Cooking Retreat

Treat yourself to an all-inclusive 7-day Cooking Retreat in the lush valley of Mindo in the Ecuadorean Andes!

Our 6 wonderful retreat options are all-inclusive, safe, sustainable, deep nature and cultural experiences, with all of your meals catered by a private chef. MIX & MATCH DIFFERENT THEMES across your group and still enjoy meals and some activities together.

——————————————————————————————————————

The Mindo region is a bird watching haven with waterfalls in every direction and such tremendous biodiversity that it is going to blow your mind. Located in a valley of the Ecuadorian Andes alongside a massive intact primary rainforest, the natural beauty here is astounding, and the thriving yet off-the-beaten-track ecotourism scene offers something for everyone.

Enjoy daily cooking classes during a fun, safe, decadent, sustainable, healthy, customized adventure for all the senses – made just for you. The Ecuadorian palette might be described best as mild and yet savory, with lots of fresh ingredients in the mix. We have just the guy to teach you some of the best traditional dishes, as well as other international dishes and some fusion yumminess. Our wonderful local friend, Chef Tim, brings to the kitchen decades of experience with both large-scale and fine dining cooking in the U.S. Tim will take you with him to buy lots of the fresh ingredients you will be cooking with, and is also guaranteed to make lessons a lot of fun. Be prepared to have your taste buds wowed!

——————————————————————————————————————

RETREAT DETAILS 

We will take care of 100% of your logistical needs, from pickup and drop-off at Quito’s airport, accommodations, catered meals, and some activities. With so many options locally, we would also be happy to arrange additional activities for you (such as a guided birding trip), noting we included a few of our favourite things to do in this package.

• 7-Day all inclusive cooking retreat cost = 2,499 CAD

*Includes all taxes, accommodations, airport transfers, three privately catered meals a day, daily cooking classes & other activities (detailed below), validated carbon offsets of your return international flight, and an English-speaking retreat leader to help ensure it all goes smoothly. Price does not include your return airfare or expenditures of a personal nature.

*Further details on pricing (including for kids) can be found on the “Pricing” tab above, as can details “About Mindo”.

——————————————————————————————————————

DATES

Retreats may be offered at different times throughout the year – GET IN TOUCH to ask any time to explore availability and hold your spot(s). 

——————————————————————————————————————

~ Safe 

~ Incredible natural surroundings

~ Ideal climate (not too hot, not too cool – all year)

~ Good wifi (in work areas & your room)

Just ask about anything we haven’t covered. Whatever you’re looking for, we can likely arrange it, find it, or otherwise figure it out. This village is where EarthTreks began, and our friends, family and ecotourism colleagues of over 20 years here are part of what will make this experience so special for you.

The 6 different retreats can be mixed-and-matched across your group!

We have a long list of optional trip extensions and other add-ons, from a trip to the Galapagos Islands to a stay in the Amazon basin. That may be easier to talk through together, and you’re welcome to get in touch any time to discuss your options.

Some local activities that our clients always enjoy are included in the retreat price (see below). Others – such as zip lining 400 meters high above the forest canopy – have been left to individual choice and are also listed below. 

——————————————————————————————————————

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THIS RETREAT PACKAGE

~ Enjoy two cooking classes daily during your stay, that will start with visits to the local markets to buy the fresh food that will go into every course. By the end of the retreat, you should be able to make your way around an Ecuadorian food shop with ease, know how to cook some sophisticated national and international dishes using a variety of techniques, as well as learn a few kitchen hacks. Be sure to let us know in advance if there is a particular dish of interest you want to learn. 

~ Nambillo Waterfalls Visit:  Take a chairlift ride sailing above the forest canopy to a cable car that will travel across a deep ravine and set you down at the top of hiking trails leading to different waterfalls. We can pack you a picnic lunch to go if you want to make a full day of it.

~ Butterfly Tour:  Visit the Mariposario butterfly sanctuary – butterflies naturally thrive in the Mindo Valley – the only thing better than watching them dry off their new wings is having them land all over you.

~ Orchid Tour:  Tour an orchid garden to see some of the over 4,200 species found in this country – a magnifying glass is included for the really tiny ones.

——————————————————————————————————————

OTHER OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

~ Visit a private nature reserve to learn all about the life of trees and discover the different species growing in the cloud forest, ending in an amazing hummingbird experience like nowhere else

~ Add on a private class or two (or more): Spanish, yoga, woodworking, salsa dancing (or let us know your idea)

~ Plant a tree as part of EarthTreks’ Reforestation Project and environmental legacy (13,300 trees and counting)

~ Try something more adrenaline-filled, such as repelling through waterfalls, white water tubing, zip lining, bungee jumping, or mountain biking

~ Choose from various guided nature expeditions to explore the area’s extreme biodiversity – birding & herping (reptiles & amphibians) both being reasons many visit the Mindo area

~ Learn all about your favourite hot morning beverage on a coffee tour

~ Enjoy some great souvenir shopping, with both local artisans and Indigenous handicrafts offered in small shops along the main street of the village

~ Just relax and enjoy reading a book in one of our many options of hammocks or sitting areas

~ Hike to different waterfalls & through incredible cloud forest trails

~ Take a day trip to the best hot springs in South America, Papallacta, high up in the Andes where the condors soar at 3,300 meters

~ Take a day trip to the Indigenous markets of Otavalo & visit the leather village of Cotacachi

~ Travel to capital city Quito to tour art galleries, museums, historic squares and more – the gorgeous old town was the very first city in the world to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason

~ Then there are all of the trip extensions you might add on, from a trip south down Ecuador’s Volcano Alley to the Galapagos Islands, to the incredible Amazon Basin – or maybe even Machu Picchu. You’re already here, so why not?

Let’s Talk!