Quito Things to Do Tips by bsfreeloader

Enjoy Good Friday

Quito is a very Catholic city. Quitenos’ Catholicism is never more evident than on Good Friday, when thousands of residents solemnly march through Old Town in mourning. Dressed mainly in purple robes and donning pointed hoods reminiscent of Ku Klux Klan outfits, the penitents walk barefoot through the streets often dragging huge crucifixes. The procession is quite moving, with many Quitenos brought to tears. If you are in town on Good Friday, you would be remiss not making the trip to Old Town to witness this spectacle. One of the best places to view it is from above, particularly at the Basilica del Voto Nacional.

Straddle the Equator Mitad del Mundo Review

Quito is less than 20 kilometers from the equator, that imaginary line designating the middle of the world. Not surprisingly, one of the most popular day trips out of Quito is to La Mitad del Mundo (The Middle of the World). If you have the opportunity, make this trip. The centerpiece of the La Mitad del Mundo complex is a thirty-meter tall monument purportedly sitting on the equator. GPS readings have shown that the monument is actually 250 meters south of the equator, but there is a museum (the Museo Inti Nan) outside the complex that actually does sit on the equator. What you will see there will amaze you. You can balance an egg on a nail. You will see how water flows straight down on the equator but rotates clockwise south of the equator and counter-clockwise north of it. You will see your strength disappear while standing on the equator. And you will see how difficult it is to walk a straight line on the equator. Being part of these “experiments” and witnessing them firsthand was one of the more amazing things I have experienced in my travels to date.

Directions: north of Quito, on the Equator

Visit the Teleferico

Quito’s Teleferico, which started operations in early 2005, is an excellent place to become oriented with the city. Just a short drive from either Old Town or Mariscal, the Teleferico offers up unrivalled views of the long, narrow city and the surrounding mountains. Eight cable cars, each with a capacity to hold six people, whisk passengers up more than 1000 meters, from 2950 meters (8850 feet) to 4050 meters (12,150 feet). While the ride itself lasts less than ten minutes, there can be long lines on weekends and holidays. By going during the week, the long lines can be avoided. Just be sure to go on a day with minimal cloud cover.

Stroll through the Past Colonial Quito Review

With a myriad of churches, monasteries, convents, and other interesting buildings dating to Colonial times, Old Town Quito probably offers more to the tourist than any other area of the city. Trying to visit all of these places is not realistic unless you have unlimited time, so focusing on a few places is recommended. For people watching, the best places are the three main plazas – Plaza de la Independencia, Plaza Santo Domingo, and Plaza San Francisco. My favorite churches include San Francisco, La Compania, La Merced, and Basilica del Voto Nacional. The views from the northern steeple and east tower of the Basilica are among the best in the city, while the interiors of La Merced and La Compania have to be seen to be believed. Sadly, I doubt this architecture could be duplicated today due to labor costs (it is often overlooked, but slave labor built most of these architectural gems), material costs, and the lack of skilled artisans.