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August 1, 2018

Things to do in Quito Ecuador

Explore the Fascinating Quito, Ecuador

Quito the capital city of Ecuador, the highest capital in the world as far as altitude goes, and it can be found tucked away in between the breathtaking beauty of multiple mountain peaks.  The streets are always busy, but there is still a calm in the air, as the locals prefer a relaxed atmosphere at any hour of the day and night.

Weather Visited Quito in July 2018, evenings can get cold. Pack a jacket with your clothes.

Airport to City Taxi will cost $25 USD one way.

Stay: Stayed at Hostal L'Auberge Inn for about $12 a night, private room with shared bathroom. Loved my stay there, check booking.com for discounts.

Food: My Hostel was half way between the Old town and the New part of the town, walking distance to both. New part of the town is where all the clubs, Bars and fancy restaurants are, though street food is everywhere. Most of my time in Quito was spent in the old part of the town. 

Transportation: Taxis are cheap in Ecuador, did a lot of walking in Quito also

TIP: Learn some Spanish, its hard to get by with just English

Things to do in Quito

Basílica del Voto Nacional

The largest neo-Gothic basilica in the Americas, this Roman Catholic church is located in the historic center of Quito. A 10 minute walk from my hostel, went there twice. There is a 2 dollar fee to take the elevator to the top. Once you exit the elevator you can view the city from the top or go even further higher by stairs to get to the tower, not an easy climb. The Basilica is a  must do/see in Quito.

Basilica del Voto Nacional
Basilica del Voto Nacional Quito

Old Town

Old Town is the historic district of this capital city and it is easy for everyone to wander around on foot as they look at every inch of it.  While in Old Town, there are plenty of museums to venture into, but most visitors will be more impressed with the plethora of old churches.  La Compania de Jesus was constructed during the 17th century and it is covered in gold, while the Roman Catholic San Francisco Church has been around since the 16th century and contains the Virgin of Quito.

Teleferiqo

Because of the high altitude, was out of breath and didn't end up going up there.

The Teleferiqo is the cable car that takes visitors up twelve thousand feet so that they can see panoramic views that go on for miles.  This is the best way to see the nearby volcanoes, especially Cotopaxi, which is one of the world’s tallest ones.

El Panecillo


El Panecillo is a large hill that has a statue of the Virgin on top.  While everyone can see the Virgin from different vantage points within Quito, many people prefer to take a taxi to the top to see the statue up close.  It is also possible to walk to the top to see the fantastic views of the city below.

Important TIP: Visited Panecillo in the evening, everyone I asked advised me not to go in the evening as its not safe, I wanted to take some night photos and went anyways, nothing happened to me. Besides I had less than 20 bucks on me, if someone was to rob me, no big deal. Now my advise, if you go there late in the evening make sure you have transportation both ways prearranged.

El Panecillo
El Panecillo


Carolina Park

This is the best place in the city to go and relax on any day of the week, but it is busiest on the weekends when the locals do not need to go to work.  Inside the park, everyone will find an exotic botanical garden, a planetarium, museum, and a reptile house.  Those who wish to participate in one of the many sports inside the park can play soccer or they can try to learn how to play Ecuavoli, which is volleyball with specific rules and three people to a team.  There are also paddle boats that people can take out on the water.

Middle of the World

I hired a private Cab to take me to the Middle of the world Monument where the equator is, in Ecuador, the cost was $30 dollars round trip, the cab drivers told me for an extra 15 U$D he would also take me to Pululahua volcano and Crater and I agreed. My Hostel had arranged for the private cab.






Calle de la Ronda

This unique street in the area of Old Town is covered in cobblestones for visitors to walk over as they venture in and out of the interesting art galleries and artisan shops.  No one will be able to resist making a purchase or two when they are there except me as I don't shop, and most people will stop in one of the little cafés for a bite to eat or a cup of coffee when they need a little break.  The best time to visit this area of the city is when they are hosting heritage and cultural events, and there are many of them throughout the year.

Now I on my 2nd day in Quito did a free walking tour of Quito that one through the old town, the tour is not free its based on tips, I tipped the tour guide 10 USD.

Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco
Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco, Quito

La Compania church in Quito
La Compania church in Quito



Both these Churches have beautiful gold work done inside and are a must see. Stay tuned for more videos from Quito coming soon.


Questions or Comments?

5 comments :

  1. I have always been fascinated by Quito. I know that we will need to acclimate, especially if we are going to be do a lot of trekking in nearby Peru. I could see us visiting Quito a little bit for acclimation purposes. BTW, love our evening photograph. Well worth it.

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  2. Great overview of things to do and see in Quito with a lot of helpful tips. How many days did you stay there?

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  3. I know very little about Ecuador and Quito sounds like a fascinating city with lots of historical sites (which I love) and is easy to walk around. The hostel sounds like it is in a great location too, and in my older age, I prefer private rooms, and it is good to know that is an option here. I didn't know it was the highest city in the world!

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  4. What a great comprehensive list of what to do and see in Quito -- I appreciate the extra tips, like when to use cabs and location of your hostel. Quito sounds very affordable too. This is a city I would enjoy exploring.

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