El Panecillo, Quito

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The Panicillio is a hill in the center of town that someone thought looked like a loaf of bread, Pan is bread in Spanish. I admit I don't think much of this. Unlike the Jesus in Rio (only seen it in Pictures), the Mary in Bogota, the Jesus in Medellin or the Jesus in Havana, The Angel in Quito does not sit off byitself up above the city. The hill is covered in Houses, right up to the top. It takes something away in my opinion.

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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).

El Panecillo (which means the little bread loaf) is a small hill on the edge of central Quito, but dominates the city because of its statue of the Virgin Mary which towers over the city. Only recently built (1975), it's hard to imagine Quito before its world-renowned symbol.

As a traveller in Ecuador - you can not miss this Symbol of the City Quito
High above and next to the virgin statue - a perfect panoramic view is the result !
Quito is the place to be as first contact with this country, beautiful country.

El Panecillo is the hill upon which a statue of an angel standing on a giant snake is located. The statue is visable from just about anywhere in the city so finding this attraction should not be a problem.

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.

The Virgin of Quito stands on Cerro Panecillo. Like this she is overlooking the whole city.

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).

Panecillo Hill: Panecillo means little bread, referring to its size and shape. From here you have splendid view over Quito.

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.

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.

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The Virgen of Quito overlooks the old town of Quito from El Panecillo hill. This is a very south American custom of always having some religous symbol overlooking the city.

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Se puede llegar caminando o en taxi, yo recomiendo ir caminando, pero OJO cuidado con los PERROS!!!!!, si te confundes de camino seguro los perros te indicaran que estas en el equivocado :)