exciting activity.

Written May 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

QualResearcher_9
Chicago57 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2012 • Friends
We took our chances and went to Mindo Canopy Adventure after seeing their signs promising 'international and national' safety certificates. Of course, we have no way of knowing what that means or actually how safe these are.
The zip lines were awesome, running across a huge valley with gorgeous views- a real thrill! . It cost $15 and took about 1 1/2 hours to do the entire course (I think 15 lines)

The guides were all very young (in their teens/early 20's I would guess, and not much English) and didn't seem completely professional or safety concerned. They encouraged people to do some crazy stuff that would never fly in the US: like the "mariposa" were the person hangs upside down with the guide behind you, or the "super man" where you lay flat out with your arms out. I am terrified of heights so didn't try these moves which looked pretty dangerous especially the Mariposa!
Two of my friends received minor injuries: one came in too fast off the zip line and the guide wasn't prepared because he was still unloaded the person before, and my friend got caught up in the 'stopper' lines and got really deep rope burns on his legs. The other found her glove was wearing out and getting very hot while she went down the line so she didn't hold on tight, and she lost her hold on the line, and swung upside down and came screaming in fast and luckily escaped with just a shoulder rope burn.

I just read when I got home about the other zipline company in town having a fatal accident in May of 2012 where a cable broke - given this, I don't think I would ever risk zip lining in Ecuador again!
Written August 16, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AvidGlobeHopper
Birtley, UK257 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2018 • Couples
We drove 2.5 hours from Quito along very winding mountainous roads to do the canopy adventure. The last 4km is a dirt track which would be fairly dangerous in wet weather.

We arrived to find lots of people sitting around (staff) and speaking very fast in Spanish (we speak some Spanish but not fluent!). At first it appeared no one spoke any English however our zipline guide did so I'm not sure why he didn't step in.

The website quoted $14 a person for the zip lining however we were charged $20 each despite having 'reserved' online which they had no record of.

The zip lines are amazing with stunning scenery and there are 10 if you want to do the full course. We received very brief instruction before the first and then were told to sit down in our harnesses and then sent off down the first line. We were rushed through 10 lines in 40 minutes (although I now question if we actually did 10, I wasn't counting). I was then asked for a tip by the guide at the end which I found irritating as I would always do this anyway.

The website states you can do this is you can walk 150 metres however some parts are steep uphill with very high steps and at altitude (2300m) I found this challenging.

Overall it was fun and maybe we just arrived at a bad time but I don't think that our experience warranted the TripAdvisor rating the canopy tour has.
Written August 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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