Only 3-4 hours drive from Quito, Puerto Quito provides a wonderful chance to visit the spectacular but tragically depleting Valle do Chocó, one of the world´s most threatened biodiversity hotspots.

Passing La Mitad Del Mundo you head west, leaving the barren hills behind you, to plunge into stunning cloud forest. The road passes Mindo and seems to float above the canopy of the vast dense forest before dropping into Puerto Quito.

The change in temperature hits you instantly and with the windows now open you are able to see for miles. Originally named Puerto de Quito (Port of Quito) the town proved to be a useful stop on the short cut connecting Quito to the Pacific Ocean and is today the quickest route to Esmeraldas.

The pace is slow in Puerto Quito but with numerous impressive waterfalls to visit, over 100 different species of birds to spot, forest to explore and pure chocolate to make and taste, there is plenty to see and do. The municipality has a well informed tourist office in the main yellow office building on the left as you enter the town.

There is also a tourist office on the right hand of the bridge where you can arrange a number of different excursions working with Cabañas Del Rio at around $8 per person. These include a visit to a local fruit farm that works with, rather than against, the local ecological systems, a chance to explore the local waterfalls, a tour of a medicinal garden and botanical and the unmissable opportunity to makeand taste real chocolate. Tubing is also available but not between September and Christmas due to the lack of water.

Waterfalls can be accessed independently of a tour. As well as visiting Puerto Quito as a tourist there are some interesting volunteering opportunities which are listed on our volunteer pages. 12 October is a local festival for the town when locals dance and drink into the early hours.