Visiting Quito

Quito is noisy and smoggy, but it also has a certain charm about it. We are living in Quito for 3 weeks while we volunteer at a daycare/preschool. I talk about our volunteer experience and our accommodations in other posts.

This post I want to talk about Quito. Like other big cities, I have visited, I would recommend only a few days in Quito and then using it as a base for daytrips outside the city like to Cotopaxi, Mindo, Otavalo and Los Banos. The Basilica in the old city is amazing to visit. You must climb the narrow stairways to the top to look out over the city. You need to buy two tickets at the Basilica, one to see the inside and one to climb to the tower. 

The Basilica

The amazing stained glass windows inside the Basilica

The view of Quito from the tower at the Basilica

You can easily walk the 6 blocks to see the  La Iglesia de La Compania de Jesus. This church is covered with gold on the inside. There were a number of tours going on inside when we visited so we were able to listen in and find out some of the history. It's an amazing church. There is also a small museum attached. There is a charge to visit, but they offer student discounts. There are different prices for foreigners and Ecuadorians though no one checks your passport. 

Speaking of passports, there are numerous warnings in Quito from just about everyone about pickpockets. We were advised to carry a copy of our passport instead of the real thing just in case. Also seasoned travelers know to wear their money etc. on them and not in a purse or backpack. Be careful on the buses too especially the crowded ones. By the way, the buses cost 25 cents per person per ride. There is a half price discount for students under 16 years old. 

We did not visit El Panecillo. If you decide to go there, we were told to take a taxi due to a large number of thieves hanging out on the stairs to climb up there. 

There are numerous plazas in the old city and a number of churches to visit. We walked through the Plaza de la Independencia below on our way to the Basilica. But we will be going back to the old city this weekend and I will add another post then. 

Plaza de la Independencia in the old city of Quito

Another view of the same plaza in the old city of Quito