Hello, and welcome to my blog! Today, I’m excited to share a quick overview of one of the most fascinating places in South America – Quito, Ecuador. I love to travel and discover new places, so it was a privilege to explore this stunning city and experience its unique culture and vibrant atmosphere!
While there are dozens of great things to do in Quito, this post will focus on how to explore this city and the surrounding area on a budget. After all, some of the best experiences in life are free (or close to it)! So be sure to add these 9 activities to your list and get ready to explore some of the coolest places in Ecuador’s Andes region!
- Get to Know Quito, Ecuador
- Your Quito, Ecuador Bucket List
- Visit the Local Churches
- Wander Through Old Town Quito
- Enjoy an Educational Chocolate Tasting
- See the Virgin de Panecillo
- Take a Day Trip to Quilotoa Crater Lake
- Check out the Nightlife in the Business District
- Visit the Center of the World Monument and Village
- Hike around Cotopaxi National Park
- Chill at a Local Park in Quito, Ecuador
- Closing Thoughts on Quito, Ecuador
Get to Know Quito, Ecuador
Nestled high in the Andes Mountains, Quito is not only the capital city of Ecuador but also one of the highest capital cities in the world! With its rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking natural beauty, there is no shortage of amazing things to do and see while you’re visiting.
From exploring the historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to standing in awe at the equator line at Mitad del Mundo, there are plenty of cultural and historical landmarks to discover. Some of my favorite parts were Quito’s narrow cobblestone streets, ornate churches, and well-preserved buildings in the historic district that felt like a step back in time.
But Quito isn’t just about history and architecture. Adventure seekers will be happy to know that the city also offers endless outdoor activities like trekking to nearby volcanoes, a glacier lake, or various national parks.
So let’s dive into the best things to do in Quito!
Your Quito, Ecuador Bucket List
Visit the Local Churches
If you like intricate details and bold architectural elements, you won’t want to miss downtown Quito’s local church scene. The most popular place to see these gorgeous buildings en mass is La Calle de las Siete Cruces (The Street of Seven Crosses), officially known as Calle Garcia Moreno.
Along this one street, you’ll find seven beautiful crosses, along with several churches (and quite a few historical monuments) so it’s very easy to incorporate this church-hopping journey into a standard historic center tour.
While not all churches welcome tourists (and some require an entrance fee), you’ll find a few that let you enjoy the view inside and out. Whichever ones you visit, show respect by staying quiet, silencing your devices (including your camera’s shutter sound), and keeping behind the scenes during any services.
Starting at the popular Plaza Grande, follow Garcia Moreno to Bulevar 24 de Mayo to see the following churches:
- Catedral Metropolitana de Quito
- Iglesia de El Sagrario
- Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus
- Iglesia de El Carmen Alto
If you turn right onto Simon Bolivar from Garcia Morena (coming from the plaza), you’ll also see the Iglesia Catolica San Francisco right ahead. This is another one you can visit to see the extravagant interior.
Finally, if you don’t mind dropping $2, you’ll want to tour the Basilica de Voto Nacional, one of the city’s highlights. It has gorgeous gothic elements inside and out, plus a killer hilltop view that you can take in from its soaring towers.
Wander Through Old Town Quito
Old town Quito has a ton of charm, from the cobblestone streets to the colonial buildings and street vendors. It really feels like you’re walking in the past when you’re surrounded by such historic buildings, and you can buy a hat for $2! It’s no wonder this area is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
While you still need to stay on your guard for pickpockets, this area is relatively safe to wander around and take in the sights. You can plan an itinerary that hits some highlights like the Museo de la Ciudad, Calle la Ronda, the presidential palace, and the Pre-Columbian Art Museum. There are also plenty of great shops and cafes to pop into and experience some of the local styles and flavors.
But if you’d rather not wander or design your own itinerary, sign up for a guided tour with Quito Free Walking Tour. These walking tours pair you with a local guide and other tourists for an introductory city tour. Be sure to tip your guide!
Enjoy an Educational Chocolate Tasting
Patio Andaluz offers a free educational chocolate talk where you can learn all about the process of making Ecuadorian chocolate! It’s intended for hotel guests, but if you ask, you may be able to sit in on it anyway.
This short presentation includes the opportunity to try different kinds of chocolate with various sweetness levels. It’s a great peek into the local chocolate-making process and how the flavor profiles differ from those in other countries. After the presentation, you can buy full bars of your favorites!
See the Virgin de Panecillo
High on a hill overlooking the historic district, the Virgin de Panecillo is hard to miss. This depiction of the Virgin Mary is actually the tallest aluminum sculpture in the world and the tallest sculpture of any kind in Ecuador. It’s also taller than the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, so you can see why it’s quite a big deal in Quito!
The statue sits at the top of a hill called Panecillo, which was named for its bread loaf-like appearance. It literally means little bread, haha!
Despite being called little, the hilltop has quite a commanding view of Quito, which makes a visit to the Virgin de Panecillo even more popular. The hill is also covered in an adorable collection of colored houses that are pretty popular in Ecuador.
If you visit, I highly recommend taking a taxi rather than walking. Unfortunately, the area around Panecillo isn’t the safest, and you can make yourself a target by walking around. So take the easy route to get some pictures and continue on to your next adventure!
Take a Day Trip to Quilotoa Crater Lake
One of the best day trips from Quito is to Quilotoa Crater Lake! This stunning volcanic crater lake is known for its ever-changing turquoise waters and the beautiful landscape of the crater.
You can enjoy a taste of authentic Andes culture in the many shops, restaurants, and market stalls that occupy the area near the crater’s entrance. It’s an excellent opportunity to try classic cuisine (like empanadas de viento or roasted guinea pig), take a picture with an alpaca, or buy unique souvenirs.
If you choose to hike down into the crater, it’ll take about 40 minutes down and 80 minutes back (both quite strenuous), but it’s a gorgeous journey. You can enjoy water sports on the lake and even rent a mule to ride back to the top!
Quilotoa is about 3 hours away by car from Quito, but the drive through the Andes Mountains is worth every second. You’ll pass many indigenous villages, see herds grazing high on the mountains, and enjoy sweeping views at every turn.
Check out the Nightlife in the Business District
If you’re not one to stay in your room all night, head over to the business district and check out the vibrant nighttime scene. The Simon Bolivar area is full of restaurants, disco techs, shops, and clubs that keep the party going at all hours of the evening. (Trust me, we heard the music going into the wee hours of the morning from our hotel, lol.)
As a rule, you don’t want to be out in Quito alone at night, so I always recommend going with at least one other person, even in a busy area like this. Although hundreds of other people are around, it makes pickpocketing that much easier. But a place like this that’s well-lit and busy is still safer than a dark, silent street.
Just be smart about how late you stay out, and know when to take a taxi back to your hotel rather than walk.
Visit the Center of the World Monument and Village
You can’t visit Ecuador without swinging by the equator! Quito is just a short drive from Mitad del Mundo, the Center of the World Monument.
This tourist area is a lot of fun, mostly thanks to the small village that popped up around this iconic monument. There are many places to shop and eat, and you can even get a unique passport stamp! There are also a couple of fascinating museums, like an ice cream museum, the Temple of the Sun museum, and a cacao museum. There’s even a church that’s popular for weddings.
The actual monument is quite impressive and holds a small museum inside as well. Directly down the center of the East and West sides, a bright yellow line marks the center of the world—or at least, people thought it did until fairly recently when GPS came into play. The actual center of the world lies 790 feet north, where a much smaller monument marks the exact spot. But hey, that’s pretty close, considering the original line was defined in 1736!
And you’ll still feel the effects of gravity differently here, too! You actually weigh one pound less in this area, and the gravitational effects can mess with your balance. One popular activity is trying to walk straight on the yellow line with your eyes closed. Another is balancing an egg on the head of a nail, which is still hard but possible here.
Hike around Cotopaxi National Park
One of Quito’s most notable natural monuments is the Cotopaxi Volcano. You can see it looming over the city and may even get a chance to see smoke rising from the crater!
If you’re up for another hike, the Cotopaxi National Park is really a no-brainer. This volcano is the 2nd-highest in the country and one of the tallest active volcanoes in the world! While many of the trails here are pretty tricky, there are still a few mild ones for those who want a less strenuous journey, and you’ll always have great views of the volcano.
Besides hiking, you can ride horses, go mountain biking, and see how many different plants and animals you can spot. There are pretty limitless opportunities here for anyone who enjoys the outdoors!
Chill at a Local Park in Quito, Ecuador
Quito has several city parks offering walking trails, vendors, boat rentals, and even an astronomical observatory! If you want to escape from the city’s bustle without a full day trip, spending an hour or two in one of these parks may be just the thing.
Some of the most popular ones are Parque La Carolina, Parque Guapulo, and Parque La Alameda. But I’d personally recommend a trip to Parque Metropolitano Guangüiltagua, which has free-roaming alpacas and some incredible city views.
Closing Thoughts on Quito, Ecuador
Quito has a great blend of history, culture, architecture, and activities! It’s also the only region in Ecuador with a colder climate, so the traditions and people are pretty different from what you’ll find in the rest of the country.
We thoroughly enjoyed the days we spent here, especially in the mountains, where the views are absolutely picture-perfect. The food was another huge plus in this area, and I highly recommend trying as many local dishes as possible, including guinea pig, empanadas, potato soup, and plantains.
There are tons of other activities to do in and around the area as well, especially if you’re a big hiker. Quito does have something for everyone, and that’s part of what makes it so unique.
Be sure to save this post for your upcoming trip to Quito (or just your Ecuador vision board), and don’t forget to share it with someone else who’d enjoy it!
For an inside look at our trip to Quito, you can also check out my YouTube video below. Please like and subscribe while you’re there!
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Thanks for being here today, and I wish you many happy travels to Ecuador and beyond!
More from the Ecuador Euphoria Series…
A Complete Guide to Packing for Ecuador: All 4 Regions!
Dive Into the Galapagos with a 360 Snorkeling Tour!
Quilotoa Crater–Ecuador’s Famous and Beautiful Volcanic Lake!
11 Essential Things to Know Before You Visit Ecuador
I Booked an Ecuador Trip with Exoticca–Here’s What Happened
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