Welcome to Quito!
Under the shadow of the Virgin of Quito – a grand, winged wooden statue visible from almost all over the city – nestles the chaotic and colourful capital city of Ecuador.
I’ve already sung the praises of this quirky destination on my blog, so it’s no secret that I absolutely loved staying here for nearly a month. This blog will reveal all the amazing things you can do in and around Quito during your stay.
I hope these suggestions help to inspire you in planning your visit to Quito one day, or at the very least give you a little insight into just how diverse and gorgeous this place is!
Stay In The Historic Centre
Having visited several of the areas in Quito (for example La Carolina, La Mariscal etc.), I would highly recommend staying in the Old Town. Quito is an incredibly diverse city and has so much to offer depending on what sort of traveler you are, but I feel that the Old Town has a little bit of everything for everyone.
A fascinating history, extraordinary architecture, countless churches and museums, endless dining options and quirky hostels, all within easy walking distance of each other. Adam and I spent many days just wandering through the Old Town and soaking up the chaotic atmosphere.
Do The Walking Tour
A walking tour on the first day in any new place is a MUST. We booked one organised by our hostel for the first morning and thoroughly enjoyed spending a couple of hours wandering through Quito and finding out a bit more about the city through the eyes of a local guide – shoutout to Daniel!
This really helped us to get a basic lay of the land for the coming weeks too.
TOP TIP: Come prepared for the altitude when visiting Quito, which stands at 2850 m above sea level. Take the time to ease yourself into the higher altitude environment – rest, stay hydrated, pace yourself when exploring the city and avoid drinking coffee/alcohol for a few days. And definitely make the most of drinking coca tea!
La Compañia de Jesús
Easily one of the most ostentatious places of worship I have ever been to, and I have seen some outlandish churches coming from a Russian Orthodox background! Everything from the walls to ceilings to chapels here are all covered in gold leaf. There is also a mightily impressive depiction of hell on one of the walls as you exit which is worth a good examining!
La Compañia can be found just on the corner of calles Sucre and Garcia Moreno, right bang in the centre of the old town. You aren’t allowed to take photos of the inside, so just trust me when I say the interior glows in gold.
Address: García Moreno N10-43, Quito 170401, Ecuador
Plaza Grande
Quito’s Plaza Grande is the heart of the historic centre, and having been at the core of countless vital political events throughout history, is still considered to be one of the most important spots in the city.
Here you will find locals and tourists alike mingling – people of all ages and backgrounds gather in a very inclusive and social space.
The square is framed by the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito. It’s not only an architecturally beautiful place but also so full of life and vibrancy.
Calle La Ronda
We stumbled upon Calle La Ronda by chance when getting lost on our first day exploring Quito, and we found it to be incredibly beautiful. We enjoyed exploring its cobbled streets and colonial-style buildings that led off to chocolate shops and artisan workshops (pictured below).
It was only after doing a little bit of research did I discover that it is also a popular spot for live music and nightlife at the weekend too.
Climb To The Top Of Basilica del Voto Nacional
The Basilica Del Voto Nacional is an unmistakably iconic silhouette on the skyline of Quito. The neo-Gothic religious building is one of largest in South America and alongside being an architectural feat, offers some of the most gorgeous panoramic views of Quito’s historic centre.
Also, when you look a little closer at the design of the building you will notice that the gargoyles you see around the outside of the Basilica are not the typical mythical representations you might see in other parts of the world. The gargoyles here represent animals native to each of the four regions in Ecuador – condors, armadillos, iguanas and tortoises.
Our local guide informed us that the Basilica has never been finished! Apparently this is because of the superstition that should it ever be completed, the world will come to an end.
Better safe than sorry, I guess!
Address: Venezuela 11-263 y, Quito 170130, Ecuador
Parque Carolina
Carolina Park is a gorgeous little oasis in the centre of Quito city. The cool urban green space is spread out over 165 acres and offers a wealth of attractions – playgrounds, sports playing fields, a boating lake, bike paths and much more.
There is even an old 1940s Ecuadorian Air Force plane transformed into a museum here too – it’s pretty random yet impressive.
Observe the street vendors selling everything from ice-cream to ceviche and coconuts – it’s a lot of fun!
Visiting Carolina Park on a lazy, sunny day is a must.
Explore Jardín Botánico de Quito
The Botanical Garden located within Quito’s Carolina Park, comprises over 18,000 square meters of plants and flowers, displayed beautifully in gardens, greenhouses and arboretums.
Paying the $3.50 entry fee to access Jardín Botánico de Quito is easily one of the best expenses we incurred in the capital.
The range of biodiversity here is incredible – from orchids to Bonsai trees and everything in between. The Botanical Gardens offer a great insight into the ecosystems of Ecuador. It’s a truly wonderful little green oasis in the middle of the city.
Address: INTERIOR PARQUE, PASAJE # 34, Rumipamba E6-264 Y, Quito 170135, Ecuador
Find The Secret Chocolate Shop
Knock twice on the ornately engraved door off of Plaza De San Francisco and you will find yourself entering into a beautiful little cobbled square hidden from the outside world.
Yumbos Chocolate Shop is located upstairs and here you will be able to learn more about the chocolate making process by this artisan chocolate maker – including some delicious free samples!
Address: Sebastián de Benalcázar, Quito 170401, Ecuador
Explore Cotopaxi National Park
As the second highest summit in Ecuador, Cotopaxi peaks at an impressive 5,897m and is arguably one of the greatest symbols of natural geography in the country. Its impressive stature dominates over the national park in its namesake – a protected area with a unique ecosystem dictated by the stark environment it inhabits.
Personally, a trip to Cotopaxi National Park is a must-do on your Ecuador travel bucket list!
My in-depth overview of climbing Cotopaxi volcano can be found here.
Visit Otavalo Market
Considered a ‘must-do’ by many travel blog posts, Otavalo market offers an interesting insight into the indiginous community of Ecuador as it showcases the craftsmanship of the people.
We took a day trip to Otavalo and did some sight-seeing along the way – learn more about what I thought of the market in depth here.
Take A Trip To The Cloud Forest
A few hours drive outside of central Quito you can leave behind the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in the rich and varied biodiversity of the Cloud Forest. The change of landscape and scenery as you drive towards the Cloud Forest from the city centre is quite stark and impressive.
Read more about my experience exploring the Cloud Forest here.
Eat Like A Local At Mercado Central
Some fellow foodie-loving travelers we met recommended we pay Mercado Central a visit for some great (and cheap) food options. We made sure to follow their advice!
Mercado Central and the surrounding area gives a great insight into local life and you will notice fewer tourists here. From flowers to fish and everything in between, Mercado Central is a great place to immerse yourself in the heart of Quito.
Top Tip: If you want to know which vendor to eat with, take a look at which stalls have the most locals eating from them. That is often a good indicator that the food there is reliably good quality.
Address: Av Pichincha, Quito 170136, Ecuador
Shop At Quicentro
Whether you’re a shopaholic or like me, simply enjoy seeing what malls are like in other parts of the world, be sure to visit Quicentro.
Quicentro is super modern, with lots of shopping and dining options. It even has a cinema and bowling alley!
It’s also situated right by Carolina Park, which means you can enjoy wandering around there first and then grab a drink/some food in the mall afterwards.
Address: Avenida Naciones Unidas entre, Av. 6 de Diciembre, Quito, Ecuador
Shop At Mall El Jardin
You can find yet another shopping mall at the other end of Carolina Park called El Jadrin. We didn’t spend too much time here, but it’s another option.
There is also a massive supermarket here, famed for having a lot of products sourced from the US. It was closed for renovation during our travels but we heard good things from travelers from the states we met on our trip.
Address: Av. Río Amazonas, Quito 170518, Ecuador
Snack At Centro Comercial Placio Arzobispal
Under an archway to the side of Plaza Grande, behind a row of shoe-shiners, is Centro Comercial Placio Arzobispal. Here you will find numerous restaurants, beauty boutiques and vendors selling sweets and ice-cream. This little hidden square is not only beautiful but also offers tons of great snacking/dining options.
We would highly recommend tasting the fruit-flavoured ice-cream at the corner vendor here – insanely delicious!
Buy A Hat From Sombreros López
Ecuador is a country known for its hatmaking. Did you know that the world-renowned Panama hat originates from Ecuador?
I was looking for the perfect hat to accompany me on my travels and just so happened to stumble upon Sombreros López, a 4th generation milliner’s shop, crafting the most beautiful felt and straw hats. The staff here were incredibly helpful and not pushy for a sale, which made my shopping experience that much more relaxed – so much so that I walked away with my dream felt hat!
And the pricing? Ridiculously reasonable! More so than at Otavalo market, even.
Address: García Moreno N1-42 y Bolivar. C.C. La Manzana entrada principal, Ecuador
Getting Around
Getting around Quito is pretty easy. Official yellow taxis are always available, but we would suggest getting your accomodation to book these as hailing one from the street can be risky. Not only are these a great option to cross the capital, but many can be hired to take you further afield.
Ride hailing apps such as Uber are also available. From what we understand there’s a bit of a gray area around their legality. We were told they are completely safe, however. And when we did use them they were very cheap. Much like Colombia there’s a few processes (such as making one passenger sit in the front seat) that you’ll have to follow.
Local buses are the cheapest option, but we were informed that pickpocketing is common. With other options being so cheap we didn’t end up using these.
One thing I would mention, however, is that the traffic in and around the historic quarter is manic at the best of times. Allow extra time if you need to be somewhere sharpish.
Also if you need to travel on a Sunday, be aware that the roads in the historic quarter are closed to vehicles. Cyclists take charge! You’ll therefore need to walk further afield to get picked up.
An underground metro system has also been completed in Quito but is currently not operational. Hopefully this will launch in the near future!
Looking For A Driver?
As mentioned above, official yellow taxis are a great travel option as many drivers will take you pretty much anywhere in Ecuador! We were lucky enough to meet Javier who became our personal driver/tour guide and ultimately, good friend.
We met Javier by chance as he was the taxi driver that we hailed from Quito airport. He spoke perfect English and taught us a lot about Quito and wider Ecuador on the way to our hostel. He has many fascinating life stories to tell!
We ended up getting Javier to drive us halfway across the country into the Amazon, and then back again the following week! It was a four hour journey each way, across some pretty difficult roads.
We were very glad to have such a safe driver at the wheel. We also chatted the whole way and learnt so much about the environment we were crossing. While more pricey than a public bus/coach, we felt it was well worth the additional cost. Viewing the aftermath of a pretty horrendous bus crash reaffirmed our thoughts on the journey back.
If anyone out there is looking for a great driver in and around Quito, Javier is your man! Others at our hostel also used him and gave rave reviews!
Be sure to tell him Adam and I said ‘hello’!
Javier Aucancela | (+593) 99 247 6830 | vierjanel@gmail.com
Stay At Masaya Hostel
I would highly recommend staying at the Masaya Hostel if you are looking for a perfect, central location to base yourself in the capital.
The building is a beautiful converted old family home and has an amazing range of rooms, whether you are looking for cheap dorms or private family accommodation.
There is also a great restaurant attached to Masaya, which serves some high-quality local dishes and affordable breakfasts.
Masaya became a real home from home for us. We miss it a lot!
Address: Calle Rocafuerte OE3 – 97 y, Venezuela, Quito 170130, Ecuador
Did you know that the Historic Centre of Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Use Quito As A Base
Quito is the perfect base for exploring the wider surrounding areas of Ecuador. I’ve mentioned above some of the day trips you can do from the capital, all of which are pretty affordable, too. If you are limited on your time traveling in Ecuador, definitely base yourself in Quito as you will have lots of popular destinations at your fingertips.
Until next time,
Lica xoxo
Great article!
Thank you so much – I really appreciate your feedback!