I don’t know about you, but prior to visiting I hadn’t heard much about Quito, nor did I know anyone who had been. The idea to visit started to percolate after learning a little more about the country from my Spanish tutor who lives there. And because I had already visited the cities that were top of my list and most talked about, I thought that this would be a great opportunity to get out of my comfort zone by leaving the beaten path of common travel destinations. If you’re trying to figure out what things to do in Quito, here are the things I loved most.

Where to Stay

Quito was a bit unique because it didn’t seem to have the things that usually draw me to a place – world class food, a hot music scene, and a metropolitan vibe. Still, I really enjoyed my time there and found the areas and things that were aligned with my interests. I stayed in three neighborhoods and enjoyed them all (but beware, the city is very hilly…I found myself living at the top of a hill which took my breath and had my thighs burning when I walked home).

• La Floresta. It’s a very artsy neighborhood with a bohemian vibe. Some good restaurants are there.
• Bellavista. Very pretty views as the name implies, but this is where I lived atop a hill.
• La Carolina. This area is near a large park, Parque Carolina, which natives liken to Central Park in NYC (it’s definitely not though; much smaller, but just smack in the middle of the city). It’s also in a very commercial area and the financial district. There’s a mall, large movie theaters, and shopping all over

What to Do in Quito

Quito is not really thought of as a place where you spend a lot of time. It’s often a stopover for people who like to hike, as the city is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, mountains and volcanoes. It’s called la carita de dios (the face of god) for all the beauty that surrounds it. I’m not a hiker, but I did push out of my comfort zone and took advantage of the landscapes. Still, the city itself has lots to offer.

Visit Centro Historico

• Take a free walking tour around. This is a good way to orient yourself to the city and get some exposure. It’s how I found out about what became my favorite chocolate shop and how I was able to easily explore a city market.
• Plaza de la Independecia. Surrounded by some palaces and a cathedral, this square is one of the major symbols of executive power in the country. It’s also a great place for people-watching!
• Yumbos Artesanal Chocolate. This place was my favorite chocolate shop, and the crazy thing is that I don’t even like chocoloate! The quality is exquisite, and they do tastings so that you can try the different kinds. My favorite was 60% chocolate, 40% naranja.
• Sandwiches at Museo del Pernil by Dulssini. I made a local friend through Bumble BFF, and she took me to this shop. The bread was fresh and the sandwiches were so tasty
  

Basílica de Voto Nacional

The Basilica of the National Vow is the largest neo-Gothic basilica in the Americas. The inside is stunning, and you can even climb up to the top of one the towers!

Explore La Floresta

This is a neighborhood of old mansions, and street art. It has a bohemian vibe, full of restaurants and cafes, and even has and independent cinema that I quite enjoyed, Ocho y Medio. One of my favorite casual restaurants in Quito, La Ñora, is located there. Casa Warmi is another one of my favorites in the area.

El Mirador de Guapulo

Absolutely beautiful views! You can see Volcán Cayambe, Cerro Puntas and the suburb of Cumbayá down the valley. Note that the restaurant, Ananké, is not very far from here. It also has great views, and it’s the first place I tried canelazo.

Ride the TelefériQo

This is one of the highest ariel lifts in the world. You can take the gondola lift up the side of Pichincha Volcano to lookout Cruz Loma. If you’re feeling froggy, you can hike up to Rucu Pichincha (5 hours roundtrip, you should plan ahead if you do want to do some hiking here).

Take a Food Tour

The food culture is a little different here, so it’s nice to take a food tour to understand what are the mainstays (not all of which I enjoyed). Pinchos (meet skewers, yum!), espumillas (they’re served on a cone like ice cream, but are not cold. It’s jarring and I didn’t care for these), tortillas de verde. And then there are some that I absolutely didn’t like: guatita, type of cow belly stew. tripa mishqui (pork intestines) and morcilla (blood sausage). My food tour ended in Parque Genaro Larrea in Floresta — this is a great place for authentic street food (and people watching!).

Check out some Art

• Capilla del Hombre. Built by the painter Oswaldo Guayasamin and dedicated to the people of Latin America. Great views of the city from here.
• Casa Museo Guayasamin. Visit the artist’s home right in the vicinity of Capilla del Hombre.
• Centro de Arte Contemporáneo. This museum is located in a former military hospital. I actually stumbled upon it accidentally because I attended a coffee experience held at a cafe located inside the museum. Very interesting building.

Get Out of Town

As I mentioned before, Ecuador attracts a lot of hikers due to it’s breathtaking beauty and mountains. Quito can be a good place to base and still take advantage of what the rest of the country offers. Some places that I visited as day or weekend trips while staying in Quito are:

• Pululhua. Is a dormant volcano. Hike the geobotanical preserve. Also visit Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World to straddle the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
• Otavalo. Visit the Otavalo Market where traditional textiles and crafts are sold by indigenous people.
• Cuicocha. Crater lake at the foot of Cotacachi Volcano. Hike around the lake or take a boat tour through it.
• Quilotoa. Another crater lake to hike around. Absolutely stunning.
• Mindo. A cloud forest known for its waterfalls and wildlife. It is great for activities like zip lining as well. I also did a chocolate tour here.
• Baños. An interesting city to visit, with many attractions in the mountains. Get amazing views and visit Cascada El Pailón.
• Nayón. Known as the “Garden of Quito”, a variety of flowers and ornamental plants are produced here. Ecuador is the world’s third largest flower exporter.

Eating in Quito

Some of the best things I ate (and drank):

• Corviche. Deep fried green plantains stuffed with things. My favorites were from La Nora restaurant.
• Canelazo. It’s a hot, spiced alcoholic beverage. Quito’s official drink.
• Encebollado. It’s a soup with fish and onions, and often called a hangover’s cure.
• Bolón. Ball of green plantains stuffed with cheese.
• Fish prepared from an Amazonian restaurant, Maytu

Foods to take note of:

• Ceviche. If you’ve ever had Peruvian style ceviche, be prepared for something much different. Ecuadorian ceviche is heavy on the liquid, almost to the point of being like a soup
• Cuy. It’s guinea pig, and it’s a delicacy.

Wrap Up

It’s is a low-key city, but there are lots of things to do in Quito. It was wonderful exploring the city and the culture. I even spent two weeks learning Spanish at a school, Atahualpa Spanish School, which I highly recommend if you have time and really want to learn and immerse yourself in Spanish. The school also has excursions, which is one of the ways I visited Otavalo, and arranged for me to take salsa lessons as well.

In my next post, I’ll talk about getting out of the city and exploring the surrounding areas. Scroll to the bottom and subscribe to my blog to get more posts about travel and other stories and tips about growing and pushing your comfort zone. If you enjoyed the content, like or leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you.