Global Travel Guide | 🇪🇨 The Ultimate Quito & Surroundings Itinerary

🌎 Why Quito? As the world’s highest capital (2,850m), Quito blends colonial charm, Andean adventures, and equatorial quirks. Here’s your no-fluff guide: 📍 Top 12 Experiences 1️⃣ Quito Old Town UNESCO-listed 16th-century streets, gold-filled churches (La Compañía!), and empanada workshops. 2️⃣ Teleférico Cable Car Soar to 4,100m for city+volcano views. Wear a puffer jacket—it’s 5°C up there! 3️⃣ Cotopaxi National Park Hike/cycle Latin America’s most active volcano (5,897m). Pro tip: Rent gear in Machachi. 4️⃣ Quilotoa Crater Lake Turquoise waters in a 3km-wide volcanic caldera. Hike down (1hr) or kayak! 5️⃣ Middle of the World Straddle the equator at Mitad del Mundo. Bonus: Plant a baby agave at Casa Agave! 6️⃣ Chocolate-Making Class Pick cacao in an organic garden → craft bars. My Airbnb host added free shots of canelazo! 7️⃣ Empanada Cooking Workshop Learn from abuelas in Old Town. My host still DMs me recipes on Instagram 😂. 8️⃣ Baños: Casa del Árbol Swing “Swing at the end of the world” over the Andes. Go at sunrise for no crowds. 9️⃣ Baños: Pailón del Diablo Ecuador’s most dramatic waterfall (80m drop). Vlog alert: The mist creates rainbows! 🔟 Baños: Water Rappelling Descend Agoyán Falls—terrifying but addictive. 1️⃣1️⃣ Baños: Ruta de las Cascadas Bike 18km past 7 waterfalls. Rent bikes ($10) with helmets + repair kits. 1️⃣2️⃣ Papallacta Hot Springs Soak in volcanic-heated pools at 3,300m. Book the eucalyptus spa treatment! 🌶️ Baños Pro Tips Stay 3+ nights—it’s the adventure capital (canopy, rafting, ATVs). Eat: Tigrillo (green banana scramble) at Café Hood. Sleep: Book the German-built treehouse on Airbnb ($35/night!). ⚠️ Know Before You Go Altitude sickness? Chew coca leaves (sold at markets). Transport: Baños-Quito buses run hourly ($4, 3.5hrs). Safety: Avoid night buses (theft risk). #QuitoUnlocked #EcuadorAdventures #TravelDeeper