Star Trips from the City of Quito in Ecuador
Quito
The city of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is the second largest city in the country after Guayaquil. It is worthwhile to start your trip in Ecuador in this large and interesting city where you first land. It is recommended to take guided tours where they explain the various destinations and take you to good viewpoint spots over the city and its surroundings. The guides will also explain the local culture and food. In this article, I will focus on star trips from Quito to the destinations around the city.
Read about Quito itself in the article: Trip to Quito, Capital of Ecuador.
Recommended Hotels in Quito
Four-star hotels at an attractive price and convenient location:
Hotel Reina Isabel
or:
Anahi Boutique Hotel
or, cheaper:
Hotel Rio Amazonas
More expensive: 5-star hotels
Swissôtel Quito
or:
JW Marriott Hotel Quito
♦ Recommended guided tours in Quito from Viator:
Star Trips from the City of Quito
It is worthwhile to depart from Quito for star trips around it with drives of several hours in each direction. The advantage is that you do not need to search for a new hotel every day, plus the selection of hotels in Quito is larger and therefore you can choose a place that suits you in terms of quality and price.
The destinations for a trip around Quito are the towns of Otavalo, Mindo and its surroundings, Cotopaxi Volcano, and a visit to the Equator.
Trip to the Town of Otavalo and its Surroundings
Otavalo is located about eighty km north of Quito. This is a town where it is worthwhile to visit its large market with many handicrafts, carpets, and various souvenirs, which on Saturday is also an animal market. In the food market, you can taste local dishes.
Recommended Hotels in Otavalo:
Haciendas (former manor houses) with character and atmosphere abounding in gardens, animals, and vegetation:
Hacienda Cusin
Or:
Or: A 4-star lakefront resort:
Puertolago Country Inn & Resort
In the vicinity of Otavalo, there are additional towns in one of which they specialize in the production of leather goods and in another they specialize in the production of savory biscuits that are eaten with local salty cheese.
In the area, it is also worthwhile to tour around Lake Cuicocha located in a crater caldera near Cotacachi Volcano and at a nice waterfall named Peguche Waterfall.
♦ It is recommended to book the following tours to Otavalo departing from Quito via Viator:
Details on Otavalo in my article: Trips in the City of Otavalo and its Surroundings
Trip to Mindo and its Surroundings
Mindo is located about 90 km west of Quito. On the way there, it is worthwhile to go up to an impressive viewpoint at Pululahua Volcano.
For zipline park fans, ten zipline cables of various lengths await in the forest near Mindo, where you can soar above the treetops.
You can also ride a cable car over the river and go down to the river to splash in the water there.
In Mindo, it is worthwhile to take a guided tour of a chocolate manufacturing plant called El Quelzal and visit the Sachatamia cloud forest reserve where you will observe many hummingbirds.
♦ Booking recommended guided tours to Mindo from Quito (via Viator):
Hot Springs
About seventy km east of Quito, it is recommended to visit the hot springs Termas Papallacta
Rose Farm
Lovely roses in various colors and sizes can be seen at the Sacha Rose rose-growing farm east of Quito.
Cotopaxi Volcano Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi Volcano National Park is located about seventy km south of Quito. The mountain's summit is covered in snow. Its height is 5,897 meters, the second highest in Ecuador. You can reach an altitude of 4600 meters by 4X4 vehicle and from there climb on foot another two hundred meters to an altitude of 4800 meters if the weather permits and if you are in good physical condition; the air is thin at this altitude, the temperature approaches zero, and sometimes there is wind, rain, and fog.
Recommended Hotels near Cotopaxi and Quilotoa
Haciendas (former manor houses) with character and atmosphere:
Or:
Hosteria Rumipamba de las Rosas
Or, more expensive:
♦ Booking guided tours to Quilotoa / Cotopaxi (via Viator):
The Equator
Ecuador is named after the Equator, and accordingly, there are two sites located precisely on the zero latitude line crossing the Earth where you receive explanations on the significance of this latitude both geographically and historically, where ancient inhabitants identified the seasons suitable for agriculture according to the position of the sun.
These two sites located on the zero latitude line are situated slightly north of Quito and are named: one is Mitad del Mundo and the other is Quitsato.
Short Videos on Destinations in Star Trips from Quito:
Guided Tour in Ecuador
I recommend traveling in Ecuador on a guided tour. Since this country is inexpensive, it is preferable for a family to travel with a local guide with their own car. This is the best way to learn local customs, culture, history, and local dishes, and to rely on their navigation to all the attractions worth visiting.
Our articles on Ecuador:
Destinations and Attractions in a Trip
in Ecuador
Trips in the City of Otavalo
and its Surroundings
Trips and Attractions in the Galapagos Islands
Trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon
Trips on
Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos
Trips on San
Cristobal Island in the Galapagos
Trip to Isabela Island in the Galapagos
Attractions and Trips in the City of Baños in Ecuador