It’s pretty incredible to be able to go from the middle of this bustling capital city to then be transported to the peaceful mountaintops. This is an interesting opportunity to be able to tour the Ecuadorian equivalent of the White House. If we were to splurge in Quito, this would be our #1 choice. The price starts at $50 if there are at least 3 people, which is the lowest we found. Before pursuing all the fun things to do in Quito, there are other logistics and travel tips to be aware of. If in Old Town, Plaza Grande is a central point where a bike rental stand can be found. The best-priced airfares from the US to Quito are typically found from Florida; either Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. • For 3+ people & flexible date: Carpe DM also runs a Quilotoa Crater Day tour for $50 when there are 3 or more people. What a super comprehensive guide. And the $7 dorm beds even include breakfast! It can all be a little nerve-wracking for those with even the slightest fear of heights. Located in the circular, glass-plated, landmark building of the Casa de la Cultura is one of the country’s largest collections of Ecuadorian art, with magnificent works of pre-Hispanic and colonial religious art.... On Plaza Grande's southwest side stands Quito's cathedral. Consider paying the taxi to wait or to return (particularly so on a weekday), as taxis are not frequent here. I have one question about the Sunday bike days – do we have to rent bikes to go on the roads or can we get them elsewhere? The top things to do in Quito are: Quito Old Town; Church of the Society of Jesus (Iglesia La Compañía de Jesús) Independence Plaza (Plaza de la Independencia) San Francisco Church (Iglesia de San Francisco) Basilica of the National Vow (La Basílica del Voto Nacional) Discover the top things to do in Quito. Definitely something to consider checking out – thanks for the idea! Here are a few favorite local Quito dishes we recommend to try: This is a creamy and hearty soup that’s quite popular throughout the Ecuadorian Andes. Read the full Quito UNESCO description. Community Hostel runs the tour we signed up for and it lasted for almost four hours! The onsite restaurant run by the friendly owners has delicious fairly priced meals and even serves local craft beer from Otavalo (La Fortaleza, $3.50). A day trip to Laguna Quilotoa Crater is a very popular and worthwhile thing to do from Quito. If hiking, wait a few days in Quito to acclimatize before pursuing. The upper TeleferiQo station is actually on the eastern slope of the Pichincha Volcano! On Intiñin’s equator line, a guide leads visitors through a few funny “experiments,” that many are skeptical of. The city is indeed a busy and sprawling metropolis. One question: as we won’t be in Quito on a Saturday or Wednesday but wanted to do a combined day tour of equator and Otavalo – do you know if the two can be done on public transport? The Crystal Palace now functions as a cultural center that hosts events. Types of Things to Do in Quito Tours (297) Outdoor Activities (203) Sights & Landmarks (120) Transportation (97) Shopping (75) Museums (60) Nightlife (51) Boat Tours & Water Sports (42) Food & Drink (39) Nature & Parks (35) Fun & Games (32) Spas & Wellness (24) Classes & Workshops (23) Concerts & Shows (8) Zoos & Aquariums (5) Plaza Foch is a place for celebrations and revelry. Great IPAs, but it’s the bourbon stout that is the best of its kind in Ecuador. The stairway to get to Itchimbia is not on Google Maps but the stairs begin at this map point, a 1 km walk from Plaza Grande. With costs lower in Quito compared to other places in the world, sounds like it could be worth doing there. 4.6 (18 Votes) View Point, Statue. If you want to admire an iconic statue and see a panoramic view of Quinto city, and its surrounding volcanoes, then climb up to El Panecillo, a steep hill in Quito’s southern Old Town, named for its resemblance to a loaf of bread. Thanks! June through August are the driest months in Quito. But it doesn’t let passengers off to hike up Cotopaxi. I’ll soon edit this to suggest going to Parque Carolina as more of a sure thing to actually get a bike. We were just there last year and reading your post was fun! So we hope this Best Things to Do in Quito Travel Guide proves helpful to anyone planning a trip to this great South American capital. Guayasamín was also an avid collector, and the museum... One of the most important works of art in South America, Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamín’s Capilla del Hombre stands next to the Casa Museo Guayasamín. Thank you for the post. I actually just wrote a blog post recently too about alternative things to do in Quito. It’s usually wrong. Best Things to Do in Quito Ecuador 1) Wander Quito’s Historic Center. Dishes from across the country are prepared with fresh, ethically sourced local ingredients, including herbs and... One of Quito’s best restaurants, Zazu serves beautifully prepared seafood dishes, grilled meats and ceviches in a stylish setting of light brick, ambient electronica and an inviting, backlit bar. And we can’t think of a more perfect setting to sip canelazo than perched on a balcony in La Ronda. Visit this church, even if you’re not into churches. The Intiñan Museum is closer to where the equator passes through. After ascending many steps midway up one of the Basilica’s towers, visitors can walk directly atop the enclosed church roof on a wooden plank walkway. Regarding packing, yes definitely long pants and long sleeves. There are some great views from the Quilotoa Crater rim. It’s convenient, good value, and the hike-and-bike tour makes a great combo. There are even more obscure museums like a water museum and even an artisan beer museum at the equator. Thank you very much for this great guide. This is known as the Quilotoa Loop. It’s such a beautiful city. Hours: Go during daylight hours. Thanks so much for taking the time for your thoughtful response and feedback. Onto the galapagos islands blog next! To help narrow down some points of interest, Quito’s Center of Touristic Services suggests the following six locations as the must-sees of Quito Old Town: For those interested in architecture, churches, and history, it’s easily possible to spend an entire day, or more, exploring Quito Old Town. Excellent helpful staff and dorm beds start at only $10! Quito city guide featuring 21 fun & active things to do recommended by Quito locals. Here it is possible to find an enormous variety of plants, a sample of the enormous biodiversity that the country possesses. Closer to Quito, you could perhaps try the Rio Pita Waterfall that is about 1-hour South of the city and there are some excursions that go there, but it’s not a very common one. Both options are a blast for any beer-lovers traveling to Quito. Hotel Margarita 2: This hotel has very nice rooms for under $20 price. It’s all at latitude zero, just north of Quito. It can be approached by bus, taxi, or tour. A third great reason to make the trek up to Itchimbia is simply for more sweet views of this awesome city. There’s some great restaurants here too. Quito is Ecuador’s vibrant capital city. We recommend an Otavalo day trip for anyone who enjoys shopping for local crafts, as you’ll find the best craft shopping in all of Ecuador here. Again, we’ve found the best rates from Europe to Quito by searching Skyscanner. Location: Meeting point is at the Swissotel. It was really fun! Thank you . Wild horses can often be spotted in this area of Cotopaxi National Park. It’s really such a responsible move to make as a traveler and we totally applaud that. Here’s a video to give an idea of what the scene is like in Plaza Foch on December 31. It’s a really full day in addition to the craft market! This tour departs from Old Town at 2:30 pm, Monday-Saturday. There’s really not much to it, other than disturbing animal conditions. Truly an amazing guide- muchísimas gracias!! We enjoyed Cafe Mosaico. Quick questioni eant to do otovalo tour tomorrow but i want to take my time and buy a lot of souvenirs… do you think it is a great idea to do it with a grouo or it s best on my own??? There are plenty of things to do in Quito itself to fill several days of a packed itinerary. The main equator monument, Mitad del Mundo, is located on a different highway than the road to Otavalo. Thanks so much for dropping by with the comment to let us know. $5.50 half-liters. 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