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Pichincha Volcano

Pichincha Volcano: Our most recommended tours and activities

Quito Tour, Teleferico & Pichincha Volcano Horseback Ride

1. Quito Tour, Teleferico & Pichincha Volcano Horseback Ride

You will begin your tour with a pick-up from your hotel. The tour will then continue from Basilica Church, where you will make a brief stop next to San Juan Mirador from where you will have a beautiful view of the colonial center of Quito.  After walking through the colonial streets, you will then stop at the Independence Plaza to admire the cathedral and the Government Palace. You will also visit La Ronda Street, the Company Church, Santo Domingo Church, Sagrario Church and San Francisco Church, which was built during the 17th century.  After visiting the historical sights, you'll go to the Teleférico. This is one of the best ways to enjoy the city with views of the beautiful valleys, snow-capped mountains and Quito, the capital. From a point at more than 13,000 feet (4000 meters), you will enjoy magnificent views, as well as a horseback riding tour which will last between 2 to 3-hours going up to almost 3 miles above sea level.

Quito: Cable Car Ride and Private City Tour

2. Quito: Cable Car Ride and Private City Tour

See Quito from above on this cable car and guided tour. Travel to Cruz Loma viewpoint, explore Quito with a guide, and learn about Quito's history. Meet your guide at your hotel and head to Pichincha volcano. Take the cable car to the top and admire the view from Cruz Loma. See an unforgettable view of Quito and the snow-capped volcanoes Cotopaxi, Antisana, and Cayambe. After returning to the base of the mountain, begin your guided tour of Quito, the first World Cultural Heritage Site created. Before your tour, enjoy some time to have a coffee or a small lunch with recommendations from your local guide. Head to Independence Square, the scene of many dramatic revolutionary battles throughout Ecuador's history. Walk past the Presidential Palace, Cathedral, Archbishop's Palace, and Church of the Secret Society of Jesus of Quito. Stroll through the charming La Ronda neighborhood and marvel at the ancient Church and Convent of San Francisco. Hop into a car and drive to the top of El Panecillo and see the tallest aluminum statue in the world, the winged Virgin Mary of Quito.

Quito: City Tour, Teleferico & Pichincha Volcano Hike

3. Quito: City Tour, Teleferico & Pichincha Volcano Hike

Departing from your Quito hotel, you'll embark on a journey that will let you discover some of Quito's top attractions. First, visit Panecillo Hill which allows for panoramic views of the city. Don't forget to bring your camera. The tour will then continue on to the Basilica Church, and to the San Juan Mirador from where you'll have a beautiful sight of Quito's colonial center.  Stroll through the colonial streets and get a glimpse at the old city's top attractions including Independence Plaza, the cathedral and the Government Palace. You'll also visit La Ronda Street, the Company Church, Santo Domingo Church, Sagrario Church and San Francisco Church. After visiting the historical site, head to Teleferico, Quito's famous cable car. This is one of the best ways to enjoy the city with views of beautiful valleys, snow-capped mountains and of the city itself. From a point at more than 4,100 meters (13,500 feet), you'll enjoy magnificent views, as well as embarking on a leisurely hike on top of the mountains. If you are already acclimatized, you can go for a walk to Rucu Pichincha volcano. This hike will take you through the typical Paramo (highland) vegetation of the Andes up to the rocky summit of Rucu Pichincha, which is a volcano basically made up of series of andesitic lava and is crowned by a sequence of subglacial gaps that form the youngest peaks of this building. The Rucu Pichincha 4698 meters, a volcano without activity, is located in the vicinity of the Ecuadorian capital. It is advisable to climb it to acclimatize, if you intend to climb other mountains. The Rucu Pichincha is undoubtedly the mountain near Quito of greater importance. Its name is due to the fact that it was the first crater of the Pichincha massif and therefore the oldest peak. "Rucu" which in Quichua means "old," is an extinct volcano whose activity culminated in the Pleistocene. From this time, it was intensely eroded by the ancient glaciers that have polished its slopes and have only left pointed rocky peaks. From the 4698 meters (15450 feet) high summit, you will have great sights on a clear day, with Quito down in the valley below you and the surrounding snow-capped volcanoes Cayambe, Antisana and Cotopaxi in the horizon. In the afternoon, you will return to Quito. 

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What people are saying about Pichincha Volcano

Overall rating

5.0 / 5

based on 4 reviews

It was difficult to meet with the guide at first. The guide didn't come, but when I consulted with the hotel, the pick-up address was wrong. I managed to get in touch with WhatsApp and email, and I was able to meet the guide 40 minutes behind schedule. After 40 minutes, I was thrilled that the tour wouldn't be held anymore, but the guide was very kind and even apologized for making me wait. However, in order to avoid such a thing, I think it is good to check the address carefully when the voucher is issued. I thought that horseback riding was like taking a walk in the plains of the mountains, even though it was a mountain, but I was climbing a slope with a steep slope. It was painful but very easy to climb on a horse while I saw a family with small children climbing hard. As I arrived at the airport at 0:30 am on the day I participated in the tour, it was a very good experience to enjoy nature and communication with horses easily. I couldn't go to the crater of Pichincha vo

Thank you Diego. You told us a lot about the vegetation on Pichincha. The view was amazing. The City Tour was realy interesting, history, churches...

Awesome. It was an experience I will never forget. Diego went above and beyond to make this a one of a kind experience.