From Quito: A Comprehensive Guide to the Cable Car, Intiñan Museum, & Colonial Town Tour

Traveling to Quito? Then you’re in for a treat! This beautiful city is full of spectacular sights and experiences like its spectacular cable car, incredible Intiñan Museum, and fascinating colonial town tours. These three activities are must-dos and are sure to get you an in-depth look at the remarkable city of Quito. Read on for a comprehensive guide to each one of these experiences.

Cable Car Tour

One of the most iconic activities in Quito is riding the cable cars that provide sweeping views of the city. Located at 12,812 ft (3,900 m) above sea level, the Quito Teleférico crisscrosses through two mountains that overlook the capital city.

Part of a larger, 2.5-mile tourist route, taking a ride on the Teleférico allows tourists to see different fire-glow landscapes of the city, wherever they are sitting. Thanks to the glass dome that acts as a roof of the gondolas, sightseers get 360º views of these breathtaking landscapes as they soar above the city.

For those looking to enjoy true adventure from this cable car, you’ll be pleased to find that it has been equipped with Wi-Fi access, climate control, and an in-cabin audio guide in Spanish and English.

The Quito Teleférico experience begins with a visit to the Cristo Rey Station (a sacred religious monument), then on to Cruz Loma Station; from here, the passengers can observe the antique center of Quito and the colonial churches from one side and snow-capped volcanoes from the other side. The ride then leads onward to Pichincha Station, running along two lines: El Nort A and El Nort B. Here you can observe the Román Theater, as well as some historical areas.

For those looking to enjoy this experience with an additional touch of luxury, there is also a VIP edition available. On this ride, you’ll be elevated in one of the first class cars, which comes with higher quality seats and facades.

Intiñan Museum

If you’re ready to have an engaging cultural experience during your travels in Quito, then you’ll definitely want to pay a visit to the Intiñan Museum. This fascinating museum offers travelers an opportunity to study informative displays about Ecuadorian culture as presented through pre-Colombian and colonial artifacts.

Located southeast of Old Town Quito, one area of the museum is dedicated to astronomy and features a solar equator – a line drawn on the ground whose main purpose is demonstrating this basic astronomical principle: it marks an imaginary line where noon happens at every day of the year. For those interested in history, another part of Intiñan Museum pays tribute to pre-Columbian Ecuadorians by showcasing their palaces and religious objects from their time.

Aside from being highly educational, this museum is known for its excellent service for those who visit. They offer vibrantly decorated llama-skinned armchairs for guests to sit on and relax as they observe the artifacts around them. To help everyone better understand what they’re looking at, there is also plenty of informative material available in several languages, allowing tourists from all over the world to join in on the experience.

Colonial Town Tour

Spanning around 8 miles (13 km) wide, Quito’s historic district was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1978 – that’s how special this area really is! Taking a touring around town will help you better understand why.

Often referred to as ‘the Holy City of Ecuador,’ this district has seen many changes since its foundation back in 1534. As you pass through narrow cobblestone streets surrounded by baroque churches with magnificent paintings and sculptures, you definitely won’t want to forget your camera!

Some of the must-fires stops during this tour include Gothic churches like La Basilica del Voto Nacional, San Francisco Church, Santo Domingo Church ( declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity Site by UNESCO). Also be sure to visit Compañia Church, with its neoclassic altars and domes in gold leafed retables . Be sure to also check out some of Quito’s more modern cultural sites as well like Teatro Sucre and Centro Cultural Metropolitano, located in a mountain in front of Vecindario Park and Librianda Cultural Center located directly opposite San Francisco Church.

Conclusion

Quito is a city full of fascinating historical sites, breathtaking cable car rides and dynamic museums – perfect for anyone visiting! From taking a cable car ride with great views all around to visiting cultural landmarks like Intiñan Museum and exploring colonial town on foot, there’s definitely something for everyone here in Quito. If this guide entices you to explore these experiences further, you can book each activity separately or as an all-in-one package tour at GetYour Guide, providing a hassle-free way for traveler to check out all these attractions with ease.