Vacation rentals in Quito, Ecuador

Quito is the perfect base for exploring the incredible cultural and natural heritage that this small, fascinating Hispanic South American country has to offer. Ecuador offers a rich indigenous experience with food, culture, history and crafts and Quito is the best place to begin your Ecuadorian adventure. This stunning high altitude, historical mountain city is a great starting point for so many exciting day trips and unforgettable local adventures.

Whether you are looking for a cozy city pad for a getaway just for two or spacious accommodation for a party of up to twelve, you are sure to find the perfect Quito vacation rental for your unforgettable adventure in Ecuador. Many of the sparkling clean, fully equipped, tastefully decorated vacation rentals in and around Quito offer guests wonderful amenities like access to a private pool or a terrace with an unforgettable mountain view where you can relax and reflect on the day’s adventure! Several of the stylish, larger properties also have an outside yard.

Ecuador’s capital is perched high in the Andean foothills and Quito International airport is located just 30 minutes from downtown with international flights arriving daily bringing visitors to the beautiful, rugged, wild, raw, rainforest and volcanic splendor of this magnificent gem of a South American country rich in centuries of cultural heritage. Known for its rich colonial architecture and breathtaking mountain views, Quito is centrally located and offers easy daytrip access to fabulous attractions such as the mythical Cloud Forest, Quilotoa Volcanic Lagoon and the incredible Otavalo Market. Quito is also the perfect stopover en route to the fabled Galapagos Islands, a 2 hour and 10 minute flight away.

Quito is a unique and special place to visit. There is so much architectural beauty crammed into downtown Quito and there are plenty of wonderful restaurants where you can sample traditional Ecuadorian dishes. The historic center of Quito was named as UNESCO’s first world heritage site and Quito is a famous hub for the arts in South America. Look out for street musicians playing traditional pan flutes and you are sure to find beautiful items to buy from Ecuador’s famously talented artisans who make exquisite woven cloths, leatherwork, tapestries, carved wood and intricate jewelry.

Quito is uniquely situated at the crossroads of ancient and modern history and Ecuador is a unique destination for so many reasons. From the ancient tribal heritage of indigenous tribes to the Incan conquests and subsequent arrival of the Spanish colonialists, Quito is made up of a rich tapestry of heritage architecture, artifacts and tribal traditions and customs, many of which are still very much intact in isolated communities in Ecuador. Quito provides a window to the splendor of the past and Ecuador’s history. The unique natural surroundings make Quito a gateway to some of the most prized and sought after natural wonders in the world for travelers.

The unique geographical formation of Quito and the surrounding regions give visitors a unique opportunity for discovering and experiencing many of Ecuador’s most renowned and incredible natural wonders ranging from the lush beauty of pristine rainforest canopies to the breathtaking views from the top of volcanic calderas. There are miles and miles of exciting, challenging and renowned hiking trails to undertake and endless opportunities for incredible nature photography and unique wildlife sightings. The Galapagos archipelago offers paradise island settings with incredibly beautiful trails and an opportunity to spot some of the famous, exotic wildlife such as iguanas and giant turtles in their natural habitat.

Hop aboard the Quito cableway for a mindblowingly thrilling ascent up the side of Volcan Pichincha that offers unparalleled views of Quito on a 10 minute daredevil ride to the Cruz Loma lookout point. On a clear day you will be able to see a glorious panorama of Quito as well as the most noteworthy peaks of the Andes mountain chain making this a bucket list adventure! The Pichincha Volcano hike is one of the most popular Ecuadorian hikes and the best way to begin the climb is to take the cableway to the Cruz Loma starting point. The 10 km hike to the top is an experience of a lifetime and takes around 6 hours for the ascent and 2 hours to descend.

Rise early to make the most of the day and head south of Quito to Latacunga by bus or car. From here there are regular buses to Quilotoa, located in a remote part of the Andes, a two hour drive from Latacunga. Quilotoa Lagoon is easily one of the most stunning crater lakes in the world with startling green water due to dissolved volcanic minerals and chemicals. The 3 km crater loop and 4 km rim loop hikes are on every global hiker’s list of exceptional hikes. This incredible high altitude scenery is unsurpassed in majesty and grandeur.

Otovalo makes for a stunning day trip from Quito. Otocalo is located a spectacular two hour drive to the north in a paradise region with majestic volcanic peaks, cascading waterfalls and lush, rugged scenery. The Saturday market is a huge draw for visitors to this region. Surrounding streets are closed to traffic and vendors set up stalls selling handmade clothing, jewelry, art work, shoes, trinkets, fresh produce and gorgeous street food. This is the largest market of its kind in South America. Many of the Otovaleno people wear traditional clothing and your senses will be dazzled by the rich, extravagant colors of the beautiful handmade textiles at this hub of indigenous commerce that dates back to Incan times.

Mindo is close enough to Quito for an exceptional, unforgettable day trip to the Ecuadorian cloud forest. This is a unique, temperate, lush rainforest zone with a lot of humidity and foggy clouds and incredible birds like hummingbirds. There are incredible adventures on offer here such as ziplining and waterfall hikes. The Tarabita cable car will take you high above the rainforest to the entrance of a hike to a spectacular series of 7 plunging, rainforest waterfalls. This remarkable area is a paradise for tropical bird sightings.

Travel back in time to the 16th century as you wander about inside this exceptional historical, Roman Catholic compound that is considered to be the largest religious complex in South America. Admire spectacularly intricate wood carvings and religious artifacts in the church buildings and adjacent museum. While exploring this enormous, historical monument you will be able to marvel at the 13 ancient church cloisters, stunning, elaborate Moorish style architecture and vast collection of over 3500 religious artworks. Afterwards head to a local eatery for empanadas, a traditional Ecuadorian pastry!