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Quito: Full City Tour with Cable Car, Equator Line & All Admissions

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/12

Duration8h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Quito’s old city, cable car heights & real equator line in one full day

You’ll climb basilica towers for city views, ride the Teleferico cable car up above Quito, stand on both hemispheres at Intiñan Solar Museum, wander centuries-old plazas with your local guide—and maybe taste real Ecuadorian chocolate along the way. Expect moments that stick with you long after you leave.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Quito city tour

Visit Basilica de Quito and climb tower
Tour San Francisco Church
Explore Independence Plaza
Visit El Sagrario Church inside
Ride Teleferico cable car
Hike to Swing in the Clouds
Visit Intiñan Solar Museum at equator
Chocolate tasting stop

The Experience

“You want to try?” That’s how our guide, Andrés, handed me a piece of dark chocolate outside San Francisco Church—just before noon and already I’d lost track of how many times I’d been surprised. The morning started at the Basilica del Voto Nacional. Climbing its tower was no joke (my legs still remind me), but the view over Quito was wild—patchwork roofs and misty edges. A woman selling tiny empanadas by the steps smiled when I tried my Spanish. Not sure what she thought of my accent but she laughed kindly.

The Teleferico ride was next—honestly, I didn’t expect to feel the altitude so much up there at 4,000 meters. The air tasted thinner and somehow cleaner. Clouds drifted right past us; it felt like being inside weather instead of under it. There’s a swing up there called “Swing in the Clouds”—I almost chickened out but Andrés just grinned and said, “It’s tradition.” So yeah, I did it. My hands were shaking after but that view of Quito below? Stuck with me.

Later we drove out to Mitad del Mundo—the real equator line at Intiñan Solar Museum. I’m not sure if balancing an egg on a nail is science or magic, but everyone cheered when someone managed it (not me). The guide there explained all these little tricks about gravity and hemispheres; I probably forgot half but I remember her energy. Lunch was optional—I grabbed a bowl of locro de papa because Andrés said it’s classic Quito comfort food. He was right.

Walking through Independence Plaza and ducking into El Sagrario Church felt different after all that altitude and science talk—like stepping back into another layer of time. The smell inside: old wood polish and candle wax. At some point we squeezed in another church (Iglesia de la Compania from outside), more stories about old presidents and saints than I could keep straight. But that’s Quito for you—layers on layers, sometimes confusing, always alive.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation around Quito with a knowledgeable local guide by your side, all entry tickets to major sites like Basilica del Voto Nacional and Intiñan Solar Museum, plus parking fees covered—so you can just focus on exploring without worrying about logistics or surprise costs along the way.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Footprint-Journeys Ecuador