Things to do in Quito City - The Quito Guest House

Attractions to visit

Compañía de Jesús Church

La Compañía de Jesús church is considered to be one of the best masterpieces in South America. The church’s construction itself took nearly 160 years to build from 1605 to 1765. The 7 tonne gold leaf covering the ceiling which has always been the highlight of the church is something to watch out for. It is an unmatched spectacle. This extravagant and beautiful church is among the important religious architectures left back by the Spanish. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, Saturday 9 am to 4 pm, Sunday 1 pm to 4 pm.

San Francisco Church

At the corner of Plaza San Francisco lies Quito’s oldest church and monastery, the San Francisco Church, built by Francisco Cantuña. This church has been in existence since the time, the foundation of Quito was laid. The white washed walls, gold leaf ceiling, stained glass windows and the baroque carvings bring alive Quito’s historical times. It is believed that the church’s foundation lies on the palace of Huayna Capac, an Inca Emperor. So many relics from Inca and aboriginal times have been unearthed here. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm, Saturday 9 am to 6 pm, Sunday 9 pm to 1 pm.

Itchimbia Cultural Complex and Park

One of the cities most impressive cultural centres, the Itchimbia Cultural Complex and Park lies on a hill east of the Old Town. This glass and metal building, at 2,900 meters, offers the most stunning and panoramic view of the Pichincha Volcano, peak of Cayambe and the historic centre of Quito. As per archaeological findings, the hill was held in high esteem by the Caras tribe as they worshipped the sun to the east. The area is also rich in natural vegetation and boasts of 400 different assortments of flowers, 40 species of birds and a wetland, right in the centre of the city. Today, it is the venue for many exhibitions and cultural events that take place in the city.

El Panecillo

The Mirador El Panecillo is a statue that stands atop the Panecillo which held immense religious significance during the pre-Inca, Inca and Spanish rule. The statue known as ‘Virgin of Quito’ is viewed as a protector of the city with the symbolic crushed serpent below her feet. The Panecillo hill has held the value of a fortress and a lookout for defence purposes. The Panecillo hill has also taken part and made its presence felt in the Independence battle of Quito.

Plaza de la Independencia

Also called La Plaza Grande, this square became an important place in the 16th century when the Spanish built a well here for their water supply in fear of the Incas who might poison the water supply. Later on, it became a buzzing entertainment and social centre for Quito citizens. The square is bordered by the Government palace on the west, City Hall in the east, Archbishop’s Palace in the north and the Cathedral in the south.

Teleférico - Cable Car

El Teleferico has turned out to be Quito’s major attractions since it opened in 2005. The ‘Teleferico’ cable car is an excellent option to have stunning panoramic view of the Pichincha Volcano and the Quito landscape. The eighteen gondolas trip that take you up the mountain range lasts for only 10 mins, but as you reach the altitude of 4050 meters, you will be welcomed by a grand scenery with an additional bonus of coffee, snacks, oxygen masks and horse rides. Once you reach there, you can easily start your hiking journey to the snow capped volcanoes. And as you reach the base of the mountain, an amusement park, restaurants and cafes are at your service and you can enjoy a great picnic with your family. You can also buy some souvenirs from the gift shop for your family. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 10 am, Saturday and Sunday from 9 am.

Pichincha Volcanoes

The cluster of Pichincha Volcanoes which lie to the west of Quito, consist of two volcanoes namely ‘Rucu Pichincha’ and ‘Guagua’. Both these volcanoes are separated by a distance of just 10 kms. While the ‘Rucu Pichincha’ towers to around 4,776 meters, ‘Guagua’ is its small brother at 4,627 meters. In Quechua, Guagua means ‘child’, while Rucu means “old person”. Whilst Rucu is an inactive volcano, Guagua is still active, with caldera spurting and covering the city of Quito with ash in 1999. The Pichincha mountains also got famous due to “Battle of Pichincha” that was fought on these ranges in 1822. A variety of animal and bird species thrive on the natural vegetation that exists in abundance here. For tourists, hiking to these mountain ranges via the El Teleferico cable car, is the main attraction.

Mitad del Mundo

North of Quito, within a half hour drive, is the place where the first measurements were made to discover that the shape of the Earth is an oblate spheroid. Mitad del Mundo which means the middle of the world is a piece of land where a monument is built to mark the location of the equator that passes through the country (the country is named so after this intersecting line). Actually the equator line passes a few hundred feet away from the monument which can be traced using a GPS positioning system. The monument houses a three storied museum which explains the culture and tradition of Ecuador's indigenous tribes. Also nearby is located the Intiñan Solar Museum, an astronomy museum, which is worth a visit if you are interested in knowing the Coriolis Effect, etc. For entertainment, there are a number of cafes and restaurants and tourist shops.

Quito Nightlife

Quiteños get their own entertaining share of a chilly nightlife when the sun settles down. There are a lot of opportunities available depending upon your mood and choice. If you want you can chill & relax at a bar or a cafe or if you live on risks then go on money spending spree at one of the casinos. Most of the nightclubs and cafe are open till late at night (they mostly shut down at 3 am), but there are the odd ones which are open for 24 hours. Just a piece of advice is that Quito is at a higher altitude than other Latin American cities, making the atmosphere quite cold. So remember that when you venture out to freak out. But there’s not need to worry, as all the mugs of beer and glasses of wine will surely keep you warm. While travelling down the streets at night, which are frequented by nightclubs and bars, do remember to travel by taxi, as like any other city, the fun can get dangerous.