Explore Quito and its Surroundings
The city of Quito lies at an altitude of 2,800 meters, just barely south of the equator line. Its historic center boasts some of the very best colonial period architecture along with many fine museums, churches, plazas, and other attractions that make spending a week or more in Quito an absolute pleasure.
And if you want to escape the city at weekends you can take any of a wide range of all-day excursions out to surrounding areas to visit some of the marvels in the surrounding Andes (see the list below!)
"I stayed a week in Quito and could easily have stayed longer! The sunshine, the dry mountain air, the sights and history were all fascinating. It was easy and cheap to get around too."
Here is a list of some of the more noteworthy excursions that we offer through the Spanish school: Click on each name to go to the page with more details.
| Papallacta hot springs | A complex of thermal baths two hours from Quito set in spectacular Andean scenery. Soak away your troubles in this beautiful spa. |
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| Otavalo Market | The biggest open air crafts market in the Americas! Spend a day haggling for souvenirs, as well as visiting Cuicocha Lake and Peguche waterfalls, both close to Otavalo |
| Pasachoa Reserve | An ecological reserve around a collapsed volcano. Great hiking with fabulous views of the surrounding mountains, and a chance to see condors in flight! |
| Cotopaxi Volcano | Hike up to the glacier on the volcano! A trip that will literally take your breath away at over 5,000 meters. Optional cycling downhill on the return. |
| Mindo Cloud Forest | Explore the cloud forest flora and fauna - 2 hours from Quito. A total change of environment and climate in the steamy cloud forest with humming birds, orchids, ferns, waterfalls, fresh trout and more. . . |
| Quilotoa Crater Lake | A turquoise lake set in an extinct volcano crater. Spectacular scenery and a chance to hike the rim or descent to the lake to kayak. Hike up or rent a horse to do the hard work! |
| Guagua Pichincha hike | Hike up to the crater rim and down into a smouldering volcano below! Definitely a hike for the fit at an altitude of over 4,000 meters. |
| Mitad del Mundo | Visit the official museum on the equator line just north of Quito, as well as the smaller Inti Ñan musuem which sits directly on the actual equator according to GPS. |
The above day trips generally cost between $35 - $60 depending on distance and time. There may be other entry fees not included in this price. We will be happy to supply you with more information and to make any necessary reservations for you.
