I awake to my plane descending. Ecuador is below. Wow, what a welcome. High mountain volcano peaks, shrouded in clouds - surrounding a green valley. 9 high volcano’s in-fact!! …. and there is Quito. It is stunning to behold.
At 9300ft, Quito is the second highest capital in the world. La Paz, Bolivia is the highest capital – since you ask.
Negotiate another taxi transfer (be prepared); take the expressway to the downtown district; I’m in South America again. I stay at Hotel Mercure for 4-nights, to explore and discover.
The balance of my time in Ecuador will be out in the Galapagos, I’m here to dive … but first, a look at Quito and the surrounding Andes.
Walking and riding Taxi/Ubers around Quito is a breeze. Busy, Vibrant parks (like Parque El Ejido) - with men playing card games,,, another with a chess matches, Artists selling their masterpieces on the sidewalk – it's beautiful outside, the sun is shining bright. I expected cold-cold to greet me. But instead, the afternoon sun is Hot. The cold rolls in the evenings… High altitude living.
Straight off I find an expresso shop. Then the National Art Museum. Just getting a feel for the streets, the people. Buses running everywhere – most full of locals traveling to work. But the streets are not so-busy with traffic.. not the grid-lock of the millions of people you find in the cities of the States.
Interesting to see so many dogs/owners about. Not wild unmanaged dogs, but well mannered – In all sorts of places, stores, restaurants.
Again, and again… I visit another country that only uses Benjamin’s. USA cash money.
Ecuador gave up on their currency back in 2000. A most curious cash experience here – the widespread use of $1 coins. Back in the US; a $1 coin is unusual – a rarity. Here in Quito, I’m handed back $1 US coins as change for my expresso….In God we Trust …. The coins are brand new!!! The Taxi driver does the same, and the Museum’s, everywhere. Curious experience. Guess that’s why the US still mints $1 coins. The US mints them and ships them to Ecuador.
This is another country that might surprise you economically. It has oil and was a former member of OPEC. Add in tourism and agriculture, and you have a very different level of prosperity here than most people of the world realize. Quito for example is a clean, organized city. I see just a few homeless and hawkers on the streets – nothing like the big cities back home in the US … far superior would be a fair honest description. Obviously, I’m just visiting the populous cities – not the remote indigenous tribes…. The Amazon Jungle extents to this country too, and the remote areas of their Andes might be called 3ed world. But still; here in Quito, there is opportunity for Ecuadorian peoples. Jobs, food, education, entertainment.
A highlight and ‘Must Do’ of Quito is riding TeleferiQo cable car up a local mountain – the Pichincha Volcano. I can’t stop taking pictures!!! Incredible views of Quito below and of the Andes surround me. The TeleferiQo cable car only takes me part way up the volcano peak….you hike after that!! I hike part of Rucu Pichincha trail – making it to 12k feet. Wow!! High mountain hiking. Like Colorado, or New Zealand.
There are mountain bikers up-here, hikers with their dogs, horses carrying tourists. The full tail hike to the Peak is an all-day event, and requires proper preparation.. To much for me to attempt today – but if ever the chance comes again..it would be Epic to summit.
Exploring Quito after hiking, using Uber – I’m in the old-town Historic Centro district. Most Uber/Taxi rides cost $5 or less. Visiting Cathedrals and Museums – Quito seems to have hundreds. The Grand Plaza – Independincia Plaza - is a wonder. The sun is shining, people sit on the benches, free-speech Sermons in progress, fountains everywhere. I could spend an hour just sitting here – people watching. I find a small restaurant for Empanadas’. This is such a welcoming city with so much to explore!! – who knew ?
I travel to Quito without a plan…discovering what part of the City to explore each day. Today, I walk Parque la Carolina from my hotel.
Without exaggeration – Parque Carolina; ‘Is a slice of Happy’. Today is an election day, and schools are closed…a Monday. The park is full of young children, laughing, playing. Well-mannered dogs with owners playing catch. Families teaching children to ride a bike, or to kick a football. Everywhere, beautiful shade trees and deep green grass. Sports fields of every type, children’s playgrounds, skate parks, bike parks, paddle boats .. Nothing is missing. Vendors selling street foods and drinks. It’s a slice of Happy. It’s like a high-quality Central Park, NYC.. only 100x better. Is not an exaggeration to say; I have never seen a better managed, more enjoyed, safer, vibrant park .. Anywhere!! Don’t miss this place on a weekend or holiday…or any day really. It will give you hope in humanity.
Oh my, this city keeps getting better. I walk 6-7 miles; thru Parque la Carolina and the nearby La Mariscal restaurant/bar district. Endless choices for foods; next to ‘Central Park’, only surrounded by the soring Volcanos of the Andes. OK, Quito wins. No contest.
One more adventure here in central Ecuador. I book a last-second bus tour. Riding to Quilota Lagune. They pick me up at my hotel … the group plans suck mostly,,wasting so much time. But it was crazy cheap, just $53 for the trip. Quilota is a Volcano, with a huge 10k wide crater lake. I hike the steep trail down to the waters edge. Turquoise-Green color - from the dissolving minerals. There is Lava 250m below..interesting? Eye popping color – amazing.
At 13k feet (4300m), Quilota is just a baby volcano of the Andes.... no big deal !! But the view, wow.. And always pictures of Alpaca… I cheat on the hike back up to the rim, and pay $10 for a horse ride.. I’m getting a little lazy these days ☹
After a full day in the high Andes, with epic views in every direction..its time to pack for the main attraction. The Galapagos.
But, with so much left unexplored in mainland Ecuador .. I could easily return. The Amazon is here, the coastal regions.. more Andes. Ecuador is a terrific destination…..even if it didn’t have The Galapagos !!!
I blog of my adventures in the Galapagos separately. Take a look …
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