Overview
One of the best-preserved colonial old towns in the Americas, set high in the Andes. A great base for day-trips to volcanoes, hot springs and the equator line.
Top things to do
Centro Histórico
One of the largest and best-preserved colonial old towns in the Americas, a sea of churches and plazas.
La Compañía & El Panecillo
A gilded baroque church dripping in gold leaf, and the winged-Virgin hill that watches over the city.
TelefériQo
A cable car that climbs the flank of Pichincha to over 4,000m for views across the volcano-ringed valley.
Stand on the equator
Visit the Mitad del Mundo and the Intiñan museum to straddle the line at latitude zero.
Otavalo market day-trip
A trip north to one of the largest indigenous craft markets in South America.
Cotopaxi or the TelefériQo
Hike near the iconic snow-capped volcano, or ride the cable car for high-altitude city views.
3-day sample itinerary
- 1
Old town
Plazas, churches and a rooftop sunset.
- 2
Equator + cable car
Mitad del Mundo and the TelefériQo.
- 3
Cotopaxi or Otavalo
Volcano hike or the famous market.