Quito Old Town, Cable Car & Equator tour with guide

Explore Ecuador’s capital with a local guide, private rides, and crowd-free comfort

A full-day shared tour of Quito starting at 9 a.m. from La Pradera neighborhood, combining the cable car at Pichincha Volcano, the Intiñan Solar Museum at the equator, and a guided walk through the colonial old town with its baroque churches and Independence Plaza. Private transportation and a certified guide in English or Spanish are included. The tour finishes around 4:30 p.m.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Intiñan Solar Museum1h
2. Middle of the World Monumentpassing by
3. Quito Old Town2h
4. Independence Plaza1h
5. Church of the Society of Jesus30m
6. San Francisco Church20m

Quito sightseeing and cable car tour

• Meet guide at La Pradera neighborhood
• Ride cable car to Pichincha Volcano summit
• Visit Intiñan Museum at equator line
• View Middle of the World Monument from road
• Walk through Quito's Independence Square
• Explore Quito Old Town on foot
• Visit Cathedral, Archbishop's palace, and La Ronda
• Tour Church and Convent of San Francisco

The experience

Pickup happens at 9 a.m. outside Hotel Casa Q. in La Pradera, and the first stop is the cable car at the foothills of Pichincha Volcano. The 15-minute ride climbs from 3,045 meters to 4,100 meters above sea level, opening up views of the eastern valleys, old town, and the north and south of Quito spread below. On the way down, the landscape shifts as you head northwest toward the Intiñan Solar Museum, which sits at the exact equator line (0 degrees, 0 minutes and 0 seconds) marking the division between the northern and southern hemispheres as established by the French Geodesic Mission in the 18th century.

At the Intiñan Museum, a specialist guide walks you through displays of Ecuador's different ethnic groups and their lifestyles. The museum's main draw is the chance to stand with both feet on the northern and southern hemispheres at the same time and photograph it. On the return toward Quito, you pass the Equatorial Monument, built between 1979 and 1982, visible from the road. The afternoon moves into the colonial center, where the walk takes you through Independence Plaza (the site of many revolutionary battles in Ecuador's history), and past the Cathedral, the Archbishop's palace, and the Church of the Society of Jesus, a summit of Latin American Baroque style. You'll also see the neighborhood of La Ronda and the Church and Convent of San Francisco, built in 1540.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the day.
• certified tour guide in English or Spanish.
• visits to the cable car at Pichincha Volcano, the Intiñan Solar Museum, Independence Plaza, and the colonial churches and neighborhoods of Quito's old town.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 95 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 13.50

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ecuador Best Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want a full day covering Quito's main sights with private transport between stops and a guide leading the way. Bring comfortable shoes for afternoon walking through the old town, as the cable car and museum visits keep the rest low-impact.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What is the cable car ride like at Pichincha Volcano?

The cable car takes 15 minutes each way, starting at 3,045 meters and climbing to 4,100 meters above sea level. The ride offers views of Quito's eastern valleys, the old town, and the city's northern and southern areas.

Can I stand on the equator at the Intiñan Solar Museum?

Yes. The Intiñan Solar Museum is located at 0 degrees, 0 minutes and 0 seconds latitude, and you can stand with both feet on the northern and southern hemispheres at the same time and take a photograph.

What time does the tour end?

The tour finishes around 4:30 p.m., after visiting the colonial old town, its churches, and the San Francisco Church and Convent.

What churches and plazas will I see in the old town?

The old town walk includes Independence Plaza, the Cathedral of Quito, the Archbishop's palace, the Church of the Society of Jesus (known for its Baroque style), the neighborhood of La Ronda, and the Church and Convent of San Francisco built in 1540.