If you want a short trip outside Quito, Ecuador, try these suggestions. A guide to travel from Quito to nearby cities and Towns, including Guayaquil and Riobamba. You can go for a day trip or stay overnight for easy sightseeing outside the city.
20 Great day trips & overnight excursions from Quito, Ecuador
Nearest & Best places to go
Location: Carchi province
Lady of Peace (Virgin's Grotto) known locally as "Gruta de la Paz" is a place of prayer built under the rock. The grotto is located in the city of San Gabriel, Carchi, Ecuador. Grotto of Peace receives hundreds of faithful of the Virgin of Peace, who ask for favors and give thanks for the miracles ...
Location: Sucumbios province
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is a protected area located in the Sucumbíos and Orellana provinces. It provides home and habitat for countless of plant, animal, and more than 515 species of birds.
Location: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province
Santo Domingo de Los Colorados or just Santo Domingo; is one of the newest cities in Ecuador. It is the capital of the Santo Domingo de Los Tsáchilas province; situated about 133 km from Quito. This city was labeled as "Los Colorados" due to members of the Tsáchilas community have the custom of painting their ...
Location: Tungurahua province
Ambato is a nice city, the capital of the Tungurahua province. It is the major hub for travelers heading from Quito to Riobamba o Guayaquil. Ambato's full name is "San Juan de Ambato". Known as the "City of Flowers and Fruits" - "Ciudad de las Flores y las Frutas" in Spanish, due to the great variety of fruits ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Riobamba is a charming Andean city, located in the heart of the Ecuador. It is known as "La Sultana de los Andes", because it sits atop a large plain with snow-capped peaks in the background as the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest mountain.
Location: Tungurahua province
Devil's Cauldron o "Pailon del Diablo" in Spanish, is a spectacular waterfall; about 262 ft. (80 m.) high, formed from the Rio Verde (green river). The Devil's Cauldron is located on the road Baños-Puyo. This waterfall is a must-do stop if visiting Baños, 11 mi. (18km.) distance. This waterfall is part of the Route of ...
Location: Imbabura province
Otavalo is an indigenous city, surrounded by volcanoes. Located 68 mi. (110 km.) from the north of Quito, Ecuador — about a two-hour bus drive. — Otavalo is known as the "Intercultural Capital Ecuador" due to its diversity. Its main attraction is the Peguche waterfall, located inside the Protected Forest of Peguche. Other local attraction is the ...
Location: Esmeraldas province
Tonsupa is a small beach town located in Esmeraldas, Ecuador. This beach is one of the closest to Quito (245 mi - 394 km). Tonsupa offers basic amenities, like sunshades, deck chairs, and nearby restrooms in restaurants and hotels. Playa Tonsupa is a little quieter and less congested than Atacames. At night, you can stroll ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Devil's nose is a four to five hour train ride. This zigzag railroad is one of the scariest and most thrilling ride in the Andes mountains. The track goes over rocky ravines, along raging rivers, through dense cloud forests and around mountains. Rute: Riobamba-Alausí-Sibambe.
Location: Galápagos province
Galápagos National Park is Ecuador's first national park. Also, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Galápagos Islands are a collection of rocky and volcanic lands. It has pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. They are a protected part of the Galápagos National Park. About 97% of the entire area is part of the National Park system. ...
Location: Cotopaxi province
Cotopaxi National Park is located in the Cotopaxi Province, around 50 km south of Quito. The Cotopaxi volcano - 19,347 feet (5,897 m) - is the main attraction of this park. Cotopaxi National Park is a popular destination for visitors looking to hike, climb and trek. There is also a museum to visit. Best months to ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Chimborazo Fauna Reserve is located in the provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Bolivar in the Ecuadorian Andes. The reserve is a protected area that guards a wide variety of vegetation and animals. Thus, it is common to see vicuñas, llamas, guanacos, rabbits, deer, wolves, and birds. The main attraction is the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest volcano. ...
One-day trips
Location: Pichincha province
The Pasochoa Wildlife Refuge is located 45 minutes from Quito, Ecuador. Pasochoa protects a unique forest around an extinct volcanic crater. In fact, the last time the Pasochoa volcano erupted was more than 100,000 years ago, transforming the volcanic cone into a collapsed crater with a semicircular shape. The Pasochoa Wildlife Refuge has several trails ...
Location: Pichincha province
Condor-Machay is a waterfall located in the town of Rumipamba. This is 17 km. from Quito, Ecuador. Condor-Machay means "Nest of the Condor" in the Quichua language. The hike to the Condor-Machay waterfall takes about 2 hours but is rewarding. The waterfall road has a few bridges over the Pita river, as well as lush vegetation, and different kind ...
Location: Pichincha province
Secas Lagoon, "Laguna de Secas" in Spanish, is a lagoon located in the Pichincha province, Ecuador. The closest town is Pintag. Secas lagoon was formed when the Antisana volcano erupted more than 400 years ago, its lava divided into parts the current of the nearest river forming what is now known as the Dry Lagoons ...
Location: Pichincha province
Cayambe volcano is a snow-capped volcano with an altitude of 18,996 ft. (5,790 m.) above sea level. Located 37 mi. (60 km.) Northeast of Quito. Cayambe volcano is part of the Cayambe Coca National Park and the third-highest mountain in Ecuador. Also, it is the only summit that lies above the equatorial line. Cayambe is ...
Location: Pichincha province
Antisana is an impressive and beautiful double cone volcano. The Antisana volcano is located inside the Antisana Ecological Reserve, between the provinces of Napo and Pichincha. This is about 31 mi. (50 km.) Southeast of Quito. Antisana has an altitude of 18,870 ft (5,753 m) above sea level. Indeed, the Antisana volcano is the fourth ...
Location: Pichincha province
Machachi is a town located 35 km. to the south of the capital of Ecuador, Quito. Machachi is set within a ring of hills and volcanoes as the Ilinizas, Corazón, Rumiñahui, and Cotopaxi. The best times to visit Machachi for ideal weather are June 4th to September 30th.
Location: Pichincha province
The Pichincha volcano is an active stratovolcano located next to the city of Quito, capital of Ecuador. The three highest peaks of the Pichincha volcano, known as "Los Pichinchas" are Guagua, Rucu, and Padre Encantado. From its peaks, you have a spectacular view of the city in addition to the peaks of Cayambe, Antisana, Tungurahua, ...
Location: Pichincha province
Mindo-Nambillo Ecological Reserve is located two hours north of Quito, Ecuador. Its main feature is the Mindo-Nambillo Cloud Forest. Mindo-Nambillo biodiversity allows more than 350 bird species to live in this area. Certainly, Mindo Cloud Forest is the perfect place for bird watching. For instance, visitors can see hummingbirds, cock-of-the-rocks, barbet toucans, golden-headed quetzals, and ...
Overnight trips - Short excursions
Location: Esmeraldas province
Tonsupa is a small beach town located in Esmeraldas, Ecuador. This beach is one of the closest to Quito (245 mi - 394 km). Tonsupa offers basic amenities, like sunshades, deck chairs, and nearby restrooms in restaurants and hotels. Playa Tonsupa is a little quieter and less congested than Atacames. At night, you can stroll ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Riobamba is a charming Andean city, located in the heart of the Ecuador. It is known as "La Sultana de los Andes", because it sits atop a large plain with snow-capped peaks in the background as the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest mountain.
Location: Sucumbios province
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is a protected area located in the Sucumbíos and Orellana provinces. It provides home and habitat for countless of plant, animal, and more than 515 species of birds.
Location: Chimborazo province
Devil's nose is a four to five hour train ride. This zigzag railroad is one of the scariest and most thrilling ride in the Andes mountains. The track goes over rocky ravines, along raging rivers, through dense cloud forests and around mountains. Rute: Riobamba-Alausí-Sibambe.
Location: Imbabura province
Otavalo is an indigenous city, surrounded by volcanoes. Located 68 mi. (110 km.) from the north of Quito, Ecuador — about a two-hour bus drive. — Otavalo is known as the "Intercultural Capital Ecuador" due to its diversity. Its main attraction is the Peguche waterfall, located inside the Protected Forest of Peguche. Other local attraction is the ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Chimborazo Fauna Reserve is located in the provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Bolivar in the Ecuadorian Andes. The reserve is a protected area that guards a wide variety of vegetation and animals. Thus, it is common to see vicuñas, llamas, guanacos, rabbits, deer, wolves, and birds. The main attraction is the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest volcano. ...
Location: Carchi province
Lady of Peace (Virgin's Grotto) known locally as "Gruta de la Paz" is a place of prayer built under the rock. The grotto is located in the city of San Gabriel, Carchi, Ecuador. Grotto of Peace receives hundreds of faithful of the Virgin of Peace, who ask for favors and give thanks for the miracles ...
Location: Cotopaxi province
Cotopaxi National Park is located in the Cotopaxi Province, around 50 km south of Quito. The Cotopaxi volcano - 19,347 feet (5,897 m) - is the main attraction of this park. Cotopaxi National Park is a popular destination for visitors looking to hike, climb and trek. There is also a museum to visit. Best months to ...
Location: Tungurahua province
Devil's Cauldron o "Pailon del Diablo" in Spanish, is a spectacular waterfall; about 262 ft. (80 m.) high, formed from the Rio Verde (green river). The Devil's Cauldron is located on the road Baños-Puyo. This waterfall is a must-do stop if visiting Baños, 11 mi. (18km.) distance. This waterfall is part of the Route of ...
Location: Tungurahua province
Ambato is a nice city, the capital of the Tungurahua province. It is the major hub for travelers heading from Quito to Riobamba o Guayaquil. Ambato's full name is "San Juan de Ambato". Known as the "City of Flowers and Fruits" - "Ciudad de las Flores y las Frutas" in Spanish, due to the great variety of fruits ...
Location: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province
Santo Domingo de Los Colorados or just Santo Domingo; is one of the newest cities in Ecuador. It is the capital of the Santo Domingo de Los Tsáchilas province; situated about 133 km from Quito. This city was labeled as "Los Colorados" due to members of the Tsáchilas community have the custom of painting their ...
Location: Galápagos province
Galápagos National Park is Ecuador's first national park. Also, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Galápagos Islands are a collection of rocky and volcanic lands. It has pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. They are a protected part of the Galápagos National Park. About 97% of the entire area is part of the National Park system. ...
