Explore Quito and its surrounding

Quito is the capital of Ecuador and the biggest city of the country. To Fully discover this city you need a lot of time, but to discover the essential you don't need more than five days. These are the main activities : 

• Free walking tour

The part of the city who is interesting is the historic center, you can discover it by yourself just by walking during hours to see all churches, places, ... But the best option is to do the free walking tour of some hostel of Quito (Community Hostel, ...). This will permit you to discover the historic center with more details, anecdotes, ... but also to discover local fruits and cocktails, local medicine with herbs, some points of views, ...

• Museum House Guayasamin

It's the best museum I have ever seen, I really liked the paintings of this artist which represents the suffering of the human being through the various wars, ... 

You discover a building with all his paintings with a guide who will explain to you the meaning of every painting. It's really interesting ! 

And after you will discover his house where you will see a lot of pre-colombian art that he had bought so that these works would be kept in their country of origin. 

To go to this museum take a taxi because it's really far away from the historic center. You can have the visit in Spanish and in English. The entry cost 10$. 

• The Virgin of Panecillo

It's a big statue of the virgin which overlooks the city, from there you have one of the best view on the city of Quito because you can see the north and the south of the city. 

To go there take a taxi because the surrounding of the virgin are not safe, so take care ! 

• Rucu Pichincha and the cable car

It's one of the best view on the city if it's not too cloudy and more of that you can see fore or five volcanise from here. Indeed, the cable car takes you from 3000 meters above sea level to 4000 meters. You can just take the cable car to go to the top and enjoy the view with a drink, but you can also hike at the top of the Rucu Pichincha. 

You can do this hike by yourself without guide but pay attention because the weather can change really fast and it can become dangerous ! 

To go to the top you have to walk for 2 hours, it's really a great hike because the view is incredible ! Take your time to go to the top because with the altitude sometimes it can be harder. 

To go to the cable car you have to take a taxi because it's far away from the center of the city. 

• Discover the best churches of Quito

Quito has more than 30 churches, it's incredible if you're walking in the historical center you will find a Church every two streets ! 

The three best churches are : 

- Basilica Del Voto Nacional, it's a really big church, you can see inside by paying and going at the top of the tower of the church to have a really good view on Quito.

- the Church Saint Francis, it's a church with a convent, you can go inside for free  to see the golden interior of the church. More of that, you can pay to go on the top of the church to have a great view on Quito and the place in front of the church ! 

- the church of Jesus's company, the inside of this church is really impressive because it's almost only gold. It's really beautiful ! You will have to pay for the entry and it's not possible to take pictures and videos of the inside so as not to damage the gold. 

More of that there is a lot of museum and parc in Quito where you can enjoy a drink if the day is sunny ! Enjoy ! 

The site of the Mitad Del Mundo, is at the north of Quito, you can go by bus (one hour) or take a taxi (25 min). 

It's the first geographical point who has been recognized at the center between northern and southern hemisphere. So, the region of Quito has organized a site to explain all the history of the Ecuador from the discovery to his freedom. But more of that you have a lot of explanations on old populations, their languages, their tradition, ... 

More of that you have a building that symbolizes the separation between the two hemispheres, where you have a good view on the place and its surrounding. 

You have also a museum on the history of cacao, and you have lot of shops to buy some chocolate with every taste and percentage of cacao. More of that, you have a lot of restaurants. 

Sometimes there is dance show in the main square.