Quito & Surrounding Areas: Day Tour Options
Colonial Quito & Equator Line Solar Museum
Visit La Compañia church, with a facade built entirely out of volcanic stone, and the Church of San Francisco, Quito’s largest colonial structure. See the Virgin of Quito (El Panecillo), a statue of an elegant winged woman who watches over the city from atop a 650- foot peak. Travel to zero degrees latitude for a visit to the equator monument and enjoy a series of interactive experiments.
Cloud Forest Hike, Chocolate Farm & Equator
Watch the landscape change dramatically as lush green forests and waterfalls dominate while you descend the flanks of the Andes into the cloud forest region. Enjoy a nature walk to waterfalls in the Pahuma Reserve, observing wild orchids and native hummingbirds along the way. Next, sample some of the world’s best chocolate at a local chocolate plantation and visit the equator line.
Otavalo’s Volcanoes, Villages & Artisan Market
Head north to the Otavalo Highlands, a region known for its ancient volcanoes, pristine lakes, and thriving indigenous culture. Visit a famous market and the active crater lake, Laguna Cuicocha. A short boat ride to the islets allows you to observe native birds. Stop for lunch in the artisan community of Cotacachi, one of the best places to find handcrafted leather goods.
Cloud Forest Zip-line, Chocolate Farm & Equator
Clip in for an exhilarating zip-line tour of the forest’s canopy. Soar through the sky for more than 2 miles. Next, visit a chocolate plantation and sample some of the world’s best chocolate. All visitors receive a decadent brownie with an assortment of cocoabased syrups. Then, travel to zero degrees latitude for a visit to the equator monument and enjoy a series of interactive experiments.
Volcano Gondola Ascent & Colonial Quito
Take a beautifully scenic gondola ride up Pichincha Volcano on the Teleférico to Cruz Loma lookout point. It is one of the highest aerial lifts in the world, rising from 10,226 to 12,942 feet above sea level. Descend the volcano and enjoy a City Tour of Quito’s colonial center, commonly referred to as “old town,” and visit Quito’s Independence Plaza, the Presidential Palace, and the baroque-style La Compañía church, built entirely out of volcanic stone.
Papallacta Thermal Hot Springs & Volcanic Spa
Ascend into the unique páramo ecosystem and stop for a muchwelcomed soak and spa treatment in the thermal hot springs of Papallacta, perched at over 10,000 feet above sea level. The water is heated naturally by the surrounding volcanoes and sulfur and other natural components make the baths quite therapeutic. After lunch late afternoon return to Quito. Spa entrance is included, but individual spa treatments are at your own expense.
Andean Cloud Forest & Birding Adventure
Proceed on a guided hike through Bellavista’s network of trails in the beautiful Tandayapa Valley. Keep your eyes out for mountain tanagers, toucans, and countless species of hummingbirds. Have lunch in the 360-degree dome restaurant, which boasts magnificent views and additional opportunities for spotting endemic and native birds. You will be accompanied by an expert Andean Discovery birding guide.
Cotopaxi National Park & Rose Plantation Visit
Head south to Cotopaxi National Park along the famed “Avenue of the Volcanoes,” passing some of the Andes most iconic snowcapped peaks. Towering over the National Park at 19,349 feet above sea level, Cotopaxi Volcano is one of the world’s highest active volcanoes, and the second-highest mountain in Ecuador. Explore the park on foot or horseback and enjoy lunch at a local “hacienda.” Visit a rose plantation and return to Quito.