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The Panecillo - literarly meaning the little bread, as this hill sticks out as a little bun dividing the city into north and south. The best time to go is in the morning, as this is the time when the weather in Quito usually is the mos favorable to taking good pictures. Essentially, if you happen to wake up and you just have one of those beautiful mornings when the sun highlights the slopes and Pichincha (and maybe it's so clear that you can see both the Cayambe and Cotopaxi volcanoes), do not hestitate to take some time out of your morning to go up to the Panecillo. The weather change so fast that you might not get the chance again to take some pictures of the wonderful view that surrounds Quito.
It is NEVER safe to walk up to the top. Rather, catch a cab from Colonial Quito (Plaza San Fransisco) and ask them to take you up there. Have the cab wait for you while you visit the area (should not take longer than 10-15min). Make sure to agree with the cab driver of the total price for the ride before getting in. The price for the cab should be LESS than $10.
Open daily, 9am-dark (these opening hours refer to the time you can entrace the statue - $1 - and the little museum, and the time the stals selling the regular tourist stuff opens, if you just want to enjoy the view, you can go before 9am as well). Leave a Comment Directions: The big hill in the middle of the city
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La Virgen de Quito cannot be missed and is perhaps the landmark that keeps both tourist and locals oriented. Though a bit cartoonish compared to Rio de Janeiro’s statue of Jesus it nonetheless adds a bit of distinction to the many hills that surround Quito. The hill on which it stands is called El Panecillo and supposedly affords great views of not on the city but also distant volcanoes on a clear day. It also is reportedly dangerous to walk up there. It goes through a poor part of town and though a cab can be hailed to the top it never seemed clear enough to warrant that. Besides the walk up was something I would have liked to do for an acclimatization exercise. Maybe they’ll clean up this area much as they seemed that end of town when we were there. Something tells me I may walk up there yet. Leave a Comment Address: atop El PanecilloDirections: El Panecillo is the hill at the south end of the Old Town. Just walk up the steps at the end of Garcia Moreno to get there. Oops, no, take a taxi for $4. Or just enjoy the statue from anywhere in town where you are bound to see it.
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 El Panecillo Statue by namastedc
The view from El Panecillo, on a clear day, is indescribable. Because the little hill sits in the center of the populated valley, its crest is the only place where one can see the whole urban expanse.
Take a taxi up to the top, and have them wait for you to take you down. The entire ride, with a half-hour wait should not be more than five or six dollars. Though tipping taxis is not necessarily customary, a driver who negates other fares to wait while you tour is something of an exception! Just make sure that the taxi is in good condition before you get in because the road to the top is hard on cars, especially those with low ground clearance. Leave a Comment Directions: small hill in the center of the city
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Even during the night when I arrived from the airport, I could already see the well lighted 134-foot Winged Virgin of the Apocalypse, located on Panecillo Hill (literally means “little bread” and located in the middle of Quito’s Old Town). The Virgin, made of aluminum and completed in 1976, is believed to protect the city from the anger of the volcanoes.
I had my tour guide bring me the next day to the Panecillo Hill and the unique qualities of the statue are evident during the daylight. The statue was copied from a 17th century painting by Bernardo de Lagarda, who in turn is said to have modeled his painting after the typical Quiteña. As to why he added the wings, I don’t know. I’m sure there are several theories about it though. Also, the image is supposed to look like the Virgin is “dancing”, unlike other non-committal poses of the Virgin Mother.
And since I was there, why not climb up! For a small fee (US1-2? I don’t remember well), I went up the inside and saw views of Quito from the top and waved down at my tour guide but I wish he took a picture of me too (but I had my camera with me…). So, if you are with someone, maybe the other can stay behind below to take your pic? Take turns?
However, if you are foreign to Quito, it is safer to either get your guide and driver (as I did) or just have a cab bring you up to the statue and wait for you to go down. But make sure you already decide on a price for the cab before you go in, maybe about US$15 (?) if they wait for you… Leave a Comment Directions: small hill in the center of the city
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 Cerro Panecillo by filipdebont
Via stairs and paths from the Garcia Moreno and the Ambato, you can hike to the top of this hill. But it is not safe to do this, as on this trail many tourists have been robbed in the past.
So it is better to take a taxi to the top. It will cost you 3 US $, but that is a much safer way to reach the top. Leave a Comment Directions: small hill in the center of the city
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 Virgen de Quito by filipdebont
From here you have splendid view over the city.
This statue consists of 7000 pieces of aluminium, and it is a modern presentation of the famous Virgin de Quito, the unique winged dancing Virgin. The original masterpiece can be seen at the main altar of the San Francisco Church.
There is a balcony in the upper part of the pedestal of the Virgin, that provides a great view over the city (old and new part).
Open every day from 10.30 till 17.30. Entrance fee to the interior of the monument is 1 US $.
(I did not have enough time to go in). Leave a Comment Address: on Cerro PanecilloDirections: small hill in the center of the city
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Before the Spanish Conquistadores gave it this funny name, Panecillo – “little bread roll” - was called Yavirac and locals had built a temple to worship their god, the Sun. In 1976 by order of the church, 7000 pieces of aluminum were brought and assembled on top of the hill. So the 45m-tall Virgen de Quito monument standing on the peak, at more than 3000m of altitude, has been the dominating figure of Quito ever since. Locals are proud of their Virgen as it's the only one in the world that has wings and reminds of an angel. It also has a chain tied to a dragon at her feet and is stepping on a snake. What is really unique is that the Virgen is in a dancing position in contrast to the usual static Madonnas, and is an inspiration of the “dancing “ Madonna of the famous Ecuadorian sculptor Bernando de Legarda, kept in the altar of San Francisco church. Legarda was considered an artist of “tremendous” talent and his artwork can be seen not only in Quito but in Bolivia, too.
There is a small balcony at the feet of the monument for spectacular views of all around the city and the valley, but you have to pay 2$ to climb up from inside. The taxi driver who took you there can wait for half an hour and take you down again for totally 5-6$. But if you feel like staying more to browse at the handicraft stalls or have something to eat, you can find another taxi at the top for your way down. Personally the setting with the monstrous iron constructions for the lights so conspicuous that can be seen even from the town, disturbed my aesthetics... just between you and me... Directions: small hill in the center of the city
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El Panecillo is a little hill, South of the historical center of Quito. I could see it from my hotel room, and it is always an attractive presence. I didn't go to the top, however, as it has the repution of being a dengerous spot. Since the construction of the clean and safe Teleferiqo (see off the beaten path), the Panecillo has lost part of its appeal as a vantage view point. Leave a Comment Directions: small hill in the center of the city
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Well, "Panecillo" is the name of the small hill from which you may have a partial view of the city. I would suggest to go, as it's not very difficult to reach it, but the enthusiasm will be proportionate to the scarse effort requested.
The casco historico or centro, is the old colonial part of the city: that is really great. It's been declared part of mankind's heritage by UNESCO and it deserevs the title. It is the most preserved and vast rest of the Spanish power all over Latin America, you won't find such an extensive number of beatiful and well preserved churches and buildings in Lima, Bogota or Caracas.Most of the pictures I attached are from that area. Leave a Comment
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From here you will get a beautiful view of old Quito. You can get up to the Mirador which is to the bottom the the feet of the Virgen but you are still high enough to see at a distance. Directions: small hill in the center of the city
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