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Goshen College

Mindo on My Mind…

February 1, 2024

Mindo, a small town located about 2 hours from Quito, is tucked in the middle of green luscious mountains and singing rivers. Because of its biodiversity, beautiful views, and environmental projects, Mindo has become a great ecotourist attraction. The locals welcome visitors and the revenue they bring, the challenge is to accommodate them and, at the same time, preserve the nature they so eagerly seek. SST students went on a hike around the Waterfalls Sanctuary. Its trail head can be accessed via cable car, but for those more impatient and ready to go, the hike can start from the main road that comes from downtown Mindo.

The view from our hotel in Mindo was quite nice.

Upon our arrival, some took the highroad —or rather the high cart— by riding the cable cart to get to the staring point of the Waterfall Sanctuary’s hiking trails.

“Let’s brave the heights and pretend to be doing something useful”
Beautiful view of the Sanctuary
It got windy up there.
The heights did not stops the smiles.
All of our kids are above average.
Walking was an option.

The rough terrain gives way to amazing views, beautiful water fall and natural pools.

—We will cross that bridge when we get there. —But we are AT the bridge now!
Let’s keep walking.
Since we are at the bridge, let’s take a picture.
Why did the student cross the bridge?
I don’t know, because it was there.
Mandatory selfie.
Water gets in my eyes…
Patos al agua

After a hard day of going up and down the water fall trails, we stopped at a Venezuelan eatery for some fine arepas al fresco.

Not quite the arepa place, but an interesting sign: “There isn’t a more sincere love, than the love for food”
Waiting and waiting for our arepas.
Students in their natural habitat, a restaurant table
More students waiting for food.
The heat was bracing.
Why so serious?
The food was good, but the ambience, the ambience!
Yes, that’s a muck boot, filled with dirt and mint coming out of it.

On Friday, we met Klever Tello, not to be confused with Klever Guevara —our local coordinator— to learn about what the Mindo community Parrish, its local government, is doing to restore nature, adapt to climate change, and educate the public. Tello invited us to plant fruit trees on a lot that used to be a parking lot. The trees would help retain water, attract pollinators, produce fruit, and keep the land from eroding any further. Everyone got into it.

Here is the group and Klever Tello, not to be confused with the other Klever, getting us started on the fruit tree planting.
Strong women plant strong threes
The work was cooperative .
The work was groundbreaking.
The work was deep.
Trees were plantes, muscles got swole.
“I work too hard!”
The work was profound.
Machete handling is an important skill.
This is what the trees look like, let’s hope they grow and protect the land.
This one is so sacred it is wholly! (get it? because is a… never mind).
Klever doesn’t know his own strength
Still working.

As the group went on several adventures, professor doctor Garza González took a pleasant, yet energetic stroll through the hotel’s facilities and he found them very accommodating.

The work was soooo hard!
Some students made new friends.
Following professors example, some student found our facilities quite accommodating.
Breakfast at the hotel was good!

We also went to Klever’s own coffee farm, but those images will be processed later this week. Keep looking.