Quito Things to Do Tips by tejanasueca

Located just 20km north of Quito, going here will not only give you a chance to stand on the Equator, but it also hosts a very nice little museum with artifacts from all of Ecuador's ethnic groups. The museum is located in the monument standing on top of the Equator. Also, there are nice little shops etc. right next to it. Some days (I believe on weekends ) there is live enterntainment in the little square.

Predictably, major festive days fall around March 21 and September 23 (the equinoxes) when neither monument nor tourists casts a shadow, and June 21 and December 21 (the solstices).

Be aware, some people argue that when the monument was built, they missed the equator by a few yards. So ask a local if they can show you where the "real" equator is; then it's up to you to determine when you think you're really standing on the equator.

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Directions: Catch a pink-and-white buss with a "Mitad del Mundo" sign in the window. A good place is the intersection of Américas and Colón in New Town (1hr, every 5min, $0.34). Returning buses leave from the traffic circle in front of Mitad del Mundo (until 7pm)

Ok, this place will not be hard to find...it kinda sticks out! The basilica is located on a hill just north of colonial Quito. Once you get up there, go to the little store to the left and get tickets before you enter the basilica. You will get a guide (who might speak some English). He/she will take you around the basilica.

Make sure you get to climb all the towers and look at the view. You will get fantastic views of Quito from several angles. However, if you are afraid of heights, be aware that some of the climbing migth be a little nerve wrecking (as a rockclimber though, I enjoyed every little bit of it!!!).

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Address: Central Quito
Directions: On a hill, just north of Colonial Quito: you can't miss it!!!!!!!!!

Colonial Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is definitely worth a visit. The area used to be dangerous to tourist, but recently it has been cleaned up and there is a large presence of security. However, this does not mean that there are no pick pocketers there. Always bring as little as possible to this area (not large bags, etc) and make sure you keep your money in a safe place!

The most important places in Colonial Quito is Plaza de la Independencia and Plaza de San Francisco. The Plaza de la Independencia is the most important one, and home to the 400-year old Palacio Presidencial and a Cathedral. Ask a local about the legend of the rooster on top of this church. In front of Palacio Presidencial you will find neatly dressed guards who are more than happy to be in a picture. Plaza de San Francisco is dominated by the gigantic Monasterio de San Francisco. The plaza itself is dominated by poor kids wanting to shin your shoes. However, if you sit on the steps of the monastery a few minutes on a late afternoon, you will get a pretty good sense of the spirit of this part of town.

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Address: Central Quito
Directions: Ecovia stop La Marin. Take the pedestrian street Chile to the right (when facing south) to get to Plaza de la Independencia. From there, take a left on García Moreno and a right on Sucre to reach Plaza San Francisco.

The Panecillo - literarly meaning the little bread, as this hill sticks out as a little bun dividing the city into north and south. The best time to go is in the morning, as this is the time when the weather in Quito usually is the mos favorable to taking good pictures. Essentially, if you happen to wake up and you just have one of those beautiful mornings when the sun highlights the slopes and Pichincha (and maybe it's so clear that you can see both the Cayambe and Cotopaxi volcanoes), do not hestitate to take some time out of your morning to go up to the Panecillo. The weather change so fast that you might not get the chance again to take some pictures of the wonderful view that surrounds Quito.

It is NEVER safe to walk up to the top. Rather, catch a cab from Colonial Quito (Plaza San Fransisco) and ask them to take you up there. Have the cab wait for you while you visit the area (should not take longer than 10-15min). Make sure to agree with the cab driver of the total price for the ride before getting in. The price for the cab should be LESS than $10.

Open daily, 9am-dark (these opening hours refer to the time you can entrace the statue - $1 - and the little museum, and the time the stals selling the regular tourist stuff opens, if you just want to enjoy the view, you can go before 9am as well).

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Directions: The big hill in the middle of the city

Nice museum not far from colonial Quito or the US embassy and located in the Casa de la Cultura. It host most of the gold treasures that the indigenous Ecuadorians had collected before the arrival of Europeans. It really give you a pretty nice view of Ecuador's history as it contains chronologically organized archaeological exhibits, pre-Hispanic gold, colonial paintings and religious portraits, modern art, and indegenous crafts. The most popular and memorable part of the exhibit surely is the selection of pre-Hispanis gold. This museum is probably the most extensive museum covering Ecuador's history that you will find and it is popular among tourists.

Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.

Price: $2

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Phone: 2223258
Address: Patria and 6 de Deciembre
Directions: In the Casa de la Cultura building, on the side that faces the street La Patria. Next to the park El Ejido.

Ecovia Stop: Casa de la Cultura

After you finish your tour of the Basilica, make sure you ask to get to see the catacombs.

The tombs are built to host Ecuadorian presidents. However, it is fairly new (the basilicia is actually still being built), and only a couple of the gravesites are occupied (and they probably will be for a while as none of the last 5 presidents have fullfilled their term). Also notice the statues of the condors down there, in Ecuador, condors have the same symbolism as the bald eagle in the US.

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Hm...there seems to always be a demonstration for something in Quito. Most of them are very quiet, and not as violent as the March 2005 overthrow of President Lucio (not sure about the other times the Presidents have been overthrow, just happen that I was there for this one). Most of them seem to march down the street La Patria or take place at Parque La Alameda, and it makes for a quite cultural and political experience to quietly sit at watch them go by.

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Directions: La Patria, Parque La Alameda