Things to do in Quito
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Quito: Cotopaxi, Quilotoa & Baños 3-Day Andes TrekYou travel three days through Ecuador's Andes with a local bilingual guide, hiking to Cotopaxi volcano's first refuge, walking around Quilotoa's turquoise crater lake, and swinging from a tree house above Baños. Transport, park entry and all major attractions are included; you book your own hotels in Cotopaxi and Baños the night before departure, and the itinerary can shift based on weather and road conditions.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want the main Andes highlights — volcanoes, crater lakes, waterfalls — without arranging transport and park tickets separately, and who have a few days and moderate fitness for high-altitude hiking. The guide's pace means you're not racing between stops, which is what makes the altitude manageable and the views stick.
Quito Old Town: Walking Tour with Church History & Local Food TastingsYou walk through Quito's colonial center visiting four major churches — the golden Jesuit baroque, the oldest church with South America's first brewery underneath, the Gothic Basilica, and the Independence Plaza where the city's history is written in the buildings around you. Local food tastings are included, and if you visit Monday through Friday, you climb to the roof of Ecuador's first university for a view that ties the whole morning together.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to understand Quito's colonial architecture and history through the buildings themselves, not just walk past them — the churches are the story, and the food tastings ground it in the city's everyday life. The walk covers cobblestones and involves climbing, so plan for steady legs and comfortable shoes.
Quito: Middle of the World Tour & Agave Tasting ExperienceYou’ll stand on both sides of the world at Quito’s Middle of the World Monument, play with quirky equator experiments at Intiñan Museum, and taste real agave spirits at Casa Agave. With a bilingual local guide leading every step (and joke), you’ll leave with new stories—and maybe even your own “egg master” bragging rights.
Quito: Full City Tour with Cable Car, Equator Line & All AdmissionsYou’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.
Mindo Cloud Forest: Private Day Trip with Waterfalls & HummingbirdsYou’ll feel the mist from hidden waterfalls, watch wild hummingbirds dart past your head, and taste fresh chocolate straight from local cacao beans — all in one private day trip from Quito to Mindo Cloud Forest. With an expert guide by your side and plenty of time for hiking or just soaking up the green quiet, this is nature at its most alive.
Cotopaxi Volcano Day Trip from Quito & Limpiopungo LagoonYou get picked up from your Quito hotel and driven into Cotopaxi National Park to hike around Limpiopungo Lagoon, climb to Padre Rivas Refuge at 4,830 meters, and see the active volcano's cone and glacier. Park entry, a certified English-speaking guide, lunch, and return transport are all included. Minimum two people per booking.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Ecuador's most recognizable volcano and a glacial lagoon without arranging transport, park fees, or a guide yourself — the fixed itinerary and included meals mean you show up and climb, nothing else to plan.
Cotopaxi Volcano Day Trip from Quito: Hike to 4,864m RefugeYou get picked up in Quito before dawn, driven to Cotopaxi National Park, guided through a two-hour trek to the 4,864m refuge with views of the snow-covered cone, then taken to Limpiopungo Lagoon for lunch and bird-watching. Transport, meals, and a guide who knows the altitude and the terrain are all included, so you don't arrange logistics yourself — you just show up ready to walk.Is it for me?Book this if you want to experience Ecuador's most visited volcano without arranging your own transport, park tickets, or timing — the fixed schedule gets you to altitude and back to Quito in a single day, and the guide handles the logistics so you focus on the walk.
Mindo Cloud Forest: Birdwatching, Waterfalls & Butterfly FarmYou drive from Quito into the cloud forest, feed hummingbirds by hand at San Tadeo, walk through a working butterfly farm, hike to Nambillo Waterfalls through the mist, and taste artisanal chocolate in Mindo town. Lunch, all entry fees, an air-conditioned vehicle and a national guide are included. The full day runs from 8am to around 5pm, and it's built to work for any fitness level.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want to see the cloud forest, feed hummingbirds, and hike to a waterfall without arranging transport, guides, or timing yourself — the fixed schedule gets you through five stops and back to Quito in a single day.
Cotopaxi Volcano Trek from Quito: Glacier & Limpiopungo LakeYou hike from 4,600m to a glacier at 5,000m on Cotopaxi, then bike down to Limpiopungo Lagoon for lunch. Transport, guide, and a traditional meal are included. The day starts at 7:30am and returns you to Quito by late afternoon. Bring warm layers and waterproof gear — altitude and weather change fast.Is it for me?Book this if you want to reach high altitude and see Cotopaxi's glacier without arranging transport, park permits, or timing yourself — the fixed schedule and included guide handle all three, leaving you to focus on the climb and the views.
Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip from Quito with Waterfall & ButterfliesYou’ll walk through misty trails in Mindo Cloud Forest, watch butterflies flutter at Mariposas de Mindo, and ride a tarabita over treetops before reaching Nambillo waterfall (yes, you can jump in). With a local guide handling everything from hotel pickup to stories along the way, you’ll end up feeling both tired and oddly calm.
Quilotoa Lagoon day trip from Quito: Hike the crater rimA guided day tour from Quito to Quilotoa Lagoon combines a moderate hike around a 3-kilometer crater rim, a visit to the Tigua Painter's Community to learn about indigenous Andes cultures, and views of Ecuador's volcanic landscape. Hotel pickup and entrance are included; the tour runs 11 to 12 hours and operates in all weather. A live guide leads in English or Spanish, and lunch is included in the private service option.Is it for me?Book the private service if your group wants lunch included and prefer a smaller party; choose the small group option if you're flexible on meals and want to share the cost with other travelers. Either way, the tour handles all logistics—transport, entrance, and timing—so the day holds together without you arranging the route or the stops.
Quito Airport Transfer: Private Car & Hotel PickupYou get a named driver waiting at arrivals with a sign, a private car with Wi-Fi and AC, and luggage handling included. The driver coordinates with your actual flight time, so delays don't create a panic. You arrive at your hotel or airport on time without arranging transport yourself or haggling at the curb.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi negotiation at the airport and arrive at your hotel or flight without stress — the driver handles the timing and the route, so you don't have to learn the city or worry about getting there late.
Cotopaxi Volcano: Horseback Ride & Hike to José Ribas RefugeYou ride horses through highland grassland for 1.5 hours, then hike to a high-altitude refuge with views of the Andes, all guided by someone who knows the mountain. Lunch and entry fees are covered, and if the main hike feels too steep, you can choose the lagoon loop instead. Hotel pickup and return keep the logistics simple.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to see the Andes up close and doesn't mind a full, active day — the horseback section handles the beginner riders, the hike has a gentler alternative if you need it, and the guide paces the whole thing so you're not scrambling.
Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip: Birding, Hiking & Local LunchYou’ll set out from Quito into Mindo’s cloud forest with a local naturalist guide who spots birds you’d miss on your own. Hike easy trails past orchids and waterfalls, share lunch in a small town, and meet friendly street dogs along the way. End your day straddling hemispheres at the Equator line — it’s one of those trips that lingers long after you’re back in the city.
3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: Huecas Street EatingA 3-hour guided food tour in Quito that takes you into huecas—family-owned eateries where locals eat—to taste dishes and hear the stories behind them straight from the people who cook. The guide leads a small group on foot through neighborhoods where the food is real and the payment goes directly to the kitchen, building an understanding of Quito's culture through what people actually eat every day.Is it for me?You order and pay at each stop as you go, which means you're learning to navigate Quito's food culture the way someone who lives here does—making real choices instead of following a preset menu. This suits anyone who wants to eat like a local and understand a place through the people who feed it, rather than collect a tasting experience.
Quito: Colonial Old Town, Teleferico & Equator Line Full DayYou walk Quito's colonial core—Independence Plaza, the Cathedral, the gold-filled Compañía church, San Francisco—then ride the Teleferico cable car to 4,050 meters for panoramic views of the city and surrounding volcanoes. In the afternoon, you visit the Intiñan Solar Museum at the equator line for interactive demonstrations and photos straddling two hemispheres. Private transport, a guide, and water are included throughout the full day.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Quito's colonial heart, ride the cable car, and stand on the equator—all in one day without arranging separate transport or tickets between stops. The private vehicle and guide handle the logistics, so you focus on the sights.
Quito Old Town Walking Tour: Market, Church & Ice CreamA small-group walking tour of Quito's UNESCO-listed Old Town led by a local guide, visiting the Central Market, Independence Plaza, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the gold-filled Church of the Society of Jesus, with a stop at La Ronda and a hands-on ice cream making session using South American fruits and plants. The tour runs four hours and welcomes children from age 6 with an adult.Is it for me?Choose the small-group option if you want a guide who knows the stories behind each stop and the flexibility of a shared pace; book the private tour if your group prefers to move at your own speed and skip the market or the ice cream if you'd rather spend more time at the churches.
Quito: Old Town, Teleférico & Equator Private Day TripYou’ll stroll through Quito’s historic center with a local guide who brings legends to life, ride high above the city on the Teleférico cable car for sweeping Andean views, and stand right on the equator line at Intiñan Solar Museum. Expect laughter, unexpected flavors, and moments where you just pause to take it all in.
Quito Old Town: Food & Culture Walking Tour with ChocolateYou’ll stroll Quito’s historic center with a local guide, tasting Ecuadorian chocolate and fresh empanadas along cobbled streets. Explore iconic churches like La Compañía de Jesús and San Francisco Church, soak up lively plazas, and share laughs over food stories. This walk leaves you feeling like you’ve seen more than just buildings—you’ve felt the city breathe.
Otavalo Market tour from Quito: Private guide, three stopsA private full-day tour from Quito visits Lake San Pablo for coffee and local cheese, walks through Peguche waterfall in the eucalyptus forest, and spends time at Otavalo Market—the largest indigenous fair in South America, where over three thousand artisans sell hand-woven ponchos, rugs, leather goods and ceramics. A certified guide in English or Spanish handles all transport and timing; lunch is included before the return to Quito.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want a private route that moves through three distinct stops—a lake, a waterfall and the largest indigenous market in South America—without managing transport or timing yourself. The guide handles the day's sequence, so you move from one place to the next without deciding what comes next or how to get there.
