Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is a high-altitude city (2,850m or 9,350 ft) nestled in the Andes Mountains. It’s known for its well-preserved colonial center, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture.
Quito and overall Ecuador is a hidden gem that I had a very unforgettable time in. I loved it so much! I visited around August 2023 after visiting Colombia as part of my grad trip. Looking back it was so fun because I met some very interesting people in the hostel Secret Gardens, I believe the founders are an Australian and Ecuador couple. Also getting to tour the nature wonders of Ecuador coupled with the city architecture totally made it so memorable.
Top hostel to stay
Secret Garden Hostel
Secret Garden Hostel, probably the most fun hostel I stayed at. There were tons of people from all over the place, many of them months solo travelling. The rooftop restaurant/bar area shows an impressive view of Quito’s skyline, every night travellers would hangout on the rooftop and chat. I met a French girl solo travelling for 8 months, an Australian dude who was like 22 years old but saved up enough to solo travel, a few American students from NYC, a few Brits, a Mexican recent divorcee… I know hostels are where you meet and socialise but this hostel is set up in a way that makes it really easy to socialise so I loved it.
I had so much fun here, and lots of the tours I went on as mentioned later in this post are tours I found in this hostel. Not the cheapest or the most comfortable but its the people we meet that make our lives interesting.
Also the official currency in Ecuador is USD, and they have the legendary $2 note. It cannot be found in USA, so I kept 1 as souvenir. The Americans in my tour group was like “Yo WTF is this?” haha, great times.
Is Quito worth going?
Definitely, it was a surprisingly good experience for me. Ecuador is not as famous as Colombia/Argentina/Brazil/Peru etc, but it is a small country that punches above its weight with the diverse nature and things to do. Quito has a bit of a party vibe in an old city, and everything is close by (volcanos, lakes, churches, bars…). I definitely met lots more backpackers here than anywhere else in LATAM that I have been to.
I loved it, so definitely go but also prepare to spend more time there so you can see the rest of Ecuador other than just Quito.
Top places to visit in Quito
Cotopaxi Volcano – Epic Day Trip to Ecuador’s Iconic Stratovolcano
Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, standing at 5,897 meters (19,347 feet). Located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Quito, it is the second-highest mountain in Ecuador. It last erupted in 2015, but prior to that, its last major eruption was from 1940 to 1942
I went with a group tour, about $50, the hike was pretty damn hard, dusty, and cold. You couldn’t see the Volcano as the hike is only to the base camp, but still, it was pretty damn unique and high altitude.
From Secret Garden Hostel I took a bus to the trailhead and we hiked to Jose Rivas Refuge, which is kind of like the base camp. The whole hike took about an hour or two with very steep incline. There was a Peruvian who could speak Japanese and he forgot headgear to cover the ears, luckily I prepared 2 sets so I lent him one. Haha, it was very fun.
Quilotoa Lagoon – A Stunning Crater Lake in the Andes
Quilotoa is a stunning volcanic crater lake located in the Ecuadorian Andes, known for its striking emerald green color. The lake sits at approximately 3,914 meters (12,841 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest lakes in Ecuador. It formed after the last major eruption of the Quilotoa volcano around 800 years ago.
So the hike down and up takes about 3 hours, and it is a pretty damn impressive lake. Again I went with a tour group and met tons of interesting people like an Israeli teacher, another French girl who came to do NGO work etc.
As you go down to the bottom of the lake, there’s a bridge and you can jump in for a swim! Lots of the people in my tour group did that but I did not as I did not bring a change of clothes. But still, very clear, green water. I think only the Pacific North West (Seattle) where I move to in 2024 has better lakes than this one.
Intiñan Solar Museum – Explore the Real Equator Line in Quito
The Intiñan Solar Museum is located at the “real” equator line (0° latitude) in Tumbaco, Ecuador, just a short distance from the famous Mitad del Mundo monument. The name “Intiñan” translates to “the path of the sun” in the indigenous Quichua language.
So Quito is know to be on the Equator, much like Singapore. But the latitude 0 degrees can be found here. This is quite an interesting visit to take some photos and show that you have been to the middle of the earth (Kind of)!
Basílica del Voto Nacional – Quito’s Gothic Church with Tower Views
The Basilica of the National Vow is one of the largest neo-Gothic churches in the Americas, located in the historical centre of Quito, Ecuador. It is known for its intricate architecture, impressive stained glass, and unique Ecuadorian Gothic style. The basilica is a significant religious and cultural landmark in Quito.
Now this has been the wallpaper of my phone for the longest time, the most iconic building in Quito. It is close to Secret Garden Hostel, and definitely have to check it out.
This place is HUGE and beautiful. I spent a long time just climbing the stairs and marvelling at the architecture. A great time and very photogenic place.
Rucu Pichincha – Hike above the clouds
Rucu Pichincha, often simply referred to as Pichincha, is one of the prominent volcanoes overlooking Quito, Ecuador. Its name translates to “old Pichincha” in the indigenous Kichwa language. Rucu Pichincha stands at an elevation of 4,784 meters (15,696 feet) and is the lowest of the three volcanoes that form the Pichincha range (the others being Rucu Pichincha is a popular hiking destination for locals and tourists seeking a quick alpine adventure.
I took a cable car to reach here before the hike. The hike can be relatively easy depending on how far you want to go. There’s a swing at the hike called “Swing at the End of the World”, it is quite a nice place to take some photos like what I did above.
Thoughts
Ecuador is more than Quito, and I did not have the time to visit the other parts and it is known for its bio-diversity and nature. Ecuador is a relatively small country with a unique vibe. Ecuador, together with Guatemala, are 2 unexpectedly fun LATAM countries I have been to. Given the chance I will go back, I highly recommend it.