Quito with Kids: Best Things to Do + Family-Friendly Day Trips
I’ve dreamed of visiting Quito with my kids since before I even had kids. A little background: I did a 5-week immersion program in Quito during college where I only spoke Spanish the entire time I was there. A year later, I spent a semester studying Spanish there again! During those years I fell in love with Ecuador’s capital city, and Knew I wanted to come back someday with my husband and kids.
This year I finally made that dream a reality! We spent 2 weeks in Ecuador and the Galápagos on a family trip, and I loved having the chance to show my kids some of my favorite spots around the city.
Quito often gets treated as just the jumping-off point for the Galápagos, but it deserves a few days of its own. In fact, I wish I had dedicated at least one more day in our itinerary for exploring Quito, but we did the best with the time we had!
It works especially well for families because you can combine culture and history with interactive attractions, mountain scenery, and an overnight adventure to other unique spots like Cotopaxi National Park or the cloud forest in Mindo.
If you're planning an Ecuador family vacation, I would give yourself at least 2 or 3 days to explore Quito, plus an overnight trip to Cotopaxi National Park if you have time.
In this post I’m sharing everything you need to know about visiting Quito, Ecuador with kids along with my favorite things to do as someone who has been there 4 times!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Things to Know Before Visiting Quito with Kids
Quito's Altitude
One of the most important things to note about visiting Quito with kids is that you will need to plan to adjust to the high altitude. Quito sits around 9,350 feet above sea level, so altitude sickness is a real concern for families.
And if you plan to take the cable car up Pinchincha Volcano or visit Cotopaxi National Park, the elevation increases even more.
Be sure to give yourself a day to relax and rest. Plan easy activities and plenty of downtime. Be sure to stay hydrated even before you arrive in Quito, but especially while you’re there. As for specific medications, you’ll need to speak with your doctor about preventative medication or treatment while you’re there in case you experience symptoms.
I will share our experience, but again, I’m not a doctor so be sure to talk to a professional. We didn’t really struggle with altitude sickness our first day. On our 2nd day, we took the TelefériQo up Pinchinch Volcano, around 13,000 feet. A few of the kids felt a little nauseous, so we didn’t stay too long, and got them a Coca Cola to help settle their stomachs.
On our 3rd day in Cotopaxi, I felt pretty nauseous and experienced a headache, as did one of the kids. We just treated the symptoms with over-the-counter medications which seemed to do the trick.
It’s just something to be aware of before you go!
Quito Weather + What to Pack
Quito is known as the City of Eternal Spring because of its mild spring-like temperatures year-round. It sits right on the equator, so the sun is strong, but its position in the mountains makes the weather a little cooler.
Another thing to note is that sunrise and sunset are at 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. respectively year round due to its position on the equator.
As for what to wear and pack in Quito, I always found as a college student studying abroad there that I would need some long sleeves for the mornings and evenings, but the weather would usually warm up during the day with the hot sun. This held true when I visited as an adult!
Layers are going to be your best friend in this climate! A few things to pack include:
Pants for cooler days, especially if you visit Cotopaxi, which is colder than Quito.
Leggings (for. horseback riding? You could also wear regular pants or jeans).
Sweatshirt or light jacket
Comfortable walking shoes
Sunscreen. Even if the weather feels cool the sun is strong!
Rain jacket
You'll need warmer clothing if you're adding Cotopaxi to the itinerary- possibly even thick sweaters or sweatshirts, fleece jackets, or hats and mittens.
If you want to read more about packing for Ecuador, read here: What to Pack for Ecuador with Kids
Where to Stay in Quito with Kids
One of my friends from college who was in the Spanish program with me is currently living in Quito, and they were generous enough to host us whenever we had a night in Quito, which means I do not have a personal recommendation for family-friendly hotels in Quito.
I did ask my friend where she would recommend staying with kids, and here’s what she said:
La Carolina
La Carolina is a good, family-friendly neighborhood to use as a home base in Quito. I researched a few options that might work for families, and here’s what I came up with (again, remember that I have not personally stayed at these properties, so do your own research read RECENT reviews, and proceed at your own risk:
BlueZone Apartments: These apartments are in the La Carolina/República del Salvador area and have furnished 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments. That makes it much more practical for a family of 5 or 6 than a standard Quito hotel room. It's also close to Parque La Carolina, restaurants and shopping.
Old Town Quito Suites: I actually almost booked this hotel, so we would be able to give at least one personal recommendation, but in the end decided we would rather have that extra time with my friend. These are located in Old Town Quito in the historic district, and the 2-bedroom apartment looks absolutely stunning!
La Quinta by Wyndham Quito : This could be a good family option because it has sofa beds and connecting rooms, and it's near Parque La Carolina. You may have to contact the hotel directly to request adjoining rooms.
Again, these are just a few options I’ve researched to get your search started. It’s by no means an exhaustive list!
Quito Airport Hotel for Early Flights
Courtyard by Marriott Quito Airport
One Quito hotel we do have personal experience with is the Courtyard by Marriott Quito Airport hotel. On our last night in Ecuador, we decided at the very last minute to book this hotel since our flight the next morning departed around 4:30 a.m.
We didn’t want to rely on a taxi to get us to the airport that early in the morning, especially as a family of 6. And we figured every extra minute of sleep we could get would be worth it for the long travel day ahead!
This airport is just steps from the airport, so all we had to do was roll out of bed, check out, and walk across the street to enter the terminal.
We loved that they offered connecting rooms for big families like ours, and we ended up paying around $400 total for one night for those 2 rooms. My only regret is not staying here the night before our flight to the Galápagos, which was also an early morning flight!
Getting Around Quito with Kids
I personally would not recommend renting a car in Quito. It’s very stressful with aggressive drivers, mountain roads with sharp turns and steep dropoffs. There are other options for getting around.
We typically used a taxi or Uber XL for our family of 6. The main historic part of Quito is walkable, but if you want to get anywhere else in the city you’ll need transportation.
I would recommend hiring a private driver for day trips or overnight trips. We hired a private driver for our trip to Cotopaxi.. Here is his Facebook page and his WhatsApp contact information is there! I just reached out on WhatsApp and told him our dates and destinations, then asked for a price. Javier was amazing, professional, and so so helpful.
If you’re looking for airport transfer options you can use Javier, or you can use a service like Welcome Pickups. I’ve used Welcome Pickups many times in the past when arriving in a new city, and it’s always been a great experience.
Best Things to Do in Quito with Kids
Ride the TelefériQo
The TelefériQo is a cable car that takes you up Pinchincha Volcano to Cruz Loma, an amazing viewpoint overlooking Quito and the surrounding volcanoes. On a clear day you can see around 10 volcanoes surrounding the city of Quito including Cotopaxi!
This experience costs $9.00 per adult and $7.00 for kids ages 18 and under. Be sure to keep your ticket once you get to the top, as they sometimes check it to take the TelefériQo back down.
You’ll start at Quito’s altitude of 9,350 feet and end up around 13,000 feet above sea level. This could be tough if anyone in your family is dealing with altitude sickness. I would recommend waiting a day or two after you arrive in Quito before doing this activity to give your family time to adjust to the altitude.
Right when you get to the top, you’ll exit the cable car into a small gift shop. If you walk to the end of the gift shop you’ll see a turnstile that costs $1 per person to get through. On the other side there’s an awesome photo opportunity outside, along with a small playground for babies and toddlers.
Once you’ve done the photo op, head back through the gift shop and up the stairs to enter Cruz Loma Cafe. You can buy coffees, snacks, and other drinks here, and there are plenty of seats with an incredible view. We grabbed some lattes and some empanadas for the kids and relaxed here for a bit.
When you exit the cafe, you can start down the walking path to see several viewpoints and more photo opportunities. Alpacas are sometimes available for photo opportunities, but I’ve never personally had the chance to see one (which is devastating).
If you walk about 5-10 minutes uphill (it’s a tough walk with a good payoff), you’ll reach Columpio en las Tubes - the Swing In the Clouds, another fun photo spot where it looks like you’re swinging over the city of Quito. You may have to wait in line for a few minutes, but it goes pretty fast. My kids loved this spot!
If you’re acclimated to the altitude and an active family, you can hike some of the trails, or you could also go horseback riding.
I would say 1-2 hours is plenty at the top for most families.
Climb the Towers at Basílica del Voto Nacional
I’m not always a fan of visiting old churches with kids when I travel, but I knew from experience that the Basilica is a can’t-miss, kind of exciting experience, even for kids!
It’s the largest Neo-Gothic Basilica in the Americas and an iconic landmark in Quito’s Centro Historico. It costs just a few dollars per person to get a ticket to main sanctuary and the towers, and once you have your ticket you can head inside where you’ll climb a few flights of stairs.
Your first stop will be the balcony overlooking the nave where you’ll see the Rose Window, a large circular stained glass window that’s absolutely spectacular. There are also some stunning windows on this level overlooking the city.
After that head up another flight of stairs. You’ll enter the gift shop. Keep walking through the gift shop and on your right you’ll see a balcony with a view of the Panecillo (the Panecillo is a large hill in Quito with a towering statue of the Virgin Mary).
Once you’re done enjoying that view, head in the other direction. You’ll find a catwalk to cross, and at the end you’ll climb a few stairs to the Basilica’s towers. The stairs to climb the towers are incredibly steep - almost like a ladder. You had better believe my hands are sweating just thinking about climbing these stairs!
3 of my kids and my husband immediately climbed these stairs to the clock tower with a panoramic view of the Historic Center of Quito. Meanwhile, I stayed at the bottom with my 9-year-old who really wanted to try climbing the towers, but felt a little nervous.
He finally mustered the courage, and we climbed the stairs together, both scared but determined. The view from the top is so rewarding. My kids were ages 6-13 at the time we climbed the towers, and they all loved it!
Explore Quito's Historic Center
Quito’s Historic Center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for having the best-preserved, least altered historic center in Latin America, so it’s definitely worth a few hours of wandering around!
You’ll see beautiful Spanish and Moorish styles of architecture, cobblestone streets, lively plazas, ornate churches, and plenty of adorable coffee shops.
With our itinerary we didn’t get as much time as we wanted to wander this area with our kids, and even when we did have a few hours to spend, it ended up pouring so we didn’t get to enjoy it to the fullest.
Here’s what I would recommend seeing and doing in the Historic Center:
Plaza de San Francisco - tour the San Francisco church and monastery
Plaza Grande (also known as Plaza de la Independencia) - the Presidential Palace is located here
Calle La Ronda - a historic pedestrian cobblestone street
Stop for Coffee + Hot Chocolate at Numen Cafeteria
We attempted to spend an afternoon exploring Quito’s Historic Center, but thanks to a torrential downpour, we had to duck inside a cafe instead.
This turned out to be a happy accident, because we fell in love with the cafe we stumbled upon called Numen Cafeteria. The owners were so incredibly welcoming, and recommended some wonderful options for the kids. We ended up having hot chocolate for the kids, sampled several pastries, and I had a mochaccino, which was excellent.
The food, coffee, and service was incredible, but we also loved the fantastic views over Plaza de San Francisco and the Basilica of San Francisco. The owner even recommended the best window balcony for a photo with a view, which I thought was so sweet since I always try to be as discreet as possible when I’m taking photos and videos.
Visit the Intiñan Equator Museum
Intiñan Equator Museum is a great place to take your kids to learn more about the equator. Ecuador, of course, gets its name from the equator, so in my opinion, this is a must-visit! I’ve been to Intiñan at least 5 times, and it never gets old!
Entrance costs $5/person, and that price includes guided tours in Spanish or English. First you’ll learn about the Indigenous Ecuadorian cultures and traditions, along with Amazon and Galápagos animals. During the part of the tour where you learn about the indigenous people, there’s a shrunken head display and explanation. One of my kids got a little woozy during that part, so if you have sensitive kids, they usually give you a chance to step away during that portion of the tour.
Toward the end of the tour you’ll learn about how the equator affects the climate, seasons, and gravitational pull in Ecuador, and finally you’ll end with interactive equator demonstrations and experiments. For example, you can try to balance an egg on a nail, and they will demonstrate the Coriolis Effect using water and a tub with a drain. Now, you’re too close to the equator to see the actual Coriolis Effect, but the guides acknowledge that these experiments are just for fun.
The coolest part is that you get to stand on the actual equator, or put one foot on each side and stand in 2 hemispheres at once! How many kids get to say they’ve done that?
Visit Mitad del Mundo
Mitad del Mundo is an equator monument right next door to Intiñan. This is the famous monument you often see in photos. It’s not exactly on the equator, but you can still do the fun experiments there, take a picture in front of the monument, shop for souvenirs, get lunch, etc.
It would be easy to combine Intiñan and Mitad del Mundo in one outing since they are so close to each other. We skipped it this time because everyone was exhausted after the overnight flight.
There are several playgrounds and activities for kids, though, so this might be a nice place to spend the afternoon!
Artisan Market (Mercado Aresanal La Mariscal)
The Artisan Market in the Mariscal neighborhood is a wonderful place to stock up on handicrafts and souvenirs.
If you want any alpaca goods like hats, mittens, blankets, or sweaters, this is the place to go! You can also find handmade jewelry, artwork, soccer jerseys, backpacks, purses, and so much more.
La Mariscal is also called “Gringolandia” because it’s a tourist hotspot especially for nightlife.
Take an Overnight Trip from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park
If you have an extra night in your Quito itinerary, one of my favorite things we did was spend the night inside Cotopaxi National Park. It's less than two hours from Quito, but it feels like an entirely different world.
We stayed at Tambopaxi Hotel located inside Cotopaxi National Park. It’s a cozy, remote lodge with epic views of Cotopaxi Volcano. They even have rooms that fit a family of 6!
We hired a private driver to take us from Quito to Tambopaxi. Here is his Facebook page and his WhatsApp contact information is there! I just reached out on WhatsApp and told him our dates and destinations, then asked for a price. He was amazing, professional, and so so helpful.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Cotopaxi National Park closes at 4 p.m. What we didn’t realize was that check in for Tambopaxi Lodge is as early as 11:00 a.m. We almost missed out on our stay because we arrived after the park closed, and we didn’t have an official form filled out with the hotel that certified that we were staying there. It all got figured out in the end by contacting the hotel on WhatsApp while we were waiting at the entrance to the park, but don’t make the same mistake we did:
If staying at Tambopaxi, plan to arrive between 1–4 p.m. OR contact the lodge ahead of time to arrange late entry into Cotopaxi National Park.
Other that that mistake, our stay at Tambopaxi Lodge was exceptional! Breakfast was included, and they have a restaurant on property for lunch and dinner. The prices were very reasonable and they had a kids menu, too! They even made a cake for my daughter’s birthday since she turned 13 on the day we arrived.
We also arranged a 1-Hour Horseback Riding excursion through the hotel which was incredible. I wish we had arrived earlier to have more time to explore the national park and hike, but I still think it was worth the overnight trip.
3-Day Quito + Cotopaxi Family Itinerary
Here’s a sample 3-day itinerary for Quito with kids that pulls from our experience and fixes our mistakes!
Day 1: Arrive in Quito + Equator
I would keep our first day the same, especially if you have an overnight flight like we did. It’s so important to adjust to the altitude, and the equator is a nice low-key activity for the day. You could also try a local Ecuadorian restaurant, and maybe add in the artisan market if you’re up for it.
Otherwise don’t feel bad taking it easy in your hotel for part of the day!
Arrive/check in.
Rest/breakfast depending on flight time.
Intiñan Equator Museum.
Optional Mitad del Mundo.
Early dinner/bed.
Day 2: TelefériQo + Basilica + Cotopaxi
Head to Quito’s Historic Center on your 2nd day! If everyone is doing ok with the altitude, you can try the TelefériQo. I would do that first thing in the morning to avoid lines and long waits for the cable car.
All of the activities listed here are fairly close together, though you may need to grab a taxi or an Uber once or twice to get around.
TelefériQo first thing.
Coffee/hot chocolate at the top.
Swing in the Clouds (Columpio en Las Tubes)
Basilica.
Lunch.
Plaza de San Francisco
Plaza Grande
Calle La Ronda
Day 3: Artisan Market + Overnight Trip
Visit the Artisan Market first thing in the morning
Drive to Cotopaxi National Park
Check in at Tambopaxi
Eat lunch at Tambopaxi Lodge
Book a trekking activity or horseback riding activity through Tambopaxi Lodge
Dinner at Tambopaxi
Stay overnight
More Things to Do in Quito with Kids
Here are a few things we didn’t get around to doing in Quito that you might consider adding to your itinerary:
Parque La Carolina
El Panecillo
Yaku Water Museum
Chocolate tasting/chocolate tour
Quito food tour
Guided Historic Center walking tour
Read More About Visiting Ecuador with Kids:
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Emily Krause is a Florida-based travel blogger who writes about exploring the world with kids. On A Mom Explores you’ll find best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.
Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.
