Hola de Quito!
I haven’t been to South America in a long time, and haven’t ever been to Quito before. I wanted to write this post for two reasons.
1: Fabulous things in Quito. Duh.
2. For me, there is something intimidating about a major city in South America, especially as a woman traveling alone. In Europe and the USA, I generally feel safe prancing around, getting lost on dreamy little streets or striding with purpose down major boulevards. In New York or Madrid, I don’t think twice about going out late at night (point of clarification: 9 PM. Generally if I’m not out by then, I’m fast asleep.)
Anyway, when I lived in Madrid, it wasn’t uncommon that I would book a flight to London, Paris, Rome for the weekend (I know, rough life) and not even look up where my accommodation was or how to get out of the airport until….well, until I needed to get out of the airport.
But a solo trip to Quito felt like it needed a little more preparation. I started obsessively googling the safety of taxis and major tourist attractions weeks (okay days) before I was scheduled to take off. Some of my favorite recommendations are below. Enjoy! But first…
A Note on Taxis
A (long) note on taxis: Mostly because this was something that especially freaked me out travelling alone.
The taxis at the airport are safe. Other places, you should definitely look for a blue sign on the door of the taxi that has its registration number before you get in. You can hail a taxi on a street by holding out your hand and there are a fair number around. You can also get the number of a taxi service from your hotel/hostel and call in advance.
There is Uber in Quito, which seems pretty safe and dependable–I wouldn’t know because I am one of the six people left in the world who doesn’t have an Uber account. Taxis at night seem to be a bit sketchier than during the day. (Personally, this is not a city where I would go out late at night, but that’s not really my style–see note above about my 9 PM bedtime.)
Five fun, out-the-beaten-path things to do in Quito
1. Mitad Del Mundo
There are two equatorial lines drawn in Quito. The first is at a massive monument called Cuidad Mitad del Mundo that was constructed between 1979-1982. It’s not bad but it’s very touristy. Also, unfortunately, the line that has been drawn there is about 240 meters south of the actual equatorial line. To view the true equator (and for a slightly more off-the-beaten-path experience) head around the corner Intinan Museum. (transit-$5 shuttle, $15-$20 taxis) You can take the public bus for about a dollar, otherwise expect to spend between $15-$20 on a taxi.
2. Day Trips
Quito is pretty polluted. By my second day, I was eager to get out into the surrounding wilderness and away from all the cars. I took a day trip to the Mindo Cloud Forest with Bella Vista Resorts, an ecolodge and touring organization started by a British man that settled in Quito about 25 years ago. They offer door-to-door service from urban hotels, beautiful close-up views of several different species of hummingbirds and a great, guided walk through the cloud forest. There are other companies that offer day trips to the Mindo area (Neotropical is one with a clean, well-kept office space I walked by several times in the city) and you can also get there on the public bus, depending how adventurous you are feeling. Highly recommend!
3. Souvenir Markets/Shopping
The Ecuadorian souvenir markets are full of brightly colored ponchos, duffel bags and finger puppets. There is an official, and very big, souvenir market called “Mercado Artesenal” on the corner of Reina Victoria and Jorge Washington near the El Ejido park. I spun through it and you could find any souvenir you wanted there. But I personally found it a little overwhelming. I preferred shopping inside the El Ejido park, where a single line of stalls is set up. Expect to buy finger puppets. Picture below. Also, if you are on the lookout for books in English, ‘Confederate Books’ on Av. Amazonas is a must-visit! I was lucky enough to be there during a reading by Rebakah Murray from her darling children’s book “Elroy the Iguana”, a bilingual book about a Galapagos Island iguana searching for a girlfriend that is every bit as adorable as it sounds.
4. Eating and Drinking
Off the beaten path (and a personal point of interest)–Quito has vegetarian food! The locro de papas soup is everywhere, and usually pretty cheap and very filling. I also found two great vegetarian restaurants: El Maple and Dulce Albahaca. Other favorites while I was there were Miskay (traditional Ecuadorian food) and Fairuz (Lebanese). Another thing to keep an eye out for is artisanal chocolate and coffee shops like Cacao & Cacao (a chain with locations throughout the city) or the Kallari Cafe (on Pte. Wilson)
5. One major attraction that is totally worth it: the Basilica. View below. Enjoy!!
For more about my travel in South America, click here!
Banner Photo Credit: César Viteri