Any tour of Ecuador simply must begin in the countries capitol of Quito. A city that offers an incredible blend of history, culture, and nature. And what better way to experience all of these aspects than by taking a day tour that includes riding the teleferico up Pichincha volcano, visiting the Middle of the World, and touring the cathedrals and churches in the city?
Our day started early as we made our way to the teleferico, a cable car system that takes visitors up to the top of Pichincha volcano. As we ascended the mountain, the views of the city below became more and more breathtaking. We could see the entire city spread out before us, and the Andes Mountains in the distance. At the top, we got off the cable car and hiked around the mountain, taking in the stunning scenery and snapping plenty of photos. Our guide advised doing this part of the tour first due to the crowds and he wasn't wrong. by the time we descended there was a line snaking out of the building and curling around along the sidewalk. The line that took us maybe 15 minutes first thing in the morning would have easily taken an hour or two by mid day - another wonderful reason to have a guide who knows the ropes.
View from Pichincha volcano (Jess Heuermann)
Next, we made our way to the Middle of the World, a monument marking the spot where the equator passes through Ecuador. The small museum and exhibits at the site that explain the science and history behind the equator and allow you to test the theory for yourself. We tried balancing an egg on a nail and watched water swirl in different directions on the different sides of the equator. A little cheesy? sure. But well worth a stop in conjunction with a larger tour through the city.
After that, we headed back to the city center to explore some of Quito’s stunning cathedrals and churches. The city is known for its beautiful colonial architecture, and there’s no shortage of churches to visit. We started with the Basílica del Voto Nacional, a Gothic-style church that’s one of the largest in South America. The church’s towers offer a stunning view of the city, but beware of the narrow stairs – they’re not for the faint of heart! Next, we visited the Church of the Society of Jesus, a Baroque-style church that’s famous for its ornate interior. The church is covered in gold leaf and features intricate carvings and paintings, making it a true work of art.
By this point, we had worked up quite an appetite, so we made our way to a restaurant near the Plaza de Armas for lunch. We were eager to try some traditional Ecuadorian cuisine, and we weren’t disappointed. We feasted on dishes like locro, a hearty soup made with potatoes, corn, and cheese, and ceviche, a seafood dish that’s popular throughout South America. We also tried churrasco, a grilled steak that’s served with rice, beans, and plantains.
All in all, our day tour of Quito was an incredible experience. We got to see the city from above, explore its historic landmarks, and indulge in some delicious food.
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If you go to the Galápagos, ask for James Sanchez as your guide he was fantastic! Very nice and extremely knowledgeable
Bob
5 days ago
We have had excellent results when working with Adventure Life. We've just set up out third trip with them because the first two were great! Adventure Life has always listened, worked with us, and set up trips the way we've wanted. They've also found experiences we wouldn't have known about otherwise, that have been some of the highlights of the entire trip.
SA
1 month ago
Great! Erin was very responsive and helpful!
Leslie Aitchison
4 months ago
Erin was wonderful! Informative, friendly, knowledgeable. She gave us several options, listened to our concerns and requests and came up with a great itinerary.
Beth Hutter
6 months ago
The travel was seamless and the experiences were fantastic. Naturalists on all of the trips who were great teachers/guides. I would definitely use Adventure Life again. Very organized and efficient
