Hike to volcano summits, ride a cable car above the Andes, spot exotic wildlife and stand with one foot in each hemisphere in this Andean province.
Lofty volcanoes and the Andes Mountains are some of the natural features of Pichincha, a province in Ecuador’s Highlands region. Spend time in the nation’s capital, a vibrant city that blends colonial charm with indigenous traditions. Visit the rural villages, waterfalls and wildlife reserves that sit amid the lush green countryside of Pichincha.
Soaring peaks shelter a wealth of colonial architecture, religious landmarks and craft markets in Quito. At the heart of the UNESCO-listed Old Town is Independence Square, home to the Archbishop’s Palace, Carondelet Palace and Quito Metropolitan Cathedral. Drink in volcanic views from El Panecillo hill, shop for souvenirs at La Mariscal Craft Market and take the Quito Cable Car over the Andes. December is a great time to be here, when the Founding of Quito Festival lights up the city with street parties and live music.
A short drive from Quito are several accessible volcanoes. Trails run to the summit of the active Pichincha Volcano and an aerial gondola travels into its foothills. See the changing ecosystems of Cayambe Coca National Park on your way up 8,996-feet (5,790-meter) tall Cayambe Volcano. Cotopaxi Volcano has one of the world’s only equatorial glaciers.
West of Quito is Mindo, a village nestled amid Andean cloud forest and the Mindo Valley. Spot colorful birds and butterflies in Mindo-Nambillo Ecological Reserve, marvel at Nambillo Waterfall and try tubing on the Mindo River. Follow paths through Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve to a lookout above an extinct volcano crater. Nearby is the Mitad del Mundo Monument, the equatorial divide between the northern and southern hemispheres.
More spectacular scenery awaits in Machachi, encompassed by eight volcanoes. Calacali is another place where it’s possible to be in two hemispheres at once. Learn about the ancient Yumbo people at the Tulipe Archaeological Site. Puerto Quito is an eco-tourism destination close to jungles and waterfalls teeming with wildlife.
Reach the Pichincha province by flying to Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport. A subtropical climate means year-round mild temperatures in this part of Ecuador. Visit between June and September to avoid tropical storms.
