Ecuador Quito Tours

Quito is the capital of Ecuador and one of the first cities in the world to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a distinction it received in 1978 largely because of its historic center, which remains one of the most extensive and well preserved in Latin America. Set high in the Andes at an elevation of around 2,850 meters, the city stretches along a long, narrow valley beneath the slopes of Pichincha volcano.

Quito Tours cover a city that combines colonial architecture, working churches and museums with modern neighborhoods and access to nearby volcanoes, thermal springs and the equatorial line itself. As the transport hub for much of mainland Ecuador, Quito also serves as the starting or finishing point for most itineraries that continue on to the Andes, the Amazon or the Galapagos Islands.

Historic Center Landmarks

Plaza Grande

Plaza Grande, officially Plaza de la Independencia, is the ceremonial heart of colonial Quito, framed by the Presidential Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace. The square has served as the city's civic center since the Spanish founded Quito in 1534 atop an earlier Inca settlement.

La Compañía de Jesús

La Compañía de Jesús is a Jesuit church completed in 1765 after more than a century of construction, its interior almost entirely covered in gold leaf, carved wood and painted detail in the Baroque style. It is widely considered the most elaborately decorated church in Quito's historic center.

San Francisco Church and Plaza

Construction on the Church and Convent of San Francisco began in 1536, making it one of the oldest religious complexes in South America, and its adjoining plaza remains a gathering point in the old town, particularly around sunset when the church facade catches the evening light.

TelefériQo and Pichincha Volcano

The TelefériQo cable car climbs from the western edge of the city up the slopes of Pichincha volcano, reaching a viewing station at around 4,050 meters above sea level. From the top station, trails continue further up the mountain for hikers, while the lower views stretch back over Quito's rooftops and, on clear days, toward distant snow-capped peaks including Cotopaxi and Cayambe.

Mitad del Mundo

The Mitad del Mundo monument sits around 25 kilometers north of central Quito and marks the line early French and Spanish geodesic survey teams calculated as the equator in the 18th century. The complex includes a museum on Ecuador's ethnic groups, and nearby the Intiñán Museum marks a separate, GPS-verified equatorial line where guides demonstrate simple gravity and balance experiments.

Quito Tour Packages

Quito Tour Packages typically combine the historic center, TelefériQo and Mitad del Mundo with additional excursions to sites within a short drive of the city, including the thermal pools at Papallacta or the indigenous market town of Otavalo. Multi-day packages often use Quito as a base for exploring the northern and central Andes before continuing toward the Amazon or the coast.

Papallacta SPA and Hot springs pools is one option frequently added to a Quito itinerary as a day excursion from the city.

Quito Day Tours

Half-day and full-day tours are the most common way to see Quito's historic center, generally covering Plaza Grande, La Compañía de Jesús and San Francisco on foot with a guide, sometimes paired with a cable car ride up Pichincha in the afternoon. Other day tours focus entirely on excursions outside the city, such as Mitad del Mundo, Otavalo market or the Papallacta hot springs.

Private Quito Tours

Private tours allow travelers to set their own pace through the historic center or combine several outlying sites, such as the equator monument and a highland market, within a single customized day. This format suits families, photographers and travelers with limited time who want to prioritize particular sites over a fixed group itinerary.

Getting Around Quito

Quito's historic center is compact and easiest to explore on foot, though the city's elevation means even level walking can feel more strenuous than expected for visitors arriving from lower altitudes. The newer districts, including La Mariscal and Guápulo, sit a taxi ride away from the old town, and most organized tours include transportation between sites rather than relying on public transit.

Best Time to Visit Quito

Quito's altitude gives it a mild climate year round, with daytime temperatures generally comfortable regardless of season, though evenings turn cool. The driest months run from June through September, offering the clearest views of surrounding volcanoes, while the wetter months from October through May bring afternoon showers that typically clear by evening.

Food and Markets

Traditional dishes such as locro de papa, a potato and cheese soup, and hornado, roasted pork served with corn and potato, appear on menus throughout the historic center and the newer La Mariscal district. Quito's Central Market and the smaller stalls around San Francisco Plaza offer a more informal introduction to local food, including fresh juices made from Andean fruits rarely found outside the region.