Things to do in Quitosee the other 3 ›
Teleférico Cable Car in Quito15 optionsCotopaxi National Park26 optionsPapallacta Hot Springs5 optionsMindo Cloud Forest12 optionsDay Trips from Quito35 optionsQuito City Tour10 optionsQuito Old Town5 optionsQuito Walking Tour7 optionsCotopaxi Volcano Tours8 optionsFood & Drink in Quito6 optionsWaterfalls in Quito10 optionsQuito Airport Taxi10 options
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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.
Quito Old Town: Small Group Cacao & Chocolate Tasting WalkYou’ll walk Quito’s Old Town with a small group and local guide, weaving through plazas and churches while hearing stories you’d never find online. Taste traditional candies and real Ecuadorian chocolate along the way — plus there’s time for questions or just people-watching on Independence Plaza. This tour leaves you with more than photos; it sticks with you long after.
Papallacta Hot Springs Day Trip from Quito & LagoonYou leave Quito in the morning, stop at a high-altitude lagoon viewpoint, walk through cloud forest with a guide who explains what you're seeing, then spend the afternoon soaking in natural thermal pools at Termas de Papallacta. Transport, guide, and spa entry are all arranged — you just show up and relax.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a full day away from Quito without a long journey — the 2-hour drive is what makes it possible to relax in the springs and still be back in the city by evening.
Quito Old Town, Cable Car & Equator tour with guideA 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.Is it for me?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.
Mitad del Mundo hop-on hop-off tour: Choose your stopsA hop-on hop-off tour of the Middle of the World near Quito where you choose which attractions to visit and how long to spend at each stop, riding a double-decker bus with a bilingual English and Spanish guide. The tour runs 2 to 6 hours depending on which stops you select; entrance fees to individual sites vary by option and are paid separately.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want to set your own pace instead of following a guide's schedule — you hop off when something catches your eye and rejoin the bus when you're ready to move on, which works best if you're traveling solo or with people who move at the same speed.
Quilotoa Day Trip from Quito: Lagoon Hike & Tigua Art StopYou’ll ride out from Quito before dawn toward Quilotoa’s surreal lagoon, hike down into its volcanic crater with a local guide, share lunch overlooking those wild blues and greens, then meet Tigua artists whose work tells stories older than the road itself. There’s something about that first glimpse of water that stays with you long after you’re back in your hotel bed.
Quito: Private Historic Center, Cable Car & Equator TourYou’ll ride Quito’s cable car for sweeping views, straddle two hemispheres at the equator line, wander through centuries-old plazas with your local guide, and end with a chocolate tasting that lingers long after you leave. Expect laughter, history, and small surprises—this day really stays with you.
Papallacta Hot Springs Tour: Private Guide, 8 PoolsThis private tour takes you to Papallacta Hot Springs, a three-time World Travel Awards winner, where you'll soak in eight pools of varying temperatures surrounded by the Andes Mountains at 10,600 feet. Your guide leads you through the cloud forest reserve at nearby Guango lodge to spot birds like the Turquoise Jay and Torrent Duck among giant ferns and orchids. The tour runs seven hours with private transportation and a live guide in English or Spanish; children from age 3 are welcome.Is it for me?The cloud forest walk on natural mountain trails means you'll need closed-toe hiking shoes and a rain jacket, and the terrain can be muddy and uneven—this tour suits travelers comfortable with a moderate forest hike, not a casual stroll. The private guide and transportation mean you move at your own pace between the pools and the reserve without coordinating with a group.
Cotopaxi Volcano Day Trip from Quito with Hike & LunchYou’ll hike high into Cotopaxi’s wild landscape with a local guide, catch your breath over hot chocolate at Refugio Padre Ribas, wander Limpiopungo Lagoon’s shifting light, and share lunch nearby before heading back to Quito. It’s raw mountain air and honest effort—the kind of day you’ll remember every time you see dust on your boots.
Cable Car and Quito Old Town Private Tour: 13,000-foot volcano viewpointA 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.Is it for me?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.
Mindo Cloud Forest: Private Day Trip with Waterfalls & WildlifeYou’ll leave Quito behind for a private day trip into Mindo Cloud Forest—spotting hummingbirds up close, walking misty trails to waterfalls, riding a cable car through treetops, and tasting chocolate in town. With a local guide and flexible stops (like butterfly farms or birdwatching reserves), you’ll get both adventure and quiet moments—plus hotel pickup and drop-off included.
Quito City Tour: Mitad del Mundo, Teleferico & PanecilloA seven-hour guided tour of Quito's main attractions with a bilingual local guide, covering the historic center, El Panecillo, the Basilica of the National Vow, the Teleferico cable car at 4,100 meters, and the Mitad del Mundo monument. Transport, guide, and most entry fees are included; the Basilica tower climb and Teleferico entrance are optional add-ons. Children from age 2 are welcome, and the pace suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?The tour moves between five stops over seven hours with transport arranged, so the day holds together without you building it—a full Quito itinerary in one morning without the logistics of getting between sites.
Baños Day Trip from Quito: Waterfalls and Cloud ForestA private day trip from Quito to Baños de Agua Santa with a bilingual guide, hotel pickup, and all fees included. You visit four named waterfalls along the Avenue of the Waterfalls, cross the Pastaza River canyon on a cable car, and hike through cloud forest to Bride's Veil waterfall. The route climbs from the Andes into tropical rainforest, passing volcanoes and the Agoyan hydroelectric dam on the drive down. Lunch is your choice to arrange; zip line rides are optional add-ons at checkout.Is it for me?The early 7:30 a.m. pickup and 11-hour day mean you start before dawn and return after dark, which is what fits four waterfalls, two microclimates and a cable car crossing into a single trip. If you prefer a shorter outing or a later start, look for a half-day Baños tour instead.
Cotopaxi National Park hiking & biking tour from QuitoThis 9-hour tour from Quito combines hiking and mountain biking in Cotopaxi National Park. You start with a challenging 45-minute walk to a mountain refuge at 4,800 meters (15,750 feet), descend by bike to Limpiopungo Lake, and finish with lunch at a local community. A bilingual guide leads the route, handles transport from Quito, and provides the bike; you need moderate fitness and warm layers for the altitude.Is it for me?The 9-hour commitment means you leave early and return by evening, which works for a full day but rules out combining this with other activities. If you have a free morning and afternoon in Quito, this tour fills both; if you're short on time or prefer a half-day option, look for a shorter park visit instead.
Baños 2-Day Tour from Quito: Cotopaxi, Quilotoa & SwingYou get picked up from your Quito hotel and driven to Cotopaxi for breakfast, then spend the morning at two viewpoints of Quilotoa Lagoon before reaching Baños by afternoon. Day two includes a cable car crossing over the Pastaza River and a visit to Pailon del Diablo waterfall, with transport and all entry fees included. You return to Quito in the evening.Is it for me?This works well if you want to escape Quito for two days without arranging transport, park entries, or timing yourself across multiple stops — the fixed itinerary handles all of that, and the overnight in Baños means you're not rushing the waterfalls or the views.
Quito Night Tour: Old Town & Plaza Grande with Free TimeYou board a double-decker bus at 7pm and travel through Quito's illuminated Old Town, then spend 90 minutes on a guided walk through Plaza Grande and the Street of the Seven Crosses with your bilingual guide. After the walking tour ends, the time is yours to explore cafés, chocolate shops, and local restaurants at your own pace before returning to your pickup point.Is it for me?This works well if you want to see Quito's historic center at night without arranging your own transport or navigating unfamiliar streets after dark—the guide handles the route and timing, leaving you free to linger over dinner or a drink once the walking part ends.
Quito - Cuenca: Andes tour with Cotopaxi & IngapircaTravel from Quito to Cuenca with a local guide and discover Ecuador’s Andes: hike around Quilotoa’s crater lake, climb Cotopaxi’s slopes for mountain views, feel the spray at Baños’ waterfalls, and wander ancient Ingapirca ruins. You’ll meet locals along the way and taste Andean flavors — moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.
Mindo Cloud Forest day trip from Quito: Birdwatching with guidesYou travel by private car from Quito into the cloud forest, spend the day on trails with a nature-focused guide doing bird watching and waterfall walks (or butterfly house, orchid garden — your choice), and return to the city in the evening. Transportation is included, so you skip the logistics of getting there yourself.Is it for me?This works well if you want to see the cloud forest without arranging your own transport or navigating the drive yourself — the private car and guide handle both, leaving you free to focus on the forest and whatever activities appeal to you most.
Mindo Cloud Forest Birdwatching: Hummingbirds & WaterfallThis birdwatching and hiking tour from Quito explores the Mindo Cloud Forest in seven to eight hours with a bilingual guide, hotel pickup, and an air-conditioned vehicle. You visit the Ornithological Point to feed hummingbirds, ride the Mindo Cable Car over the mountains to reach Nambillo waterfall, walk through the Butterfly Farm, and tour a chocolate factory. Two purchase options let you add or skip entry tickets and lunch.Is it for me?Choose All Included if you want meals and entry fees covered upfront; pick No Ticket–No Lunch if you'd rather pay separately and control your own timing at each stop.
Cotopaxi Horseback Riding Tour from Quito & VolcanoYou ride horseback through Cotopaxi National Park with two guides—one English-speaking, one a traditional chagra—choosing between 2 and 4 hours in the saddle. The route takes you past wild horses and up to the volcano viewpoint, with a stop at Limpiopungo Lagoon and lunch included. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Quito bookend the day, so transport and park logistics are already arranged.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want to ride in Cotopaxi National Park without arranging your own transport, guides, or timing—the pickup from Quito and the inclusion of both an English speaker and a local chagra means you're set up to ride rather than manage logistics.
