On any given weekday, the Old Town is bustling with activity and you\u2019ll come across different hole-in-the-wall tiendas<\/em> selling all variety of products. You should definitely stop through the city\u2019s main plaza, Plaza de la Independencia, where you can sit, relax and people watch while munching on a corn-based humita<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is truly an endless number of things you can do in Quito\u2019s center and it gets overwhelming quickly! That\u2019s why a few walking tours are now available and provide insight and guidance for those that don\u2019t want to go it alone. Please, read on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are number of walking tours around Quito that you can join nearly every day of the week. Some take you through the Old Town, while others guide you through neighborhoods like La Floresta and La Mariscal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Wanderbus Ecuador also offers a city walking tour around Old Town and, get this, it\u2019s FREE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On our tour, you\u2019ll discover the city\u2019s churches (see next section), taste some local delicacies, and the city\u2019s best views, not to mention a handful of other places you\u2019re encouraged to visit on your own after the tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Free Walking Tour of Quito Old Town takes 3 hours and is available every day of the week except for Saturday. Register online<\/a> and join us at 10:30 am at Plaza San Blas, (Avenida 10 de Agosto and Calle Francisco de Caldas).<\/p>\n Even if you have an aversion to church (or the institution it represents), visiting some Ecuadorian churches in Old Town is one thing you can\u2019t not<\/em> do in Quito. Just walk into one or two, it won\u2019t kill you. Also, churches are an integral part of Ecuadorian history, culture and architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re limited on time, make sure you visit one or more of the following churches: La Compania (gold leaf everything), San Francisco, La Basilica (360 view of Old Town!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those that prefer to avoid the hubbub of city life, but still want to appreciate Quito from afar, head up the Telef\u00e9riQo and view the entire city from the top of Rucu Pichincha, one of Ecuador\u2019s numerous volcanoes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The ride up the Telef\u00e9riQo will cost you $8, but on a clear day, the impressive view of the city is well worth it. At the top, you\u2019ll find a few places to grab a bite to eat, but if you\u2019re feeling energetic, you can summit Rucu Pichincha at 4,784 m (15,700). Note that near the summit, the trail becomes a Level 3 hike and you might have to scramble a bit. Don\u2019t wander off the trail because at around noon the clouds start rolling in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s one thing you can not <\/em>do in Quito, even if you tried? Trick question. It\u2019s visiting the equator because, well, you\u2019re already on it! To celebrate being on exactly zero degrees latitude, Ecuadorians erected a 30-meter tall monument in 1936 called la Mitad del Mundo, <\/em>or Middle of the World, in the north of the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Quito for just a day, I\u2019d recommend exploring the Old Town or going up the Telef\u00e9riQo, but if you have an additional morning to spare, check out la Mitad del Mundo<\/em>. Grab a taxi or jump on a bus and after el Condado and Pomasqui you\u2019ll reach the Middle of the Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the history, arts and culture buffs among you, Quito has a few museums to visit and many of these are free. If you only have time for one or two museums, visit the pre-Columbian Art Museum Casa del Alabado ($6) and la Museo Capilla del Hombre ($8).<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you walk through Casa del Alabado,<\/em> you\u2019ll experience the three spiritual worlds belonging to the cosmovision of pre-Columbian indigenous cultures. It\u2019s important to realize that the museum is actually organized this way and not in chronological order. For those of you with an appreciation for traditional pottery, Museo del Alabado presents a beautifully curated collection of unique artifacts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Museo Oswaldo Guayasam\u00edn or Capilla del Hombre is another museum in town, near the Parque Metropolitano (see next section), that exhibits the work of Oswaldo Guayasam\u00edn, an Ecuadorian painter and sculptor. The museum holds a large number of his original artwork and visitors are also invited to tour his house, showcasing artifacts and artwork belonging to his contemporaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As in any city, high levels of noise and pollution can get overwhelming. When you feel like it\u2019s time to escape city life, you should check out one of the parks listed below. Ecuadorians like their green spaces and you\u2019ll notice that many parks get quite busy on a Sunday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Parque La Carolina:<\/strong> Located a bit north of the city center, La Carolina is a popular destination, especially during the weekend. It\u2019s like a mini Central Park in Quito and a place where you can go to workout, have a picnic or check out some of the park\u2019s attractions. Yes, the park has attractions! You can do everything in la Carolina from paddle boating, visiting the Botanical Garden, or watching tricks at the skatepark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parque Itchimbia:<\/strong> Located on a small hill overlooking the city center, Parque Itchimbia is another decent sized park where you can escape the city, especially if you\u2019re already in Old Town. Unlike Parque Carolina, Parque Itchimbia gets you above the city where you can enjoy a beautiful 360-degree view. It\u2019s quite a hike to get up there, so if you get hungry afterward there are a few places to dine in and around the park, like Pimms and Caf\u00e9 Mosaico<\/a>. Don\u2019t head to Parque Itchimbia in the late afternoon and definitely not after dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parque Metropolitano: <\/strong>A favorite for most visitors, Parque Metropolitano is a large, densely forested park along the northeast of the city. This is a lovely park to visit on the weekend and if you can get your hands on a mountain bike, definitely take it for a spin in Parque Metropolitano. The road near the entrance of the park, Calle Guanguiltagua, has a few restaurants and snack shops if you get hungry before or after your visit. As with all parks in Quito, don\u2019t stick around too late in the afternoon and evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Searching for international food in Quito isn\u2019t the best thing to do (Cuenca is better for that), but what you won\u2019t have any trouble finding is local, Ecuadorian cuisine. You know what they say\u2026\u201dWhen in Ecuador, eat like an Ecuadorian!\u201d. I don\u2019t think anyone actually says this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While in Quito, you\u2019ll find a lot of delicious Ecuadorian food options in Old Town and elsewhere. For instance, for the seafood lovers, there\u2019s la Manabita, or ceviche from the Mercado Central (both in Old Town). If you prefer organic, visit Casa Warmi in la Floresta, and another hole-in-the-wall spot is Cafe Dios No Muere in Old Town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people don\u2019t realize how well situated Quito is as a jumping off point to many nearby destinations. One of the best things you can do while visiting this high-altitude capital is to go on a few day trips. If you have the time, you must<\/em> head to Volcano Cotopaxi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Located only a 2-hour drive from the city, Cotopaxi is the world\u2019s tallest active volcano IN THE WORLD, and likely already on your bucket list. To get there, jump on the Wanderbus<\/a>, which will take you right up to the park entrance. From there, you\u2019ll get to visit the \u201crefuge\u201d, where hikers spend the night before climbing this mighty mountain. Yep, that\u2019s right, it\u2019s an active volcano you can climb!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another awesome, and I mean, truly awesome, thing to do from Quito is to visit Laguna Quilotoa<\/a>. Quilotoa is farther from Quito than Cotopaxi, and if you\u2019re planning it as a day trip, you\u2019d have to start bright and early. It might feel like a long day, but it\u2019s worth it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n From the lip of this incredible turquoise crater lake, you\u2019ll have the chance to see Ecuador\u2019s mountainscape like never before. You can even hike down to the water\u2019s edge and, you guessed it, take a dip! It will be freezing cold, but it\u2019s not every day you get to swim in the remnants of an Andean volcano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I truly hope that whoever wrote that review in TripAdvisor claiming that there is nothing to do in Quito gets another chance to explore this incredible city and its nearby surroundings. Even if you aren\u2019t a city person (I\u2019m definitely not), venturing through this metropolis will tell you more than you might imagine about Ecuador and its people, and isn\u2019t that why you\u2019re here, to begin with?<\/p>\n Are you looking for things to do in Quito, Ecuador? Many people underestimate how much there is to do in Quito. The city is considered more of a jumping off point on your way to the Amazon or the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands. The truth is, there are many worthwhile things to do in Quito, Ecuador, as …<\/p>\nParticipate in a walking tour around the city<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Discover](\"https:\/\/www.wanderbusecuador.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ecuador.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nGo to church (even if you\u2019re not religious)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wanderbusecuador.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/iglesia-la-compania-1-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nQuito from the heights: the Quito Telef\u00e9riQo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Visit the Middle of the World<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wanderbusecuador.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/middle-of-the-world-4-1-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCheck out some museums<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Visit the city parks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wanderbusecuador.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/quito-panoramic-views-3-1-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTry all the local Ecuadorian Cuisine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Plan a day trip to Cotopaxi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Swim in Laguna Quilotoa <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wanderbusecuador.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/7509584438_1d26b62ff4_o-1-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/h2><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"