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.
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
3 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
5 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
6 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
