Cable Car and Quito Old Town Private Tour: 13,000-foot volcano viewpoint

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/24

Duration5h–6h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Ride the cable car above the clouds, then walk through centuries of colonial Quito.

A private cable car and walking tour of Quito combines a 10–15 minute ascent to Cruz Loma at 13,000 feet on Pichincha volcano with an afternoon walk through the UNESCO-listed old town, including Independence Square, San Francisco Church built in 1540, the baroque Church of the Society of Jesus, and El Panecillo's winged Virgin Mary statue. A certified English-speaking guide picks you up from your hotel and leads the full day; the cable car ride and some church visits are optional depending on which option you choose at checkout.

5h–6h

Step-by-step itinerary

Quito cable car and city tour

Pick up from hotel at 9:00 a.m.
Take cable car to Cruz Loma viewpoint
Enjoy views of Quito and volcanoes
Break for drink or small lunch
Walk through Quito Old Town
Visit Independence Square and landmarks
Explore La Ronda neighborhood and San Francisco Church
Drive to El Panecillo hill
See winged Virgin Mary statue
End tour around 3:00 p.m.

The Experience

Your guide arrives at 9:00 a.m. and drives you to the cable car station. The ride itself takes 10 to 15 minutes each way, climbing from 3,045 meters to 4,100 meters (9,990 to 13,451 feet) on the slopes of Pichincha volcano. On a clear day you see Quito spread below and, if weather permits, three snow-capped volcanoes on the horizon: Cotopaxi, Antisana and Cayambe. The altitude gain happens fast and comfortably in a modern cable car, so you're not hiking or exerting yourself to get there.

After descending, you have a break in the afternoon—time for a drink or light lunch before the walking portion begins. Your guide can suggest places and handle the details. Then you walk through Quito's colonial center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. You pass Independence Square, where Ecuador's revolutionary battles played out, and you see the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace. The Church of the Society of Jesus stands as the summit of Latin American Baroque style. You also walk through La Ronda, a charming neighborhood, and visit San Francisco Church and its convent, built in 1540.

The tour finishes with a drive uphill to El Panecillo, where the winged Virgin Mary of Quito stands—the world's tallest aluminium statue. You're back at your hotel around 3:00 p.m. The whole day runs 5 to 6 hours and stays private: no other travelers, no waiting for groups to assemble, no schedule that doesn't fit your pace.

What’s included

Certified English-speaking guide.
private transport with hotel pickup.
cable car ride to Cruz Loma (depending on your option).
walking tour of Quito's old town including Independence Square, San Francisco Church, the Church of the Society of Jesus and El Panecillo.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleInfant seats available

Operated by Ecuador Best Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Quito without a rental car—the guide handles all the driving and navigation, and you see both the volcano viewpoint and the colonial center in a single private day without waiting for group departures.