This picture gives you an idea of the density of the cloud forests here.
In particular, I find it interesting that palm trees are mixed in the forest with other less tropical looking trees.
After a three hour walk up the hill, you can just barely see the small village of Mindo in the top left side.
The birdwatching forest trails.
More trail shots... well worn as you can tell.
The trees had quite a bit of variety in their moss (mossy trees are one of the indicators of rainforest).
More of this exciting moss!
To cross a tiny creek one the birdwatching walk, I had the benefit of climbing into another funicular (this much smaller one functioned via manual rope pulling) !
Being stared down by a cow here!
The Mindo area also had a beautiful river with small rapids.
Another shot of the river.
Of course... I had to fully enjoy it! There's nothing like a little tubing ride down some rapids to get your adrenaline going.
Now the butterflies... I can't believe how many different butterflies I saw on the way to the butterfly farm! (Butterflies are more abundant when the sun is out)
The butterfly on the bottom left corner looked almost like a leaf and its wings stayed closed most of the time (again, likely for camouflage reasons).
Some of the butterflies had lovely shapes to their wings.
This one was my favourite... it had translucent wings!!
Nicknamed by the butterfly farm as suicide butterflies, these lovely beings live for no more than a few days and they group together on the ground in their last few hours awaiting death.
For a while I thought they just kept getting in the way of cars and feet, as I saw a ton of them on the ground.
The Mariposarium (Butterfly farm).
Non dangerous caterpillars the length of your hand... acumulating food for the cocooning process.
