Bed, breakfast and chocolate in a visa-free paradise called Ecuador

Mindo has carved out a unique niche for itself in the developing world: a tourism hub where long-term goals of environmental conservation have taken precedence over the temptation of overexploitation

Half a world away from India, Ecuador is surprisingly accessible. It’s just a flight away from hubs such as Miami in the US or Amsterdam in Europe, and is visa-free for Indian nationals. In recent years, the country has reaped a tourist windfall owing to its relative economic and political stability. It also helps that Ecuador is stunningly beautiful. Most tourists head to Quito, the capital city, or to the Galápagos Islands, legendary inspiration for Charles Darwin. But there is so much more to see. Take, for example, the town of Mindo, home to a bean-to-bar chocolate factory in an