Archives

The city of Quito.

What To Do In Quito: 10 Places You Need To See

20Nov

We’re aiming high today—almost 10,000ft above sea level high! That’s where we’ll find Quito, the Ecuadorian capital city built over an ancient Incan city. Can you feel our excitement?

The city of Quito.

What if we tell you Quito is surrounded by eight of the country’s nineteen volcanoes? And that it was one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. And that the climate is like spring in New York all year round.

If you’re as excited as we are about this elegant city—and its seamless blend of Spanish and indigenous architecture, culture, and art—then welcome to Quito!

We’ve put together a list of the ten attractions that rocket the capital of Ecuador to the top of travellers’ must-see lists. Add them all to your travel itinerary—we promise you won’t be disappointed!

Plaza Foch – Quito

30Oct

Plaza Foch is one of Quito’s liveliest areas. It is close to the heart of the city and if you are in Quito for any stretch of time, you should be sure to visit and explore this bustling entertainment district!

You will find that there are many fantastic moments just waiting for you here. You will be able to enjoy unforgettable gastronomic experiences, for instance, and party the night away at authentic fiestas and parties.

Here’s a closer look at those special factors and features that make Plaza Foch such a thrilling place to pass an evening.

South America’s Colonial Pearl: Everything you need to know about Quito’s Old Town

15Jan

Quito’s Old Town has long been distinguished as South America’s best-preserved, largest, and consequently, most appealing colonial center. This guide breaks down that claim, letting you in on why, how, and what you must see for yourself with the most comprehensive guide out there!  

The sun setting on Quito’s Old Town, as viewed from the East
The sun setting on Quito’s Old Town, as viewed from the East.

The first plan of Quito was designed in 1734, and despite the passing of nearly three centuries, Quito’s Old Town today is a near-perfect copy of its original. The center’s infrastructure, architecture, and art have withstood the test of time and nature. Its distinction as a UNESCO World Heritage site (Quito was in fact the first city to receive it) has highlighted its cultural value and promoted its protection, making it the most extensive and best-preserved Old Town in the Americas.

New Airport

21Feb

Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre.

Hi everyone!

So the new airport is here and it is suuuuuper far away! Here are a few options to get to ComunityHostel .

1) You can hire Omar our driver to go pick you up at the airport and his cost is $35. Omar will wait for you at the airport until you are ready ago and if you happen to loose any luggage or experience any problems hes right there to help out, then he will bring you straight to us!!

2) take an airport taxi, the official cost is $27, but we dont know how strongly that wil be enforced, or by which companies.

3) There are two airport shuttles: The fist is $8 and then there is an express one for $12 that will take you from the new airport to the old one or vice versa.

4) There are buses that can take you straight to the south or north bus stations and they cost $2. This would be the best option if you are trying to just bypass Quito and get to some other destination. However, this will likely require a bus transfer some where along the way.

Here is a helpful link to the official Quito Municipality city page and if you scroll down a little and look under the “transport” tab you can find all the info that the city has put out:

http://www.quito.com.ec/index.php/bienvenido/noticias-de-quito/noticias-2012/124-agosto-2012/463-conoce-mas-sobre-el-nuevo-aeropuerto-internacional-de-quito-naiq#transporte

As we continue to find out more about the transportation to the airport and back we will be updating the blog and other parts of our website!

Thank you for reading up on this and we hope to see you soon!!!

The Community Hostel Team!

How To Get To The Northern Bus Terminal In Quito

21Nov

People often ask us how to get to the northern bus terminal, Carcelen, during their stay here. Carcelen is the bus terminal you will take to get to all your northern destinations, such as Mindo, Otavalo, Mitad del Mundo, etc. It’s much easier than most think to get to Carcelen. Taking public transportation, the easiest way is to take the trole (pronounced trolley). The trole is the green line of public transportation running north-south in Quito. First, find your nearest north-bound trole stop. It’ll look something like this…

Plaza de Teatro Bus Station.

You need to make sure of two things: 1) the trole is north-bound, and 2) the trole is C1. This refers to the northern-most circuit of the trole cars. It’ll have a yellow labeled sign in the front window, as seen below…

Trolle Bus.

Within the trole tube, the signs should say you’re heading towards “La Y.”

Station Y.

While the stations say that “La Y” is the last stop, there is actually one stop further north from “La Y,” appropriately called “terminal norte del trolebus” or “northern trole station.” This is the station you will be going to. It’s the last stop and quite oblivious when you are there. When you get there you’ll be looking to go in-between the two buildings, following a sign that points to Carcelen. You’ll go between the two buildings, around to the other side where there is a queue to wait for a transfer bus to Carcelen. This transfer bus costs 5 cents and will take to you Carcelen. And that’s all there is to it! Happy traveling!

img_1336Bus Station Carcelen to go to the north of Ecuador.

You can alos go the north of Ecuador width our Community Adventures Tours: Mindo, Otavalo, Mitad del Mundo.

Book Our Hostel In Quito!

05Nov

Just a reminder that there are three ways to book a room at Community Hostel!

1) You can email us directly via our website and communityhostel@gmail.com

2) You can visit our page on hostelworld at https://www.hostelworld.com/pwa/hosteldetails.php/Community-Hostel/Quito/61342?from=2020-09-26&to=2020-09-27

3) You can visit our page on hostelbookers at http://www.hostelbookers.com/property/prp/80216/arr/2012-11-12/ngt/2/ppl/1/#/hos=true/hot=true/apt=true/cam=true

Ch Blog Receives Top Content Award!

02Nov

We have just been awarded a “Top Content” award for out blog by SnippetFact.com! SnippetFact.com is a community built ‘facts only’ website, created to improve factual content on the web, and make a more trustworthy and fun resource to discover information, and improve intelligence. Hooray for being a valuable source of information!

 

communityhostel_dot_blogspot_dot_com

Quintessential Quito: the Teleferico

28Jun

Hello readers! Dan again! Here in Quito we are right below the daunting and beautiful Pichincha, visible from Old Town Colonial Quito to New Town Mariscal. Nathan and I took the trip with some guests up El Teleferico, the gondola that goes up to Pichincha, to summit the mountain. We took some pics along the way, so check em out!

Teleferico Quito.

Going from Quito to Pichincha on the Teleferico

Quito from the Teleférico.

View of Quito from Pichincha

Pichincha from the Teleférico.

Peak of Pichincha, our destination!

Hiking towards the Guagua Pichincha.

Beautiful day in Quito!

Rucu Pichincha.

You will be mine!

Road to Guagua Pichincha.

Pichincha

Trekking to the top.

Climbing to the top

Near the top of Guagua Pichincha.

Crags and peaks and epic clouds

The Top of the volcano.

The summit

Guagua Pichincha.

Beautiful!

Clouds.

Above the clouds

Near the top of the volcano.

Climbing mountains, like a boss.

Almost on the top.

Almost to the top

On the top of Rucu Pichincha.

Top of the world! (Or at least Quito)

Bienvenidos Cumbre Rucu Pichincha.

Bienvenidos al cumbre

Quito from the Pichincha.

Quito, Ecuador

Volcano Pichincha.