Quito has a lot to offer for travellers, the most popular activities are visiting the Historic Center, the Middle of the World and the Teleferico. There are also many things you can do outside of the city in one day, for those that want to get out and explore the surroundings of Quito. It is possible to leave the morning and return to Quito in the late afternoon.
Here are some of our recommendations about what to do around Quito in 1 day:
Papallacta Hot Springs
Papallacta is a small town on the way from Quito to the Amazon. It is located in the Andes 43.5 miles (70km) east of the capital at an altitude of 10,827 feet (3.300 meters).
You can reach Papallacta by car in 1 hour. You can also take a bus from Quitumbe Terminal in the south of Quito, you can also take a bus from Cumbayá (for example from Scala Shopping) in the direction of Papallacta or Baeza. Those can leave you at the entrance to Papallacta and from there you can find a taxi to take you the rest of the way to the thermals.
The main attractions of the town are the hot springs and the spa of Termas Papallacta. The water of the hot springs comes from the Antisana Volcano, and it is also a good place for hiking. From Papallacta you can go further to the east to reach the Amazon.
Otavalo
Otavalo Indigenous Market.
Otavalo is a town 56 miles (90km) north of Quito, easily accessible by bus from the Terminal terrestre de Carcelén.
In Otavalo you will find the biggest indigenous market of South America. The biggest day of the market is Saturday, though you can visit any day of the week as the market is everyday! The market is famous for its textiles, all kinds of handicrafts, food, spices and other products local to Ecuador.
Other attractions in Otavalo are the Peguche Waterfall and the Condor Park (with several birds and of course Condors). On the way to Otavalo you can visit the Laguna San Pablo, for beautiful views of the lake. Close to Otavalo are the Cuicocha Lake and the Mojanda Lakes as well if you have more time to explore the area.
Community Adventures offers day tours to Otavalo to visit the market, the Cuicocha Lake and the town of Cotacachi where you can explore the local leather workshops.
Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi Refuge at 4,810 m (15,780 ft).
One of the highlights of every visit to Ecuador is a tour to the Cotopaxi National Park. Cotopaxi is the second highest volcano in Ecuador with 19347 ft (5897 meters) and it is still an active volcano.
Jose Ribas Refuge at 4810 meters.
The volcano is famous for its almost symmetrical cone that starts at 12.467 ft (3.800 meters). The panorama is spectacular and you will be able to see wild animals like llamas, wild horses, and if you are lucky maybe foxes, pumas or condors.
A visit to the park includes hiking to the Jose Rivas Refuge at 15.780 ft (4.810 meters). The starting point is the parking lot at 15.092 feet (4.600 meters). This hike will take about an hour, depending on your pace.
In the Jose Rivas Refuge you can buy hot drinks and soup, it is also possible to stay there overnight. Many climbers do that before attempting the summit of the volcano.
Back in the parking lot many tours offer mountain bike rides downhill to the Limpiopungo Lagoon at 12.769 ft (3.892 meters). The lagoon is one of the starting points to climb the Rumniñahui volcano.
You can visit the Cotopaxi National Park by car or also via bus from the bus station Quitumbe in the south of Quito to Machachi and from there take a pickup truck to visit the National Park. You can also take a bus to El Chaupii and then a pickup truck.
Community Adventures also offers daily tours to Cotopaxi.
El Boliche – Train Ride
El Boliche is a recreation area next to Cotopaxi National Park. It has an extension of 392 hectares at an altitude between 11.430 and 12.224 ft (3.484 and 3.726 meters). El Boliche is known for its pine and cypress trees and is a great location for some shorter hikes.
It is accessible by car or bus (the same buses that go to Cotopaxi National Park, you have to ask the driver to leave at the small road that goes from the Panamericana highway to El Boliche). From there you can take a taxi to the entrance of the Park.
A nice alternative to El Boliche is the train, the Train of the Volcanoes (Tren de los Volcanes) goes from Thursday to Sunday (and on national holidays) from the train station Chimbacalle in the south of Quito to El Boliche.
During the train ride you can enjoy the panorama of the Andes. The Spanish and English speaking guides in the train will explain to you a lot about the history of Ecuador, the construction of the railway and of course the Andes. The train stops in Machachi and Tambillo where you can learn something about the local culture of that area as well. Lunch is included in the train ride.
Quilotoa
Quilotoa.
Quilotoa is a crater lake that was formed by the eruption of the Quilotoa volcano 600 years ago. It is 2 miles (3km) wide and 250m deep (820 ft.). The water in the lagoon has a greenish, turquoise color because it is rich in minerals.
It is a popular tourist attraction. But you will also find local people going there to collect the mineral rich water for their animals.
You can hike down from the crater rim (circa 3.800m – 12467ft) down to the lagoon (cerca 3.500 m – 11482 ft.). It will take approximately 30 minutes, the way back up to the rim takes 1 to 2 hours, you can also hike around the rim (10km in total).
At the lagoon it is possible to hire kayaks to go around the lake and if you are not feeling up to hike out of the lake you can hire mules to bring you out.
Quilotoa is also the starting or end point for the Quilotoa Loop Trek that is a multi day hike.
In the village next to the crater you can find some hostels and restaurants. There is a small hostel inside the crater next to the lagoon and you can also camp.
You can go to Quilotoa by bus from Latacunga or a bus to Zumbahua and then a pick up truck. Another alternative to reaching Quilotoa are day tours from Quito, for example the Community Adventures Tours which include visiting a local community and a market and are offered daily.
Waterfalls of Sangolquí (Valle de los Chillos)
Not far from Quito you have the opportunity to visit some impressive waterfalls, there are several large waterfalls in Sangolqui. The only inconvenience is that it is not really easy to get to the waterfalls, especially if you do not have a car.
For example reaching the “Gran Cascada de Pita” (Waterfall of the River Pita) you can take bus from Marin bus station towards “El Choclo” o “El Colibri” (for example with the buses of the company “Amaguaña” or “General Pintag”. behind the Catholic University of Quito leaves the bus Vingala. it also goes to “El Colibri and “El Choclo”). On the weekends you can access a private transport -small green buses- to the parking spot. At 8am there is also a bus (Cooperativa Lorenzo) that goes to the parking spot.
The entrance fee is USD 2. You will need hiking boots and in the rainy season rubber boots are a good option.
It is a nice place for hiking, swimming and camping is also an option.
Pasochoa
Pasochoa.
Like the waterfalls, Pasochoa volcano is also in Valle de los Chillos. And again, it is not easy to get there, you can take a bus to Sangolquí o Amaguaña (for example Cooperativa Amaguaña) and then take a taxi/pickup truck.
Pasochoa is an extinct volcano (4.200 meters height – 13.779 feet) located in the south east of Quito in the Pasochoa Wildlife Refuge it has a collapsed crater with a semicircular form.
The wildlife refuge is one of the last original Andean forests, Polylepis trees and several species of orchids grow there. It is possible to observe different kinds of birds and with a little bit of luck also pumas, foxes and white-tailed deer.
It is a popular destination for hiking there are several treks and it is possible to hike to the summit.
Ilaló
Another popular hiking spot is the extinct volcano Ilalo located in the east of Quito between Cumbaya and Tumbaco in the north and El Tingo in the south. There are several trails to go up to the Cruz of Ilalo. The most popular trail starts in El Tingo which is accessible by bus from La Marin in Quito to El Tingo (Cooperation Terma Turis).
Ilalo is 3188 meters high (10459 ft). From El Tingo you will need 1hr and 30 min to get to the cross. The trail starts on the right side of the church in El Tingo (located in the main square of the village, where you can get supplies for the hike). After 20 minutes of walking you will get to a second church, next to that church are some small shops where you can also buy drinks and something to eat but they are usually not open early in the morning.
You should start early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day there is not much shade on the way up.
From Ilalo you will have great views of the other volcanoes Cotopaxi, Antisana, Pichincha, Corazón, Pasochoa, Sincholagua and Iliniza Norte.
Antisana Ecological Reserve
Antisana.
Antisana is a volcano located 50 km (31 miles) south-east of Quito in the Antisana Ecological Reserve. It is 5,704 meters (18,714 ft) . It is a very nice place to visit the páramo of the Ecuadorian Andes.
You can hike or mountain bike in the reserve and with some luck you might see pumas, foxes, condors, white tailed deer, and spectacled bears.
To go there you will need a private transport.
Mindo
Ziplining in Mindo.
One of the most popular day tours from Quito goes to Mindo, located 80 km (50 miles) north-west of the Ecuadorian capital.
In and around Mindo you can find the Chocoan lowlands and the Tropical Andes, two of the most biologically diverse ecoregions in the world. Mindo is known for its cloud forest with 500 species of birds, 90 species of butterflies, and over 170 species of orchids.
Besides that, Mindo is a great place for adventure sports like tubing, zipline and waterfalls.
To visit Mindo you can take a bus from the Terminal Terrestre La Ofelia (company Flor del Valle). Community Adventures offer day tours to Mindo that includes different activities like hiking to a Waterfall, ziplining, and visiting a chocolate factory.
Here are our recommendations for the 10 best things you can do around Quito in just 1 day or more if you have the time. As you can see there is a lot you can see and do by just leaving Quito in the morning and returning in the afternoon/evening. It is up to you to choose between trail rides, relaxing in the hot springs of Papallacta or doing some trekking and biking.
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