Being the capital of Ecuador and in a prime location in the highlands of the country, Quito is an excellent starting point for day tours. In this article, we will tell you about several day tours from Quito and how you can escape the capital.
Mitad del Mundo Tour
Approximately 50 minutes from Quito’s Historical Center is the famous Mitad del Mundo and its Equatorial Monument, in honor of the Equator that divides the planet’s surface into the northern and southern hemispheres.
We would like to invite you to get to know this destination in a simple and pleasant way through the Mitad del Mundo Tour by Quito Tour Bus. From the beginning, in the Mitad del Mundo Tour you will visit the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve, where you will see the viewpoint of one of the only two inhabited craters in the world. Afterwards, you will visit the city of Mitad del Mundo where you will perform several experiments on the Equator. Visit the Equator Museum, 30 meters high built in honor of the Geodesic Mission, the cultural pavilions and others. Finally, after visiting the city of Mitad del Mundo, visit the Ecuadorian Agave Spirit, also known as the Agave Museum, where there will be a tasting of this ancestral drink that is included in the tour.
The Mitad del Mundo Tour has daily departures at 12:00 pm from Bulevar Naciones Unidas, with no minimum number of passengers. The Mitad del Mundo Tour includes: tourist transportation, a bilingual guide (English – Spanish), entrance to the Pululahua volcano crater lookout, entrance to the Mitad del Mundo complex – Full Pass and entrance to the Ecuadorian Agave Spirit (Agave Museum). This tour ends at approximately 7:00 pm.
For more information about this tour here : Mitad del Mundo Tour from Quito
We invite to read the complete article about the best things to do in Quito (by a local).
Quilotoa day trip
Quilotoa lagoon is one of the most famous lagoons of volcanic origin in the world. A great option to get to know this fantastic lagoon, located in the Quilotoa crater and known for its turquoise waters, is through the Quilotoa Tour by Quito Tour Bus.
During this one-day tour to Quilotoa, you will see the viewpoints of Shalalá (from which you can admire the beauty of nature from 3900 meters above sea level) and Quilotoa. Afterwards, take a walk to the lagoon. After this, visit an artisan workshop in the community of Tigua, and then see the canyon of the Toachi River. From the viewpoint, admire the canyon, which is almost 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) long and has a 100-meter (328 feet) drop.
The Quilotoa Tour departs on Fridays at 7:05 am from Bulevar Naciones Unidas with no minimum number of passengers and includes: tourist transport, a bilingual guide (Spanish – English), entrance to the Shalalalá lookout point, entrance to the Quilotoa lagoon, a visit to the Tigua community’s handicraft workshop, a visit to the Toachi River canyon, lunch and a mini lunch box. The tour ends at approximately 7:00 pm.
To find out more information click here: Quilotoa Tour from Quito
One day tour to Otavalo from Quito
An excellent way to get to know the province of Imbabura and its innumerable charms, such as the Otavalo market, is through the Otavalo Tour by Quito Tour Bus. During this one day tour to Otavalo from Quito, you will visit the Quitsato Sundial, the San Pablo Lake viewpoint, the Otavalo Indian Market, the Peguche waterfall and the Cuicocha lake (cannot be visited on bank holidays).
The Otavalo Tour departs on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 9:00 a.m. From Bulevar Naciones Unidas, with no minimum number of passengers. The Otavalo Tour includes: tourist transportation, a bilingual Guide (Spanish – English), entrance to and a visit of the Quitsato Sundial, a visit to the San Pablo Lake lookout point, a visit to the Otavalo Market, a visit to the Peguche waterfall, a boat trip on the Cuicocha Lake or San Pablo Lake (depending on availability) and a mini snack.
You can find more information here: Otavalo Tour from Quito
Day tour to Cotopaxi from Quito
If you are visiting Ecuador, don’t miss the opportunity to see the impressive Cotopaxi. At 5,897 meters (19,347 feet) above sea level located in the Andes Mountains, it is considered one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.
We would like to invite you to get to know this unmissable destination in Ecuador on the Cotopaxi Tour. On this day tour to Cotopaxi from Quito, you will get to know the Cotopaxi National Park, home to the famous Cotopaxi volcano, which “is located in the center of the inter-Andean alley and very close to several cities like Quito and Latacunga” (Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas del Ecuador – MAE, 2019). Once in the park, visit the beautiful Limpiopungo lagoon and tour the Mariscal Sucre Interpretation Center, also known as the Park Museum. Afterwards, you will hike to the José Rivas Refuge, a place that welcomes professional and amateur mountaineers together at Cotopaxi.
The Cotopaxi Tour departs every day at 7:05 am from Bulevar Naciones Unidas, with no minimum number of passengers. The Cotopaxi Tour includes breakfast and lunch at the hacienda (menu of the day or vegetarian option), tourist transport, a bilingual guide (Spanish – English), a naturalist guide for the tour inside the Cotopaxi National Park and entrance fee to the Cotopaxi National Park.
To find out more information about this tour, click here : Cotopaxi Tour from Quito
Day trip from Quito to Papallacta
Very near Quito, approximately one hour and forty minutes from the Historical Center of the city, is Papallacta, a site recognized for its unparalleled thermal waters, which are said to have curative properties. Relax like never before in the pools of the Papallacta Spa Hot Springs located at 3,250 meters (10,662 feet) above sea level in the Andes, enjoy the landscapes offered by the Andean moors and experience Ecuadorian cuisine on the Papallacta Tour.
This tour departs on Mondays at 10:00 a.m. from Bulevar Naciones Unidas, with no minimum number of passengers. The Papallacta Tour includes: tourist transportation, a bilingual guide (Spanish – English), a visit to the Papallacta lagoon, entrance to the Papallacta Hot Springs Spa, access to the steam caves, a walk along the “La Isla” trail and a mini snack.
For more information about this tour, click here: Papallacta Tour from Quito
All of these tours near to Quito will allow you to reach these fantastic destinations in Ecuador in a simple, pleasant and fun way. Take these short trips from Quito with Quito Tour Bus, and you won’t regret it!
