Quito city break

Get to know this fascinating city, from the earliest peoples, the Incas and the conquistadors to its bold contemporary styles.

from £1395

Customer rating 100%

'Quito city break'

What makes this trip special?

Spectacular views

Spectacular views

Quito

The teleferico cable car rises above the city of Quito to the top of Pichincha volcano, giving fabulous views of the city and the mountains all around.

The kingdom of Quito

The kingdom of Quito

Quito - old city

Quito's historic centre of cobbled streets and white washed colonial buildings is one of the most important in Latin America. Wander through the narrow streets, watch lively events in the plazas and visit historical landmarks.

The god at the centre of the earth

The god at the centre of the earth

La Florida

A stunning archaeological site on the edge of the Quito valley. Concentric burial chambers re-uniting their occupants with a 'Pachamama' deity and a heaven that is downwards.

Astronomical pools

Astronomical pools

Tulipe

A very evocative site deep in the cloudforest, on a trade route between Quito and the ocean. The principal feature is a succession of ceremonial pools associated with astronomical rituals, and there are petroglyphs, trails and other elements. A good site museum helps explain the significance of what has so far been uncovered.

Beyond the capital

Beyond the capital

Day trips from Quito

Choose from a list of different day trips, visit the cloudforest of the northern Andes, the hot springs at Papallacta, the avenue of volcanoes or the craft markets at Otavalo.

Itinerary map for Ecuador & Galapagos 'Quito city break' holiday

Itinerary

  • Day      Overnight
  • 1 Quito
  • 2 Quito
  • 3 Quito
  • 4 Quito
  • 5 Quito
  • 6 Quito
  • 7 Quito
  • For the detail of each day click the ‘Day-by-day’ tab above.

Day-by-day itinerary for 'Quito city break'

DAY 1

Quito

You are met on arrival at the international airport and driven to your hotel in Quito where you stay for the next 6 nights.

DAY 2
B

Colonial Quito

Your local English-speaking private guide to the city collects you for a walking tour of the old city of Quito, stopping to see colonial churches, monasteries and museums.

DAY 3
BL

Lost civilisations of La Florida and Tulipe

Today is dedicated to pre-Hispanic Quito. With your guide you visit the new archaeological site at La Florida, and the world of the Quitus people who inhabited the valley of Quito before the arrival of the Incas. You then travel out of the city, first stopping to visit the Equator before continuing on to Tulipe in the cloudforest. Tulipe was a main ceremonial worship site of the Yumbo people, who inhabited the north and northwestern valleys and mountains around Quito from around 800 to 1660 AD, controlling a crucial trade route between the Pacific coast, the Andes and the Amazon. The Tulipe site includes some 2,000 modest pyramids and mounds, stone-lined ceremonial immersion pools, and petroglyphs.

DAY 4
B

Contemporary Quito

Today you are taken to explore the contemporary side of Quito. Start with a ride on the ‘Teleferiqo’ cable car rising high above Quito for panoramic views over the city at 4,000m. Next you cross the city to visit Ecuador’s most famous modern artist’s masterwork, Guayasamin’s striking Chapel of Man. You could visit the small botanical garden in La Carolina park before some shopping in the modern Mariscal area of the city, perhaps at the Ecuador Gourmet Gallery.

DAY 5
BL

Day-trips

Escape the city on your choice from the following: Papallacta: hot springs and hummingbirds Antisana Reserve: condors and snowy peaks Indian market: which market depends on the day of the week Cotopaxi Volcano: with lunch at a hacienda and visit a rose farm Mindo cloudforest: orchids, butterflies and hummingbirds

DAY 6
B

Quito

This morning you return to Quito’s historic quarter to visit the mansion of Maria Augusta Urrutia, a museum of high society life in 19th century Quito. You then visit Escuela Taller, an excellent charitably funded workshop school to train underprivileged youths as professional artisans from plumbing to painting in the style of the Quito School. Afternoon free.

DAY 7
B

Quito

You are collected from your hotel and driven to the airport for your onwards flight to the Galapagos, or home to the UK.

Guide prices for 'Quito city break'

options based on all year low season mid season high season peak season other season
Mid-range hotels 2 people sharing £1,395
Upper range hotels 2 people sharing £1,655
Prices are per person and include:
  • all travel in Ecuador
  • all accommodation
  • meals as indicated B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
Prices do not include:
  • international flights
  • travel insurance
  • airport and departure taxes
  • items of a personal nature such as drinks, tips, laundry, etc
  • any optional excursions you may buy locally

Customer reviews for 'Quito city break'

Recent reviews are shown here from holidays based on this initial design. In each case the itinerary may have been modified (a little or a lot) to suit the individual traveller.

Average customer rating 100%

rating

Seasonal information for 'Quito city break'

Along this route in January

Day Location Max °C Monthly rainfall
1 Quito 15°C rainfall 117mm
2 Quito 15°C rainfall 117mm
3 Quito 15°C rainfall 117mm
4 Quito 15°C rainfall 117mm
5 Quito 15°C rainfall 117mm
6 Quito 15°C rainfall 117mm
7 Quito 15°C rainfall 117mm

Typical weather for January

rainchart

Max °C figures are the average daily maximum temperatures for the month. Rainfall is the average precipitation for the month.

Hotels for 'Quito city break'

Days 1 - 3

Café Cultura

Mariscal area

Hotel Café Cultura is a characterful, slightly quirky 26 room hotel situated in the Mariscal district of Quito. Each room is uniquely and decorated with extravagant, eclectic, hand-painted murals (some  masking the odd water stain). Each has a private bathroom and its own log fire. This historic building was once the French Cultural Centre. It has a impressive public rooms which are atmospheric and particularly welcoming at night when the dining room and wood pannelled llibrary are lit with candles and by the glow of an open fire. A creaky old wood staircase leads up to the bedrooms. There is a small garden with doves and a resident peacock.

Café Cultura
Suite