A Weekend in Quito
I have always been fascinated by Latin America. Maybe it’s because I took 6 years of Spanish classes in school. Maybe it’s because I am low key OBSESSED with the food from Latin countries. Maybe it’s because I love the way that Latin Americans celebrate life. Whatever it is, upon moving back to North America (after spending three years living in Japan), I knew I would soon be planning my first trip to South America.
After coming across an article about cruising in the Galápagos Islands, I was pretty much sold on the idea. But first, we had to pick our departure city! There are two cities to choose from when starting your Galápagos adventure: Quito or Guayaquil. Because I really love to visit capital cities, we decided to embark to the Galápagos from Quito.
Welcome to my itinerary for a Weekend in Quito, Ecuador! This itinerary is perfect for tacking onto the weekend before (or after) a Galápagos excursion. You’re in the right place if you enjoy luxury hotels, fine dining, museums highlighting pre-Columbian history, botanical gardens, and city views.
Anything marked with *** below are the spots I highly recommend!
Travel Tips
As a disclaimer, this itinerary was made for staying in the town limits of Quito, mostly in the Old Town, and specifically does not rely on the use of a car. There are multiple spots that are recommended for your visit to Quito (such as Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, or Middle of the World, and the TelefériQo cable car) that I intentionally did not plan in this itinerary as I wanted to thoroughly enjoy the city and where my own two feet could get me. If you have an extra day, however, I think both of the aforementioned options would be great to add onto your itinerary.
There are less-than-safe areas of Quito, so take the precautions you normally would in cities (don’t flash money, beware of pickpockets, stick to the higher traffic tourist areas after dark, etc.). While the Old Town felt completely safe to me the entire time, members of the hotel very strongly cautioned us against straying from the well lit streets of the Old Town at night.
Leave plenty of time to wander, ramble, and roam in the Old Town. Did you know this is the first city to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site? When you see it in person, you’ll know why! The Spanish colonial architecture is extremely well preserved and the narrow, cobblestoned streets will make you feel like you’re in a different time. Shopping, dining, and viewing opportunities abound, so take your time with them. Josh and I even took some time to shop at Casa Montecristi for some authentic Panama hats (a style that actually originated in Ecuador!).
Day-to-Day
DAY ONE: Arrival
You’ll arrive at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, which is located about an hour outside the city. Grab a taxi and enjoy the drive into Quito. Ecuador’s capital city sits in the Andean mountains at an elevation of about 2,850m. The drive is beautiful and I’m not sure if I could ever tire of seeing those mountains everyday. Enjoy the views of Cotopaxi, an active volcano not far from the city, with it’s high peak covered in snow. Your first glimpse of Ecuador will not disappoint.
Check in to your hotel. My two recommendations:
1. ***CASA GANGOTENA*** – Luxurious Relais & Chateaux property and arguably the best hotel in all of Ecuador. It sits directly adjacent to Plaza de San Francisco, providing it with one of the best locations in the UNESCO protected Old Town. Beautifully appointed and spacious rooms with not a single detail overlooked. Read my review of the Casa Gangotena here.
2. JW MARRIOTT – Another luxury property sitting in the newer part of the city. There is a gorgeous outdoor space with a large pool area. The spa is lovely and they offer wonderful massages. The concierge lounge has an excellent food and wine offering in the evenings and affords incredible views over the city and of the surrounding mountains. Our room had a balcony and the staff in the lounge were gracious enough to allow us to take food to enjoy in our private space. Click here to view this property.
***CHOCOLATE TASTING*** – Ecuador produces most of the world’s fine chocolate. Don’t miss the opportunity to do a tasting and make sure to leave plenty of luggage space to bring some home!
If you’re staying at Casa Gangotena, check their schedule of complimentary activities. They do offer a wonderful guided chocolate tasting. Another option is to stop by Chez Tiff Artesenal on Calle La Ronda, a well known chocolate store.
Also, when in Ecuador, you MUST try some cheese in your hot chocolate! I know. It sounds crazy. But the saltiness from the cheese paired with the chocolate…it will make you ask yourself why you’ve waited so long to try it. Trust me. 😉
CALLE LA RONDA – Among the chocolate stores, Calle La Ronda has an abundance of restaurants and bars and is the most hopping place in the area for local nightlife. We chose a restaurant with rooftop seating and a nice view and tried the local delicacy…guinea pig! It’s always a little odd to eat something you’re really not used to thinking of as food, but honestly, it wasn’t too bad. Though, I don’t think I’m in a big hurry to try it again….
DAY TWO: Old Town
***BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL VOW** – This is a beautiful church with gorgeous stained glass, but the highlight of the visit is certainly the trip up the towers. There are quite a few stairs and the final stretch to the top requires a climb up a near-vertical ladder with questionable safety standards in place…but the views from the top are incredible. (The ladder almost made me quit, but I’m so glad I took the risk!) The vista looks over all of Quito and the mountains.
You guys. Those mountains are breathtaking. (Literally. Altitude sickness is real y’all! So take your time when climbing a tower of stairs and don’t feel bad or think you’re out of shape haha!)
Plan to spend about 1.5 hours at the Basilica.
It’s easy to walk to the Basilica from Casa Gangotena.
Side note: You know why I always advocate walking as much as you can? (Hint: It’s not just to work off all the food you’re eating.)
Walking provides opportunities that you would never discover from a car or train or bus. The opportunities that only arise when you’re really “in the thick of it.”
In Quito, I was lucky enough to stumble upon a local festival. I had no idea this was going on, and I’m still not quite sure what exact holiday Ecuadorians celebrate in late June, though I gathered it was a Catholic celebration. But, whatever the reason, people were out lining the street with alfombras, or carpets, of flowers and it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. Josh and I spent a lot of time walking down this street, admiring the care and skill of the people creating the alfombras.
LUNCH: LA PURISMA – Cute spot for a meal with great, fresh food. I recommend the ceviche and sweet plantains! Also in a very walkable part of town. When you’re finished with lunch, start exploring!
WANDER. RAMBLE. ROAM. – Explore the Old Town on your own. Definitely check out Plaza de San Francisco. There are many great shops around, so now would be a great time to pick up some items that you would love to take home with you.
CARMEN ALTO MUSEUM – Another complimentary excursion provided by Casa Gangotena, this tour is of a Carmelite convent and introduces you to the life of a nun, both now and hundreds of years ago. It’s full of history and a beautiful space. I particularly enjoyed the courtyards. It was an enjoyable way to spend about an hour or so.
***BANDIDO BREWING*** – A local brewery close to Old Town with a variety of tasty beer on offer, a good selection of food, and a super fun atmosphere. Great spot for pre-dinner drinks!
***DINNER: ZAZU*** – For the first time since your arrival, you’ll need an Uber to get out to your dinner spot. Zazu is located in the newer part of the city and is a Relais & Chateaux fine dining restaurant, specializing in modern Ecuadorian cuisine. A locally sourced and inspired menu, beautifully presented. The staff are attentive and helpful. Easy to spend a couple hours here eating, drinking, and enjoying. I’ll also note they have an excellent Spotify list playing in the restaurant. The ambience is perfect.
I specifically recommend the suckling pig taquitos. Reservations can be made through their website.
DAY THREE: New City
BRUNCH: CASA GANGOTENA – Especially if you’re staying at the hotel, Casa Gangotena puts on a lovely Sunday Brunch. This is perfect for a late morning start to your day. (Which you might need after eating and drinking late into Saturday night at Zazu!)
***NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ECUADOR*** – A few months before my trip to Ecuador, I had read the book “Guns, Germs, and Steel” by Jared Diamond. (Highly recommend, by the way.) The book discussed all of human history, much of which began in South America, particularly in the region that is now Ecuador. I knew I wanted to see this museum, as its collection holds vast amounts of artifacts dating up to thousands of years ago. The exhibits cover all of Ecuador’s history from the pre-Columbian era to modern times. I also found the exhibit entitled “Facets of Gender in Pre-Historic Ecuador” particularly interesting. Plan to spend a few hours here.
QUITO BOTANICAL GARDENS – Once you finish at the museum, make your way over to the Quito Botanical Gardens. It is a huge green space in the city, and it’s easy to spend the rest of the afternoon here roaming. There is an extensive variety of flora housed here and provides a great opportunity to slow down and smell the flowers.
DRINKS: CASA GANGOTENA – The rooftop bar at the hotel overlooks the Plaza and is the perfect place for an evening cocktail. This is your last night in Quito, so soak it all in and enjoy those last looks at this beautiful city.
And that’s a full weekend in Quito! There’s so much more you can do with your time in this lovely city, so please don’t look at this as an all-inclusive guide. However, it will lead you to fun local spots, great food, and beautiful wandering, which was exactly what I was looking for.
