Things to Do in Ecuador

Santa Domingo Plaza graces the southern edge of Quito’s Old Town and is easily missed by visitors. It’s an airy plaza, dominated by the imposing Santo Domingo Cathedral on its southeastern side. In the center of the square a statue of hero Antonio José de Sucre points towards Pichincha Volcano where he won the battle for Ecuador’s independence in 1822.

The Santo Domingo Cathedral dates back to 1581 and houses an impressive statue of the Virgen del Rosario in an ornately carved baroque-style chapel. If you visit the plaza at night, the cathedral’s domes look beautiful floodlit.

The Plaza comes alive on weekends when neighboring Quiteños converge on the square to watch the various acrobats, jugglers and magicians go through their routines. 

Only two craters in the world are inhabited—and Pululahua is one of them. Essentially a fog-filled, fertile bowl set 9,000 feet in the sky, Pululahua is the only crater in the world that’s also actively farmed. Though the area rarely ever receives rain, the rolling fog provides ample moisture for raising fields full of crops. Most people who visit, however, only make it as far as the overlooks, which are dotted along the crater rim and offer sweeping views of the basin. Those with a little more time, however, and a healthy dose of adventure, can hike, bike, or horseback ride the trails to the crater floor. Once here, walk amongst a rural setting that feels like it’s frozen in time. Gone are the urban trappings of Quito and the incessant hum of cars, which are replaced by the sounds of smiling farmers who still work the ground by hand. Aside from the trails, farmers, and fog, Pululahua is famously known for its ecological wealth. The crater is a geobotanical reserve with over 2,000 species of plants, and was the first place in South America preserved as a National Park. It’s even possible to sleep in the crater in simple, traditional hostels, and even if you can only spend 30 minutes admiring the view from the rim, this spot the Inca dubbed “cloud of water” is a site you’ll never forget.

Not to be confused with the island of South Seymour, more commonly referred to as Baltra (the location of the main Galapagos airport, as well as a military base), North Seymour is a small island that is flat and uplifted, unlike many of its volcanic neighbors. The most intriguing aspect of North Seymour for visitors is the renowned Blue-footed Boobies that inhabit the island. While walking along the visitor’s pathway, one can often catch the famous courtship dance of the boobies, along with incredible frigate birds, swallow-tail gulls, and other Galapagos birds. Watch along the coastline for marine iguanas and playful sea lions as well. Also be sure to take notice of the spectacular black-and-white lava rocks that surround the coast.

If you’re traveling to the Galapagos to dive, be sure not to miss the wonderful opportunities that Seymour has to offer. Keep your eyes open for Hammerheads, sea lions, the pacific green sea turtle, garden eels, and hundreds of beautifully colored tropical fish.

The Middle of the World Monument (Ciudad Mitad del Mundo) commemorates the site where 18th-century French explorer Charles Marie de la Condamine once calculated the globe's equatorial line to be. Make a day trip from Quito to this tourist mecca to snap a share-worthy photo straddling the equator line where the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemispheres meet.

La Mariscal is the epicenter of Quito’s tourist scene, so much so the neighborhood has become known as ‘Gringolandia.’

What Mariscal lacks in tourist attractions it makes up for in bars, restaurants, and clubs. Many visitors opt to stay in Mariscal for its wide range of accommodations and shopping and its reputation as the place to be when the sun goes down.

You’ll find a whole range of useful amenities in Mariscal, including internet cafes, banks and tour operators.

Plaza de la Independencia, known as Plaza Grande to the locals, was Quito’s main square in the 16th century, serving as central market and bullfighting area.

The plaza contains several important buildings: the Archbishop’s Palace to the north, City Hall to the east, the cathedral to the south, and the white, neoclassical Palacio del Gobierno (Government Palace) to the west.

The Government Palace (re-built in 1920 after its original 1650 building was destroyed by fire) is not open to the public, but you can take a peek inside the main entrance, which is a beautiful example of Moorish architecture. There is a tourist information booth just behind the entrance gate.

You’ll find more Moorish-inspired work in the courtyard of the Archbishop’s Palace (built in 1852) where there is also a small craft market and a few shops.