Ecuador’s capital Quito is the perfect mix of stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and delicious cuisine. Quito is nestled high up in the Andes surrounded by views of snow capped peaks and volcanoes, and at an altitude of 2,850m (9,350 ft) above sea level is the 2nd highest capital city in the world. Quito was also the first city to be added to the UNESCO world heritage sites list, mainly on account of its amazingly well preserved colonial Old Town.

I spent an all too short 4 days in Quito, and these are the main highlights of my explorations in and around this charming city.

1. Mitad del Mundo

What better way to start exploring Quito, than to trace the history of the 1st location of the Equator and where the country Ecuador takes its name. The Mitad del Mundo (or middle of the world) monument is located about 20 minutes away from Quito. It was built to commemorate the 1736 French geodesic expedition by a team from the French Academy of Sciences, during which they ascertained the location of the Equator. Going back in time further – for the indigenous Quitu civilization before the Incas, qui meant middle and tu means earth. They were aware of the location of Ecuador along the center of the earth, surmising as much from their observation that heavenly constellations from both the southern and northern hemisphere could be seen here simultaneously.

Modern GPS however shows the actual line to be about 250m away, at the Museo de Intinan which measures as true 0’0”0 latitude. This does not stop both locations from claiming their share of ‘middle of the world’ fame!

Original equator line or GPS determined line – being at the 1st designated Equator location was a sort of pilgrimage for me. I was born in Kenya in a town about 30 miles away from the Equator line, so being fortunate enough to visit the 1st location of the imaginary line dividing the Northern and Southern Hemisphere definitely held special personal significance

2. Old Town – Plazas and churches

Another highlight of my Quito trip was exploring the perfectly preserved historic colonial center with its myriad plazas and countless churches. The entire Old Town is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, and walking along the cobblestone streets and taking in the stunning architecture was a great glimpse into Quito’s colonial past.

Plaza De La Independencia, also known as Plaza Grande

The main central square in Quito, flanked by the Presidential Palace and Quito Metropolitan Cathedral, is a great place to start exploring all that Old Town has to offer. The square features a statue of Simon Bolivar (El Libertador) which was erected in 1906 as a homage to his efforts in securing independence for Ecuador and other South American nations from Spanish colonial rule.

Calle La Ronda

Take a step back into time and roam aimlessly through this charming old street that is lined with buildings from the colonial era.

The Spaniards really took proselytizing to heart, with churches jostling for space and the faithful on almost every corner. The high concentration of ancient churches from the Spanish colonial times within the old town almost bordered on the comical. I nearly strained my neck from looking up so much to see which church spire I was passing by every few minutes! These are just a handful of the many churches that I visited and admired.

The Metropololitan Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Ecuador / Quito

Located by the Plaza de La Independencia (Plaza Grande) – head up to the rooftop for a chance to climb the cupola and admire the city views

Basilica del Voto Nacional

This cathedral may not be the oldest, but it is definitely the largest Neo-Gothic church in Ecuador and is an iconic emblem of Quito. Climb up its various towers for breathtaking views of the city skyline and surrounding mountains.

La Compania de Jesus

This baroque church is a prime example of gaudy opulence and extravagance, with ~7 tons of gold ornamentation covering the altar, ceilings and columned chapels. What a sight it must’ve been to the locals when it was built by the Jesuits in the early 16th century!

Iglesia Del Sagrario

17th century church that is part of the Cathedral complex, features a stunning gold leaf covered wooden altarpiece gilded altar

Church of San Francisco

The oldest church and monastery in Quito, with construction beginning in 1534. This  was the largest religious complex in all of colonial Americas with the monastery, church, cloisters and square – where the Franciscan monks used art and sculpture to represent the catholic catechism in order to spread their faith to the locals. The square was already in use by the pre-Incan Quitu inhabitants, and later became the palace of Inca Huayna Capac. Inca Atahualpa’s son resided and received education here under the Franciscans.

3. El Panecillo

One sight that’s hard to miss from anywhere in Quito is that of the winged Virgin Mary statue overlooking the city from atop El Panecillo hill. This iconic statue is constructed of over 7000 panels of Aluminium patched together and stands at a height of 45m. After reading about safety issues with hiking up the hill alone, I took an Uber up instead for a closer look at the statue and to enjoy the stunning views of Quito and the surrounding mountains. Up close, the Virgen de Quito (Virgin of Quito) statue is even more awe inspiring. The Virgin Mary is stepping on a serpent, and almost as if she is getting ready to take flight on massive wings. The statues face exudes a serene countenance, as she keeps watch over Quito valley and its residents.

4. Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is an active volcano about 100km south of Quito and is a must visit day trip out of the city. At a height of 8,897m (19,347 ft) Cotopaxi is the 2nd highest active volcano in Ecuador after Chimborazo, and its snowcapped peak is often visible from Quito on clear days. Cotopaxi’s name is believed to originate from the local Quechua language, and stands for ‘neck of the moon’.

I had an early morning start from Quito on a private tour to Cotopaxi. As we headed out of the city limits the Eucalyptus trees lined terrain of Quito started to give way to mountainous pine tree forests, and we started to see the avenue of volcanos along the East range of the Andes. Once we entered Cotopaxi National Park, the mountain was ominously cloud covered , but to my relief it cleared up quickly – gracing us with the first views of majestic Volcan Cotopaxi and its permanent glacier peak. The almost perfectly conical Cotopaxi is one of the most active volcanos in the world, and was regularly spewing ash and steam just a couple of months after my visit. Although it was sunny the weather was deceptively cold due to the higher altitude, and my guide kept muttering through clenched teeth “Achachay!” (Quechua for feeling cold).

The Limpiopungo lagoon which is situated at the base of Cotopaxi is a great location to take in the views of the mountain. We took a short hike around the lagoon to see the flora up close and to enjoy the stunning views of Cotopaxi reflected in the lagoon’s waters. We were also fortunate to view some local wildlife – a herd of wild horses and a camera curious Alpaca were grazing nearby.

5. Quilotoa Crater

Another Andean highlight near Quito is the Quilotoa crater and its its ethereal green hued lake. Quilotoa is about 3 hours away from Quito, but when you get here you are immediately rewarded with amazing views from the top of the crater rim all the way down to the lake waters. Visiting this sunken caldera reminded me of the equally stunning Crater Lake back home in Oregon.

When I arrived it was initially quite cloudy, but as stray rays of sunshine started shining on the water the the greenish hues and shades of the lake started to change dramatically. The distinct emerald like colors of the lake come from dissolved volcanic minerals which give it a greenish tone. The depth of the lake is only 250 meters, but getting from the rim to the shore was a taxing ~2km hike along an uneven path, made all the more difficult due to its sandy surface and so lack of solid footing. Once I made it down to the shore, it was refreshing to briefly dip into the crystal clear and cold lake water while taking in the views of the steep surrounding crater walls. On the way back I decided to give my knees a break and ended up renting a mule ride up instead!

6. Savoring local Quito cuisine

Here is a peek into my culinary adventures savoring and washing down the best of Quito’s unque cuisine:

Munch on some llapingachos (fried potato pastry) for breakfast or amid morning snack at Dulceria Colonial Cafe, while people watching in Plaza Independencia.

Drink in the view – Head to the rooftop terrace at Vista Hermoso for a hearty Ecuadorian meal accompanied by 360 degree panoramic views of Quito.

Splurge on a Michelin star worth fine dining dinner at the cosy Urko. Dig into Chef Daniel Maldonado’s innovative dishes utilizing ingredients from all 4 of Ecuador’s regions: the Andes mountains, the rainforests, the coastal area, and the Galápagos Islands.

Chocolate Tasting – Wander through the chocolate museum at Republica del Cacao, watch skilled chocolatiers at work bringing choco creations to life, then of course taste some delicious hot chocolate and pastries.

Sample a variety of scrumptious empanadas at Casa Gangotena.

Bandido brewing – Artisanal craft beer in an old chapel, what a great way to imbibe the spirit! My last supper in Quito was a beer in church 🍺 🙏