Top Quito Layover Tours

After your guide collects you from your hotel, set off an adventure around the city.  First, ascend to Quito’s famous viewpoint in a cable car. From 4,100 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, you’ll see the city in all its splendor. Enjoy a leisurely stroll around the historic center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight and stop to visit major attractions like the Presidential Palace, La Ronda, and the Cathedral.

See a different side of Quito and admire the capital when it’s gloriously illuminated by night on a private evening tour. You’ll explore after dark safely in a private car and get the inside scoop on local history and culture in just a few hours. This flexible tour lets you customize your itinerary for a personalized experience.

If you’re visiting Quito for the first time, get an in-depth introduction to Ecuador’s capital on a private city tour that includes food tasting. Rather than navigating the metropolis alone, you’ll overcome the language barrier and get help making your way around with a local guide.

Explore Ecuador’s vibrant capital your way on a private city tour that’s ideal for first-time visitors pressed for time. You’ll delve deep into the culture and history of the UNESCO-listed Old Town while you receive undivided attention from your private guide. Plus, exploring on foot gives you chance to stop and focus on the smaller details.

Enhance your experience of the Middle of the World Monument on a private tour that takes you to several hidden gems surrounding it. While most visitors only go to the equator line, you’ll see hummingbirds at a secret nearby farm, visit the famous Intiñan Museum, and sample craft beer at a local brewery.

Experience a mix of nature and local flavours on this 3-in-1 private tour. Escape the busy streets of Quito—hotel transfers are included for a seamless experience—and immerse yourself in nature during a visit to Mindo Cloud Forest. You can also visit a chocolate factory and coffee plantation to see how these products are made. Travel in comfort in a private vehicle throughout the day, skipping the hassle of organizing transportation.

Tour the capital city of Quito at your leisure aboard this popular hop-on hop-off bus tour. Enjoy hassle-free double-decker transportation through narrow city streets as you make your way to numerous city attractions and landmarks. Choose to get off at any of the stops and make the most of your time in Quito.

Skip the standard route and discover the Otavalo region on a private full-day tour of the Rose Plantation, Equator Line, and Otavalo market. Stand on the equator at Quitsato Sundial, tour a working rose plantation, and shop for handmade crafts at one of South America’s largest Indigenous markets. Visit Cotacachi for its renowned leather goods and explore Cuicocha, a stunning crater lake nestled within an active volcano.

Visit two of the world’s most interesting locations on a full-day private tour. First, visit one of only two inhabited volcanic craters in the world and see how locals are living. Then, head to the Intiñan Museum to visit the exact division of the northern and southern hemispheres at 00º 00’ 00”. Lastly, head to Quito for a tour of the world’s first UNESCO-listed city and learn about its rich history.

Discover the cuisine of one of Latin America's tastiest capitals, Quito, during this street food and drinks tour. Walk around the city with your guide and stop at several locally-known vendors to sample delicious Ecuadorian dishes. Explore the bohemian neighborhood of Guapolo and watch the sunset from a scenic viewpoint. Your night ends with a drink at a local speakeasy.

Get a sense of the architecture, history, and culture of Quito during this private tour visiting the city’s top sights. Start with an exploration of the historic city center of this Ecuadorian capital, visiting its main Basilica, Independence Plaza, and many more colonial-era sites. Then take a trip aboard the Teleférico to a peak more than 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) above the city for sublime views, finishing your day at ‘Mitad del Mundo,’ a monument marking where the earth’s equator splits the world into north and south.

Explore the rugged surroundings and stunning scenery of Cotopaxi National Park and Cotopaxi Volcano during this full-day trip. Enjoy a short hike into the Limpiopungo Valley before driving ever-higher into this sky-high region, stopping at the 15,800-foot (4830-meter) Padre Rivas Refuge. If you’re feeling up for it, you’ll continue to the 16,500-foot (5,050-meter) Cotopaxi Glacier. This Cotopaxi day trip also includes national park fees, a guide, bottled water, round-trip hotel transport and an optional trip upgrade with lunch.

Spend a day away from the city and venture to the Otavalo region to see more of Ecuador’s Andean highlands. Join a small group and take in the mountainous scenery as you make your way to the first stop, a rose plantation. Learn about this major industry and then get a taste of Ecuadorian culture as you visit the Otavalo Market and Cotacachi village to shop for local handicrafts.

Enjoy this full-day tour of Otavalo Marketplace, the largest Indigenous market in Latin America. Departing Quito, you’ll travel to Otavalo Marketplace, to browse stalls for colorful, artisan souvenirs and delicious flavors. See, too, the famous equator monument and stop in Peguche to visit a waterfall and a local family to learn about local music.

Enjoy a full day excursion from Quito at Ecuador’s Cloud Forest.  Private transportation takes you and your guide to Mindo. You have the freedom to choose from a number of activities including a zip-line course or a leisurely hike around the waterfalls.  Customization continues with the option to visit a chocolate factory or immerse yourself at butterfly and hummingbird farms, before being transported back to Quito.

Ecuador’s capital is a UNESCO World Heirtage site and one of the highest cities in the world, located right by the Equator Line. This tour offers a comprehensive introduction to the city, ideal for first-time visitors. Explore the historic Old Town, see the Compania and San Francisco churches, and admire the views from Panecillo Hill. Plus, ride the Teleférico cable car to Pichincha Volcano and visit the Middle of the World monument.

Venture into the cloud forest of Mindo on this private day trip from Quito with hotel pickup. Learn from a coffee-and-chocolate expert during visits to a cacao farm and coffee plantation. A guide explains chocolate making, followed by a tasting and themed savory lunch. Start the day with coffee and a stop at a hummingbird viewpoint in the Mindo Cloud Forest and finish with another flavorful tasting.

Don’t let limited time in Ecuador stop you visiting the majestic Quilotoa Lagoon, an emerald crater lake surrounded by mountain landscapes. Reach the natural wonder the easy way on this full-day tour from Quito, ideal for nature lovers. Stop at a traditional craft market before arriving in Quilotoa National Park and opting to hike or ride a mule (own expense) to the rim of the dormant volcano. Lunch and transfers are included.