Quito – Capital in the Clouds and Equatorial Adventures

Our flight from Bogotá landed in Quito well past midnight. Having anticipated travel challenges, we’d pre-booked an airport transfer ($10) and a stay at Colonial House hostel ($9 for a room with hallway bathroom). While we might have overpaid slightly for the taxi, the comfort of safe late-night arrival proved priceless. The hostel became our perfect base – nestled near the old town with charming colonial-style interiors.

Did you know? At 2,850m elevation, Quito ranks as the world’s second-highest capital (after La Paz). Its colonial center became UNESCO’s first-ever World Heritage Site in 1978!

Hostel conditions were decent, though evenings turned chilly (typical Andean climate) with inconsistent hot water. The real discovery? $3 breakfasts – fresh exotic fruit juices, salads, and delicious fried eggs prepared by local women in traditional hats. Contact: info@colonialhousequito.com.

Equator Hunting – Science and Fun at Inti Ñan

Next morning, our trio ventured to the famous Equator Museum. The journey became an adventure itself – $2 taxi to a bus stop, then a local bus ($0.50) winding through Quito’s picturesque outskirts for over an hour.

We first visited the official Mitad del Mundo ($2 entry) with its impressive equator monument. Few realize this is just a tourist trap – the true equatorial line lies 200m away! Exiting left leads to Museo Inti Ñan ($3), where the precise equator runs.

Equator in Quito

Our English-guided tour featured three fascinating sections: Ecuador’s nature, indigenous culture, and – most exciting – equatorial science experiments. We saw reconstructed native huts and Amazonian animal specimens, but the real highlight was physics demonstrations. Water drains straight down on the equator, swirls clockwise north of it, and counterclockwise south! Most experiments are hands-on – perfect for kids and adults alike.

Quito

Rucu Pichincha – A Failed Volcano Ascent

Our next Quito adventure targeted Rucu Pichincha (4,696m), the volcano towering above the city. An early $4 taxi brought us to Teleférico – a cable car resembling Poland’s Kasprowy Wierch. For $8.50, we ascended to 4,100m to begin our climb.

Unfortunately, Andean weather had other plans. After an hour’s hike, rain intensified into a downpour. Soaked through, we retreated halfway up. This crushing disappointment also canceled our planned Cotopaxi (5,897m) climb. I still regret this rational decision – continuing would have been dangerous.

Aerial view of Quito
Quito

Final Hours in Quito and Jungle Preparations

Our last hours featured Quito’s colonial gems. San Francisco Monastery and Santa Catalina dazzled with baroque details and old-world atmosphere. Quito charmed us, though it lacks the knockout punch of other Latin American treasures.

Changing plans, we booked a 5-day jungle tour ($240). Ecuador’s Amazon deserves its own post, but already I can say it ranked among my greatest nature experiences!

Pro tip: Always have Plan B in Ecuador. Andean weather proves fickle, disrupting many activities. Also negotiate tour prices – especially on Sundays when most agencies close.