Things to do in Quito during the weekends

At Parque El Ejido in Quito (Ecovía bus stop:  Casa de la Cultura), local artists line the park's edges with canvasses of all sizes and many varieties, everything for sale.

Or you can just browse.

While you are there, stroll the park and watch the locals playing various sports...buy a fruit concoction from a vendor...visit covered booths offering all sorts of Ecuadorian crafted items from bowls to scarves to jewelry...and stop by the Casa de la Cultura to see what show is happening and what events are planned.

Best time to go:  late morning till dusk, Saturdays and Sundays.

cccmedia in Quito

Why just Quito, Christine?

How's about we open this thread to posters from all over Ecuador?

Hi cccmedia,

Christine launched this Topic so as to get the maximum feedback about the things to do in specific places - to gather information that can help other members and which could be interesting as well to know

Thank you for your concern

Maximilien

OK, Maximilien, then Quito it is.

How about a visit to Ecuador's foremost public square and a tour of the presidential palace, Palacio Carondelet, on Calle Garcia Moreno in El Centro Histórico!

The location goes by two names -- Plaza de la Independencia...and Plaza Grande.

Bring your passport or photo ID for a 30-minute visit inside the 18th century palacio.  A tour guide speaking in Spanish will accompany you.  Before the Correa administration, sightseers had to settle for viewing the exterior of the building, but El Supremo opened the interior to the public several years ago.

According to information posted at Trip Advisor, the tour is free (unless you paid to go with an organized group) and available just by showing up with ID, on weekends.

cccmedia in Quito

No Gringo should make an initial visit to the capital without a night-time visit to Plaza Foch, the epicenter of Gringolandia.

The plaza has a square block's worth of open space with traffic cutting through it, surrounded by block after block in all directions of internationally-themed restaurants, nightclubs, single-shot cantinas, sports bars and hair salon/massage venues open into the evening hours.

This part of Mariscal Sector has plenty to offer Gringos during daylight hours, but it is at night when it comes alive with mostly young people -- Ecuadorians and partying turistas.

Trip Advisor has reviews for many places here under Quito Night Life.  Or you can just show up and walk the district to see whether you want to enter the Thai food place or a happening dance spot.

January visitors can look for the annual Elvis sighting (and concert) at Plaza Foch starting at 6:15 p.m. on the King of Rock 'n Roll's birthday, January 8th.

cccmedia in Quito

Top 10 Things To Do on a Saturday in Gringolandia for $7 or less...

10. Buy 7 DVD "estrenos" (new-movie releases) at any DVD store in the area.

9. Get a freshly squeezed juice for $1.25 on Amazonas near Wilson.

8. Get your picture taken in front of the iconic  6-foot-tall 3-D "Foch Yeah!" sign in Plaza Foch.

7. Call home from one of the Internet and international telephone shops on Calle Wilson for 7 centavos a minute.

6. Order a mocha latté at El Español off Plaza Foch.

5. Have the berenjena eggplant appetizer at Italian restaurant La Cosa Nostra on Almagro and look for 'wise guys' (typically not present).

4. Get a pedicure with Gatubelita at Dodied Peluquería, Wilson near Mera.

3. Have your picture taken with the Mariachi impersonator/barker who wears the big sombrero as he greets passersby outside the Taco Factory Mexican restaurant on Mera.

2. Watch futbol while drinking cervezas at SportsPlanet above Plaza Foch.

And the number-one thing to do for $7 or less in Gringolandia on a Saturday....

Eat a dish of estrudel (European style strudel) while also enjoying a batido de maracuyá (passion fruit shake) at the Magic Bean on Juan Léon Mera!


cccmedia in Quito

That was $7 or less.  For those with a big budget, there is high end shopping at the malls on Avenida Naciones Unidas.

QuiCentro mall, for instance, has Apple and PC stores, a Sony store and myriad apparel stores.

Due to good security, the malls are good place to pull cash out of an ATM without having to look over your shoulder.

Take a break for coffee and snacks at Sweet & Coffee at QuiCentro.

cccmedia in Quito

I don't know about other expats,  but I am likely to do less on the weekends than on the weekdays, for the mere fact places are less crowded.

So If I was creating this thread I would post the question "Are there things you do on the weekends in Quito, because you can't do them on weekdays?"

Now that I think about,  there is less traffic Saturday and Sunday mornings, especially Sunday.  So walking in El Centro of Cuenca is really pleasant on Sundays.

Good points, Nards.

In Quito, there is a big difference between what goes on most Saturdays compared to Sundays.

The big malls and the parks are busy both days.

But on Sunday, with over 80 percent of the population being Catholic and many attending church, lots of shops are shuttered -- including hair salons, mid-sized general stores, many pharmacies and travel agencies. 

Most of the stores on Amazonas in Mariscal, the favorite avenue for Gringos six days a week, are closed on Sunday, although many restaurants and sports bars nearby stay open.

I often go with the flow and don't plan much for Sundays, holidays and papal visits.

cccmedia in Quito

Are you going to go see him? What's the venue?

suefrankdahl wrote:

Are you going to go see him? What's the venue?

Key stops in Su Santidad's itinerary in Quito and Guayaquil were recently posted on the Ecuador Forum at the thread titled First South American Pope Visits Ecuador, 2-Million Expected at Quito Mass.

The following is the link.  The itinerary information is in Report #5.

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 63#2372290

cccmedia in Quito

If you're in Centro Histórico, you're just a short bus ride away from the largest Gothic cathedral in South America.  La Basílica de los Votos, or simply La Basílica.  Votos in this context means 'vows.'

Admire the gigantic size of the building, which sits atop a hill overlooking El Centro... the ornate stonework of the exterior...and the stained glasswork inside.

Historically, visitors have been allowed to climb the lengthy stairway in the interior for a panoramic view.  But this move is only for the nimble and adventurous.

Take a taxi or the Calle Venezuela bus and get out at Parque Garcia Moreno where you will see the towering edifice to your left.  Don't try to walk up there from near Plaza Grande.  Between the incline of the final blocks and the altitude, you may not have enough energy to appreciate the enormous church.

cccmedia in Quito

cccmedia wrote:

If you're in Centro Histórico, you're just a short bus ride away from the largest Gothic cathedral in South America.  La Basílica de los Votos, or simply La Basílica.  Votos in this context means 'vows.'

Minor quibble, CCC: The name is 'La Basílica del Voto Nacional' -- Basilica of the National Vow. It was intended to commemorate the consecration of the nation (in the 1880s) to the Sacred Heart.

You are quite right that it is a tremendously impressive building, inside and out.

Something to be noted about weekends in Quito: it's tough to get a taxi on Sunday -- seems most taxistas choose to spend the day with their families.

Why not hop on the red double-decker Quito Tour Bus (daytime route 9am-4pm, 7 days a week)!

For $15 or half-price for seniors and descapacitados with acceptable photo ID, you can get off the bus at any of 11 stops and re-board on a subsequent QTB to resume the circuit.  Unlimited free reboards till 4 p.m.

Here are most of the stops in approximate order as shown at www.quitotourbus.com....

Nacionas Unidas shopping malls
  (Bob's old stomping grounds)

Botanical Gardens

Gringolandia, 2 stops

Centro de Arte Contemporáneo

La Basílica

Iglesia (church) de la Compañía

El Panecillo (hilltop with visitor center and restaurant
    with iconic virgin statue overlooking Old Town)

La Ronda in Centro Histórico

Plaza Grande

  cccmedia in Quito

BobH wrote:

The name is 'La Basílica del Voto Nacional' -- Basilica of the National Vow. It was intended to commemorate the consecration of the nation (in the 1880s)....

it's tough to get a taxi on Sunday -- seems most taxistas choose to spend the day with their families.

Quite right about the correct name, Bob.

Although the first stone of La Basílica was put in place in 1883, work continued for over a century and the building was officially inaugurated in 1988.  (Wikipedia)

As for trouble finding a taxi on Sunday, it's my favorite day to travel by bus.  Usually there is none of the overcrowding seen on all the other days.  Which means you easily can get a seat on most buses, and with the windows open it's a cooler ride as well.

cccmedia in Quito

What a great thread. Thanks to Christine. It would be great to see it on all the Forums

Take a day trip on Saturday to the famous Otavalo market.

DRAK21 wrote:

Take a day trip on Saturday to the famous Otavalo market.

If your purpose is to find a great selection of Ecuadorian handicrafts, you don't have to leave town.

Otovalo is four hours round-trip from Quito by bus, and you can find about 99 percent of the same arts, crafts, clothing and other Ecuadorian-made artículos in or around the Gringo-friendly Mariscal sector of the capital.

The two places to go in Quito are the north end of Parque El Ejido, the first weekend venue I offered (Report #2 of this thread), and Mercado Artesenal La Mariscal.  The latter is a grouping of permanent booths whose offerings range from schlock -- pardon my Yiddish -- to the real deal.  It's on Jorge Washington between Reina Victoria and Juan León Mera.

So if you go there, scrutinize...or as we say here...inspeccionar.

cccmedia in Quito