Sightseeing in Quito, Cuenca and the Andes

October 19, 2026

Travel advisory, October 2026: Ecuador is under a state of exception in eight provinces, including Pichincha (Quito), declared for 60 days from 15 September 2026, and curfews have been imposed several times this year, so check the current decree. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the coastal provinces (Esmeraldas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Guayas, El Oro, Los Ríos and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, with airside transit at Guayaquil airport excepted) and to the 20 km strip along the Colombian border, which includes Lago Agrio. The US State Department rates Ecuador Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, with higher levels for named areas. Quito’s old town, the Andean highlands and the Galápagos lie outside the FCDO areas, but street crime, express kidnapping and taxi scams are real, so use registered taxis, stay on busy streets by day and keep valuables out of sight. Heavy rain and landslides are forecast for the 2026-27 El Niño. Read the current UK FCDO advice and US State Department advisory before you book and again before you fly. This page is written for the areas outside the warnings.

Ecuador’s sights are concentrated in two UNESCO-listed colonial centres, a ring of high volcanoes and the Galápagos. Quito and Cuenca can be seen on foot in daylight, the volcanoes need a vehicle, and the islands need a flight. Prices below are official where noted and approximate otherwise.

Quito Centro Histórico

The old town was inscribed by UNESCO in 1978, among the first cultural sites on the list. Plaza Grande is the usual starting point. La Compañía de Jesús has a gilded Baroque interior and bans photography, with foreign adult entry reported at about US$5 to 6. The Basílica del Voto Nacional is neo-Gothic, and its towers involve steep stairs and ladders for a small extra fee. The San Francisco convent museum costs about US$6. These are active churches, so dress modestly and keep your voice low during services.

Visit between roughly 10:00 and 16:00, when tourist police are most visible. After dark, stay on main streets and take a registered taxi. Take a taxi to the summit of El Panecillo rather than the stairs, and avoid its base after dark.

TelefériQo and Cruz Loma

The cable car climbs from 3,117 m to Cruz Loma at about 3,950 m, and on a clear day you can see toward Cotopaxi and the volcano chain. The adult fare is US$9.00. See the TelefériQo site for hours, and dress warmly. Quito is at about 2,850 m, so take it slowly.

Mitad del Mundo

The 30 m monument costs US$5.00 for adults. The marked line sits about 240 m south of where GPS places the equator, so enjoy it as a landmark and photograph spot. The official site lists hours.

Cuenca Historic Centre

Cuenca was listed by UNESCO in 1999. Look for the blue domes of the New Cathedral, stroll Parque Calderón and walk down to the Pumapungo archaeological area.

Cotopaxi and Chimborazo views

Cotopaxi rises to 5,897 m and is best seen from the páramo, the high grassland around its base. Chimborazo is about 6,263 m and is widely reported as the point on the Earth’s surface farthest from its centre. Register with the park authorities before visiting Chimborazo (the FCDO asks for five days’ notice) and book a licensed operator for anything above the first refuge. Check IG-EPN for Cotopaxi.

Galápagos stops

The Charles Darwin Research Station exhibition hall in Puerto Ayora is free, daily from 08:00 to 18:00. Foreign visitors over 12 pay a US$200 park fee, and most sites need an authorised guide.

Beyond the main circuit

Guayaquil and the Pacific coast lie in FCDO advisory provinces, so they are not sightseeing stops for most visitors.

To compare guided city tours, browse Quito sightseeing tours on GetYourGuide .