Family Activities in Quito

October 29, 2026

Travel advisory, as of October 2026. Ecuador has declared an internal armed conflict against criminal gangs, and rolling states of emergency apply in several provinces. Pichincha, which includes Quito, is under one until mid-November 2026. Quito had a night curfew in May 2026, and curfews can return at short notice. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to several coastal provinces and the strip along the Colombian border; Quito lies outside those areas. Street crime and express kidnappings are real risks, so use registered taxis or ride apps, especially at night and for El Panecillo. Read the FCDO advice for Ecuador and check travel.state.gov before you book.

Quito suits families who like hands-on places and green space, but the altitude of about 2,850 m affects children as well as adults. Keep the first two days light, offer plenty of water, and skip the highest viewpoints with very young children. Headache with vomiting, unusual sleepiness or breathlessness at rest means going lower and getting medical advice.

Wiwa Quito

Wiwa Quito, the former Zoológico de Quito, is in Guayllabamba, about 29 km north of the city. It is run by the Fundación Zoológica del Ecuador and presented as a wildlife-refuge park for rescued native animals. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for children and $4 for seniors, and people with disabilities enter free. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00, so Monday is not an option. See the Wiwa Quito site for current details. Allow most of a day including the drive.

Mitad del Mundo

Ciudad Mitad del Mundo costs $5 for adults and $2.50 for children aged 6 to 12, and children under 6 are free. It is open every day, with a planetarium and small museums alongside the 30 m monument. Children usually enjoy the equator line and the demonstrations at nearby attractions, such as balancing an egg on a nail. Those are fun shows, and not proof of anything about physics, so keep explanations light. The marker stands a little south of the true equator.

Yaku water museum

Yaku Parque Museo del Agua is on the slope of Pichincha, in a former water treatment site above the old town. It has hands-on exhibits about water and the páramo. Reported prices are about $4 for adults and $2 for children aged 3 to 11, with the youngest and seniors free. Weekend hours are about 09:00 to 17:30, so check weekday times before you go.

Vivarium and the botanical garden

The Vivarium in Parque La Carolina is a conservation and education centre for Ecuadorian reptiles and amphibians. Entry is about $3.75 to $4 and visits are guided, around 45 minutes, with no photographs. The Jardín Botánico in the same park costs about $4 for adults.

Parque La Carolina

The park is a large green space in the modern part of the city. There is a lagoon with paddle boats for hire, at roughly $3 to $5 for half an hour, plus playgrounds and sports fields. It has no swimming pools. Go by day and keep children in sight.

Moving around with children

The metro is a simple way to cross town. It opened in December 2023, has 15 stations and costs $0.45 for adults, with reduced fares for ages 5 to 17 and seniors and free travel for under-fives. Platforms and buses can be crowded, so hold hands and keep bags in front. For longer trips or evenings, use a ride app or a registered taxi.

Booking and tickets

Most attractions sell tickets at the entrance. Families going beyond the city can compare tours through a search such as Quito family tours , but check age limits and the altitude before you commit to anything high.