Ecuador

Quito

Mercado Central de Quito

Head to this bustling covered market for an authentic Ecuadorian lunch, where rows of market mothers serve up caldo de gallina, llapingachos, and fresh fruit bowls at communal tables. It is loud, colorful, and genuinely delicious, and you can eat a full family meal for a few dollars.

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Quito

Restaurant El Crater

On the road back toward Quito near the Pululahua volcanic crater, this restaurant serves Ecuadorian mountain cuisine with a view of the crater and surrounding green hills that is genuinely dramatic. The seco de pollo and choclo con queso are reliable family favorites, and the terrace is a wonderful place to end an active day.

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Quito

El Jardín Restaurant

Tucked into a garden courtyard in La Floresta, this relaxed restaurant serves a wide-ranging Ecuadorian and international menu in an outdoor setting that children genuinely enjoy because they can move around without feeling hemmed in. The chicken sancocho soup and fresh lemonade with ginger are the things to order for lunch.

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Quito

El Guápulo Restaurant

At the foot of the neighborhood, this relaxed terrace restaurant serves excellent Ecuadorian seafood and Andean comfort food with a direct view across the valley toward Cumbayá. The shrimp ceviche and grilled tilapia are the dishes families return for, and the unhurried atmosphere makes it perfect for a final long lunch.

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Quito

Hasta la Vuelta Señor

This beloved bakery and cafe on Calle Chile near the historic center has been feeding Quiteños for generations and is the best spot for a family lunch of empanadas, humitas, and fresh juices. Order the pan de yema and a cup of Ecuadorian coffee while the kids try colada morada for the first time.

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Quito

Zazu Restaurante

Back in the Mariscal neighborhood after the gondola, Zazu is one of Quito's most celebrated upscale restaurants and serves contemporary Ecuadorian cuisine in a warm, family-welcoming dining room. The ceviche de camarón and beef tenderloin with Andean herbs are standout dishes, and the kitchen is happy to accommodate kids with simpler preparations on request.

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Quito

Museo Interactivo de Ciencia

This hands-on science museum near the historic center is designed specifically for children and covers topics from earthquakes to the human body with interactive exhibits in Spanish and some English signage. Kids ages 5 to 12 especially love the electricity and physics stations, and the staff are used to working with international families.

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Quito

Museo de Sitio Intiñan

Located just 200 meters from the main monument, this small open-air museum is run by a local family and demonstrates real equatorial phenomena like water draining in opposite directions and the challenge of balancing an egg on a nail at 0 degrees latitude. Kids consistently rank this as one of their favorite stops in Quito because the demonstrations are hands-on and interactive.

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Quito

Jardín Botánico de Quito

Located inside the large Parque La Carolina, Quito's botanical garden covers 4 hectares of Andean and Amazonian plant life including an impressive orchid collection with over 500 native species. The garden has well-labeled paths that take about 90 minutes to walk and offers a calm, green counterpoint to the busier city days.

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Quito

Vivarium de Quito

Also within Parque La Carolina, the Vivarium houses a collection of live snakes, lizards, frogs, and turtles native to Ecuador in a small but well-maintained facility that is perfect for kids who are curious about Amazonian wildlife. Handlers sometimes bring animals out for supervised touch sessions on weekends.

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Quito

Parque La Carolina Paddle Boats and Food Stalls

The artificial lake at La Carolina rents pedal boats by the half hour and is surrounded by local food carts selling chochos con tostado, fruit skewers, and fresh coconut water on weekends. This is an easy, unstructured late afternoon that lets families decompress before the final day of the trip.

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Quito

Plaza Grande (Plaza de la Independencia)

Start your first full morning at Quito's grand central square, ringed by the Presidential Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and flowering gardens. Kids enjoy watching the changing of the guard at the palace on weekdays, and the open space lets them stretch their legs after a flight.

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Quito

Sendero del Cóndor (TelefériQo Summit Trails)

From the gondola arrival station, the Sendero del Cóndor is a well-marked walking trail across the páramo grasslands that takes about 45 to 60 minutes at a gentle pace and often rewards hikers with views of Cotopaxi and Cayambe on clear days. Bring snacks and water and let kids lead the way on the open trail.

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Quito

Barrio Guápulo Walking Tour (Self-Guided)

The steep, cobblestoned hillside neighborhood of Guápulo sits below the González Suárez ridge and is one of Quito's most photogenic corners, with painted stairways, bougainvillea walls, and the 17th-century Santuario de Guápulo at the bottom. The walk down the main staircase from Avenida González Suárez takes about 30 minutes and is manageable for kids ages 6 and up.

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