5 Days In & Around Quito, Ecuador
If Ecuador isn’t on your bucket list, it should be (and yes I’m a little biased, but even if I wasn’t, I’d recommend this beautiful country to anyone). In this post I’m sharing my recommendations on what to pre-book and my favorite things to do over the course of five days in Quito, which will likely be your launch pad to visiting any other part of the country. Whether you spend five consecutive days in Quito or spread them out, these are all one-day intineraries that I’ve enjoyed time and time again and I think you will too.
Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America, yet ranks in the top ten most biodiverse in the world. Ecuador’s ecological diversity boasts the Galapagos Islands, Costa (the coast), Sierra (the Andean region) and Oriente (the Amazonian rainforest). Named for the equator line that divides the country, Ecuador takes great pride in its geographic location.
I’ve been visiting the capital, Quito, in the Andean region my entire life. Both of my parents are from there and it’s the place where most of my family still lives. Since the 1980’s I’ve traveled back, easily, twenty times or so — the most recent being in June of 2021. Every time I go back I’m amazed at how much the city continues to evolve and welcome people from all around the world.
Some fun facts: 1) Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar. 2) Electric plugs are the two-pronged flat type as used in the U.S. (selfishly these two things make me so happy).
PRE-BOOK A PLACE TO STAY
It may sound obvious, but it’s really important to pre-book a place to stay when visiting Quito. When you arrive at the airport, Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), you will be asked to provide the address of the place you will be staying. Not to mention, you will likely be taking a connection to get to Ecuador, so your arrival time may very well be late into the day or night, so it’s best to have your place of arrival sorted out.
My top recommendations are in the neighborhood of La Carolina, Quito’s central business hub filled with shops, cafés and restaurants.
Sheraton Quito & JW Marriott Hotel Quito
Throughout a lifetime of visiting Quito, I’ve opted to stay at a hotel mainly because you really can’t beat the value for a five star place. My go-tos have been the Sheraton Quito and the JW Marriott Hotel Quito. Both have top of the line restaurants you can dine in and are very well located.
Airbnb: “New Apartment With Big Balcony Steps From La Carolina Park”
I’m a huge Airbnb fan when I travel, but had never tried it in Quito. Before my most recent trip in June, I did a search and found the only Airbnb Plus (an Airbnb stay verified for quality and design) available in Quito for my ten-day stay. The price was more than fair for a one-bedroom luxury apartment in an elevator building with a doorman/security guard, plus a balcony. This place made it worth it to not have to check in and check out of a hotel on the couple of nights I wouldn’t be staying in Quito. If you’re planning an extended stay in Quito, I highly recommend the comfort of booking an apartment like this one.
PRE-BOOK TRANSPORTATION & TOURS
The old Quito International Airport was located in the middle of the city, surrounded by mountains and high winds, which posed a serious risk to air traffic. Not to mention its cramped runways couldn’t be expanded to accommodate the influx of tourism to Ecuador. It has since been shut down and now the new airport, which opened in 2013, is located in the outskirts of the city about 11 miles east of Quito near the town of Tababela. It is ten times larger than the old airport and a total game changer for the country.
That said, since the airport is a bit of a ride from town (35 to 45 minutes away depending on traffic), I suggest booking a car service that should cost you about $25 one way to Quito. Though you can opt to take a taxi from the airport, I always prefer to go with a personal recommendation on a driver, so I’m sharing with you two great private drivers/tour guides below who you may want to consider booking for your ride into the city and tours during your stay.
For other transportation options from the airport, click here.
5 DAYS IN & AROUND QUITO
DAY 1
No trip to Quito is complete without a visit to the “Middle of the World” where you’ll find the Monument to the Equator and the equatorial line drawn. In addition to shops and restaurants you can also enjoy a museums, planetarium and on the weekend musical and cultural events.
The crater of Pululahua in northern Quito is located by the Pululahua Volcano in an area called the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve. It is one of two volcanic craters in the world to be inhabited and the only one being farmed. One of the most peaceful views, I highly recommend it as a stop when visiting Mitad del Mundo.
DAY 2
Ready for a day trip? Otavalo, about a two hour drive north of Quito, is one of my all-time favorite places to visit. The Otavalo Market, the largest indigenous market in Ecuador, is the place to go on a Saturday (or even now Wednesdays) to shop local woven products and textiles, jewelry and souvenirs.
Cabañas del Lago Hostería y Marina
After shopping your heart out at the Otavalo Market, stop by Cabañas del Lago Hostería y Marina for a tasty Ecuadorian lunch with a view of Lake San Pablo. The grounds keep getting upgraded each year I go back and it’s better than ever. If you feel like spending the night, the cabañas and activities will be worth your stay. I’ve vacationed here with my family throughout the years and whenever possible I still try to at least sneak in a night for the joy of waking up to views of the Imbabura Volcano.
DAY 3
The TelefériQo is an aerial lift that opened in Quito in 2015 and offers sweeping views of the city. The twenty minute cable car ride is one of the highest in the entire world, taking riders up to almost 13,000 ft! Tourists and locals who take the TelefériQo can enjoy the swing in the clouds, hiking and other activities.
Quito is the world’s first city to ever be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today the Historic Center is the slice of Quito that has truly remained unaltered from colonial times and an important place to visit to really understand the importance of culture and religion in this area.
DAY 4
Overnight Trip to Baños
Baños, short for Baños de Agua Santa (Baths of Holy Water), is located about three hours south of Quito — right before the entrance to the Oriente (jungle). Tourists from near and far visit Baños to be immersed in nature. Over the years, I’ve vacationed with family and friends at a place called Luna Volcán Adventure Spa, where you get access to adventure activities and indulge in the volcanic pools, spa treatments and food.
DAY 5
By day five you’ll probably be ready to just stay local in Quito. On my last visit, my sister who lives there, told me about this place La Cevicheria Guayaca which hands down serves the best ceviche I’ve ever tasted (and I’ve tasted a lot of ceviches!). It was so good I tried going here twice, but unfortunately they were closed the second time I tried to stop in. I highly recommend this spot if you want to try any type of ceviche.
Mercado Artesanal La Mariscal (Mariscal Craft Market) & Quicentro
Also by day five, you’re ready to start thinking about what you want to bring back home for yourself and your loved ones. If you didn’t make it to Otavalo, you still have a chance at shopping a really good selection of local handicrafts at Mercado Artesanal La Mariscal. Also, Quicentro, near you if you’ve decided to stay at any of the places I recommended in Quito, is one of several shopping centers throughout the city where you’ll have access to stores, supermarkets and the occassional food court bite when you don’t have the strength to sit down at another restaurant at the end of your trip. TIP: I highly recommend shopping for coffee, chocolate and other treats at a good price at El Comisariato supermarket.
