Quito

If you’re traveling through Ecuador, it’s hard to avoid Quito. It is the transportation hub of Ecuador, connecting to amazing destinations such as Quilatoa, the Galapagos, Cotopaxi, the Amazon region, and pretty much anywhere you wish to go in Ecuador. Despite being such a large city, there is actually a great deal of history and beauty to be found in Quito, particularly in the historic center.

I ended up passing through Quito several times and was pleasantly surprised by the city. It is a very busy city – no small center feel here – but there is always something going on to see. I took one of the free walking tours my first day in the city and it was a great way to get to know the city a little bit. The guide led my group through the historic center, starting first with the Basílica del Voto Nacional, which dominates the highest ground in the city center. It was commissioned in 1883 yet construction still continues on it to this day. There is a local myth that the world will end when the basilica is finished. It is imposing enough to see from the ground level, but for a small fee you can also climb up the basilica tower for a gorgeous view of the city.

After the basilica, the tour guide led us through the city, stopping to explain some of the more important buildings and churches. We visited a shaman’s office as well, where our guide explained some of the more important ceremonies and traditions of the Quichua people, the main indigenous people of northern Ecuador. As with any good tour, she also showed us some of the local specialties! We stopped for llapingachos, a traditional Ecuadorian snack of thick potato patty stuffed with cheese and fried. We also took a visit to Republica del Cacao, which produces chocolate from beans grown all over Ecuador. Ecuador is one of the top exporters of cacao beans in the world. It was delicious to taste the differences in the chocolates made from the different regions. The tour ended at the central mercado, where we could buy fresh fruits (some I’d never even heard of let alone tasted!) and almuerzos of traditional Ecuadorian food. It was a great introduction to the city.

There are several destinations not too far from Quito that are perfect as a day or overnight trip. I spent a day hiking Rucu Pichincha, as well as a day hiking Cotopaxi. Rucu Pichincha is easily reached from the city, while Cotopaxi only requires a couple of hours by bus. Both are beautiful to visit – you can read about my experience hiking them here. Otavalo is another location worth a visit. Many people choose to visit just on a day trip, usually on Saturday for the crafts market, but I would encourage people to stay at least one night and include a visit to Cuicocha Lake, which is gorgeous. You can read more about Otavalo here.

Mindo is another popular destination just a couple of hours from Quito. Technically a cloud forest, the climate in Mindo is completely different than Quito. It feels more like a jungle, with lots of rain and much more heat than Quito. It is famed for its plentiful waterfalls and variety of indigenous birds. I headed there for an overnight trip from Quito to hike the waterfall trail. The village of Mindo was much more touristy than I was expecting, with high-priced lodges and restaurants catering to weekenders from Quito, but I did manage to find a decent hostel on the outskirts of town.

In the morning, I headed out to hike to the waterfalls. The trail to the falls is accessible only via the tarabita, a small cable car that crosses a lush valley. The tarabita is a 7km walk or a $6 cab ride from the town. Taking the cable car was a fun experience as it glided over the tops of the trees to the platform on the other side.

From the platform, there is one route which leads to the highest waterfall and one which heads down the valley, passing five waterfalls on the way. Clearly I chose to see as many of the cascades as possible so I headed down the trail. The path was a bit muddy from the rain but I was one of the first people there in the morning so I got to enjoy the peace and quiet. The waterfalls were nice and made for a pretty views along the hike, but they were not particularly imposing. I had hoped to see a lot of tropical birds, but other than being luck enough to see a wild toucan when I first arrived, I didn’t see any other birds. It was still a nice way to spend the day though before heading back to Quito that night.

I maybe wouldn’t recommend Quito as a must-see destination, but it is worth taking a day or two to visit as you pass through Ecuador. There is plenty of history, interesting buildings, tasty food, and nearby destinations to keep you occupied.