So you have a bit of time in Quito, but what to do? The most obvious choices for those who have a day to kick around Quito is either to have a city tour or get outside the city to see Otovalo. But what if you’re looking for a few thrills or just want to get away from the crowds? For you, we have our top 6 1-Day Adventures from Quito. Happy Exploring!
Cotapaxi Adventure: Cotopaxi National Park is a 89,000 acre nature and wildlife sanctuary established around the highest active volcano in the world. One-day hiking, horseback riding, or mountain biking adventures begin and end in Quito every day.
Whitewater Rafting: Class III – IV rafting can be found on the Toachi, Blanco, or Quijos rivers. With highly trained guides, you splash your way through the Andean cloudforest just a few hours outside of Quito.
Mindo Birdwatching: This cloudforest offers some of the best birdwatching in Ecuador; hardcore birders will prefer a 2 or 3-day trip though.
Pasochoa Volcano: This extinct volcano is a bit off the tourist radar, but the heavily forested crater offers awesome hiking and birding for very little time spent in the car to get there.
Antisana Volcano: A beautiful nature reserve surrounding the striking Antisana volcano is well-known among locals, but seldom visited by tourists. A day tour here includes stopping in local villages, hiking through the reserve, and hopefully spotting the Andean Condor.
Mountain Biking or Hiking Otovalo: The rolling mountains surrounding Otovalo are the perfect place for some off-the-beaten-path mountain biking or hiking. Visiting the market or nearby villages is also possible.
