Off the Beaten Path in Quito

by b1bob
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stone totem poles at the
entrance of Cumbayá

Cumbaya is just east of Quito at about 2200 m (7217 ft) above sea level. Because it is at a lower down, it is round about 2 to 5 degrees Celsius warmer. You can tell from the strip malls and shopping centres this area is rather upmarket. There are also quite a number of private universities and secondary schools. Because of Quito's fast-growing expansion during the last 35 years, Cumbayá is now a bedroom community of Quito (like Mechanicsville to Richmond). A new tunnel called Túnel Oswaldo Guayasamín is 1.5 km long (round about a mile) connects the northern part of Quito with Cumbayá, making the commute to the offices downtown just that much shorter. My friend Sergio lives in this bedroom community with his family.


	the plaza with no people	Tip Rating:

By richiecdisc

on November 8, 2007

by richiecdisc
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a nice plaza to enjoy some
solitude

If you find the main plazas like Grande or San Francisco a bit too crowded, just head south towards the statue of La Virgen de Quito. I guess since this was reputed to be a dangerous part of town no tourists come this way. Actually, there were few people of any kind in this part of town despite it being a very pretty square right next to El Calle Ronda. It was a gorgeous day and we were tempted to walk straight up to the statue even though this has a dangerous reputation as well. Who knows maybe by our next visit they have armed police all the way to the top of El Pancello!


	The Teleferiqo	Tip Rating:

By calcaf38

on September 8, 2007

by calcaf38, 4 more photos
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This is not, strictly speaking, off the beaten path. But since the theme of my Quito page is the Centro Historico, this classification will do. The Teleferiqo is a recent contraption, identical to those encountered at ski resorts, which zips you to a mountaintop way above Quito. The ride is magnificent, and eerily silent. The views from "up there" are spectacular - even on a partially cloudy day. If you have the luxury of being able to choose a clear day, you can allegedly identify several of the surrounding volcanoes. $7 will get you to the express lane, and $4 to the regular lane. On the evening I went, the place was deserted, and quite cold with an icy wind. There is a forlorn little amusement park on the premises, and sad craft shops. I got to the Teleferiqo by taxi ($5), and I came back with a shuttle which left me at a trole stop in the "new" town.

Website: http://www.teleferiqo.com/


	Building in Quito - Construire a Quito	Tip Rating:

Updated By Maillekeul

on March 22, 2004

by Maillekeul
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The game is so dangerous... hi
hi !

Well, as in most of the country, buildings are somewhat unfinished, even in Quito, the capital. The way they're sometimes repaired is also pretty weird, as security means are less than the required european standard. A single net with big holes is supposed to prevent stones from falling (look at the picture). Comme dans la majorite du pays, les edifices ne sont pas souvent acheves, et Quito, la capitale, n'echappe pas a la regle. La facon que les ouvriers ont, egalement, de reparer est un peu particuliere, les conditions europeennes basiques de securite etant loin d'etre reunies. Un simple filet avec de gros trous est cense prevenir la chute de pierres (voir photo).


	The Central/Northern portion...	Tip Rating:

By lichinga

on September 12, 2002

by lichinga
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The Central/Northern portion of the city is the most modern, with wide avenues, modern buildings, stores and all that sort of useless and flattening stuff such as commercial centres, fast-foods and so on. The picture is an example. There's a very nice bookstore at Juan Leon de Mera, corner with Veintemilla: Libri Mundi. It's worth the visit, you may find all the photography books you need from Ecuador and Latin America and also the normal literature production in Spanish. In face of the bookstore, there's a typical expatriate meeting point: an open-air coffe-bar which is tempting and relaxing.


	Museum Inti-ñan (Path of the...	Tip Rating:

By darthmilmo

on August 26, 2002

by darthmilmo
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Museum Inti-ñan (Path of the Sun) is devided into three kewl areas. First, is the area of experiments in which you get to see an egg balancing act made easy at the equator, a two face sun watch (six months one face is shows the time, the other six months the other face shows the time...depending on how the sun is hitting the Earth on winter and summer), and a water show where you get to see water going through a sink hole (north of the equator it drains on counter clockwise, south of the equator it drains clockwise, and at the equator it drains perpendicular with no circular movement at all... an amazing site). Second, they have a traditional Ecuadorian house/shelter. Third, they have a jungle exhibit with a shrunken Shuar head... the Shuar are a group of indigenous people that live in the jungle...they used to decapitate their enemies and using a boiling technique, they shrunk their heads.


	Get out of the city!	Tip Rating:

Updated By mlf7

on October 13, 2004

by mlf7
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this is why they call it a
cloud forest

Visit one of the lodges or nature preserves in the area. We went to Bellavista and found it to be a worthwhile adventure and nice break from the bustle of the city and the "skim air" of Quito. (The altitute of 9200 feet was a bit uncomfortable for us--coming from sea level.) Bellavista is about 2 hours outside of Quito (check out their website for more info), not exactly easy to get to but we hired a guide from Quito who drove us there (highly recommended.)


	crater - mitad del mundo	Tip Rating:

By el_ruso

on February 21, 2005

by el_ruso
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There is a very picturesque old volcano crater a few miles from Mitad del Mundo. You SHOULD go there. Some of the buses go there, or you can get a taxi from MDM for about $4-5.


	The town of Guapulo is a...	Tip Rating:

By montxito

on August 25, 2002

by montxito
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The town of Guapulo is a bohemian district with small cafes and bars. A steep walkway from the Hotel Quito leads down to the area offering an excellent afternoon escape from the city. The town's location offers Guapulo warmer temperatures than Quito. Many locals and seasoned tourists alike can be seen spending the weekend afternoons enjoying the sunshine on the decks of one of the local restaurants. The Basilica of Guapulo, built in 17th century, is worth the short trip from Quito. Guapulo was the birthplace of the Quiteñan Style of Art. The art treasures housed there are among the best in the continent including paintings, gilded alters, and stone carvings.


	Another one of my sister's...	Tip Rating:

By Taistealai

on August 24, 2002