Quito with Kids: Volcanoes, Old Towns, and Chocolate at the Equator

Iglesia de La Compañía de Jesús

Just a short walk from Plaza Grande, this 17th-century Jesuit church is considered one of the most ornate Baroque interiors in Latin America, with nearly every surface covered in gold leaf. Even skept

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 th

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 th

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, colo

El Panecillo and Virgin of Quito Statue

Take a short taxi up to this hill topped by a 45-meter aluminum statue of the Winged Virgin, which offers a sweeping 360-degree view over the entire city and surrounding volcanoes. The walk around the

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 s

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 challe

Ciudad Mitad del Mundo

The iconic yellow line monument marking 0 degrees latitude is about 26 kilometers north of the city and makes for a classic family photo stop with the chance to stand in both hemispheres at once. The

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. T

TelefériQo Quito

This cable car climbs from around 10,000 feet to nearly 13,000 feet on the flanks of Volcán Pichincha in about 10 minutes, delivering families to a high-altitude plateau with volcanic views and walkin

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 vi

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

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

Tianguez Fair (San Francisco Plaza)

Back near the historic center, the Tianguez artisan market under the colonial arches of San Francisco Church sells high-quality Ecuadorian crafts including tagua nut carvings, alpaca textiles, and Pan

República del Cacao Workshop (Quito location)

This Ecuadorian chocolate brand runs bean-to-bar tasting and chocolate-making workshops at their Quito shop where kids learn how cacao becomes chocolate and get to make their own bar to take home. Ses

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

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 g

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

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-c

Galería Ecuador (González Suárez)

On the way back up toward the main avenue, this gallery and craft shop carries some of the finest pre-Columbian replica ceramics, oil paintings by local artists, and handwoven textiles in Quito, all i

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