6 July Sat - Teleférico and Churches

6th July - A Saturday in Old Town  (plan for $45 excluding lunch)

 

8:30am   Taxi to TelefériQo  $28 total   (reported: no working toilets, water snacks are expensive at top)

2 Taxis to and from:  $20 split

Cable car:  $10

Horse to ascend Pichincha:  $15

For spectacular views over Quito’s mountainous landscape, hop aboard this sky tram, one of the world's highest aerial lifts, that takes passengers on a 2.5km ride (10 minutes) up the flanks of Volcán Pichincha to the top of Cruz Loma. Once you’re at the top (a mere 4100m), you can hike to the summit of Rucu Pichincha (4680m), a 4km (five-hour) round-trip – ask about the safety situation before attempting the climb and bring warm clothes.

Don’t attempt the hike to Rucu Pichincha until you’ve acclimatized in Quito for a couple of days. You can go alone or with a qualified guide. You can also hire horses ($15 per hour), which are about 500m from the upper station (follow signs to ‘paseos a caballo’). Visit the TelefériQo, and certainly begin the Rucu Pichincha hike, in the morning, when the views here are best; the clouds usually roll in by noon.

 

Visit the old churches of el Centro Histórico

 

10:30 am Basilica del Voto Nacional   Click to read more about Voto Nacional

            ($2 to go inside and another $4 to go up in the clock tower).  

    The Basílica del Voto Nacional is the largest neo-Gothic church in South America and climbing up the central tower is quite an adventure. Towering over the city's landscape, its intricate stone facades tell tales of the country's past, while its awe-inspiring stained glass windows play a kaleidoscope of colors with the sun's every move. Venture up its soaring towers for a bird's-eye view of Quito that's nothing short of breathtaking. But it's not just about the view; it's about the journey. As you ascend, the rich tapestry of Quito's culture, history, and spirit envelops you. Whether you're an architecture enthusiast, history buff, or just a traveler in search of the city's jewels, La Basílica promises an unforgettable experience. A masterpiece in stone, it's an emblem of Quito's spiritual and artistic heritage.

    The views are great. Stop off on the level with the Rose window. There are elevators that will get you about 2/3s of the way up and still offers a good view from there. - On a hill in the northeastern part of the Old Town looms this massive Gothic church, Quito's largest, built over several decades beginning in 1892. Rather than gargoyles, turtles and iguanas protrude from the church’s side. The highlight is the basilica’s towers, which you can climb if you have the nerve – the ascent requires crossing a rickety wooden plank inside the main roof and climbing steep stairs and ladders (with solid handrails) to the top.

         The steep steps and narrow passageways leading to the top are not for the faint-hearted or those scared of heights, but the views are spectacular and well worth the journey.   Make sure to go around to the side entrance in the courtyard for the viewpoint entrance, which will cost you $2. The entry to the towers isn’t inside the main church.  There is also a café and tourist shop in one of the towers if you want to stop and have a coffee or beer.

 

1:00    Rest, drink and lunch 

1:30pm  15 minute stroll over to La Compañía de Jesús ($5 entry)    Click to read about la Compañía

Quito’s most ornate church and a standout among the baroque splendors of the Old Town. Free guided tours in English or Spanish highlight the church’s unique features, including its Moorish elements, perfect symmetry (right down to the trompe l’oeil staircase at the rear), symbolic elements (bright-red walls are a reminder of Christ’s blood) and its syncretism (Ecuadorian plants and indigenous faces are hidden along the pillars).

     La Compañía is the most impressive of the capital's 86 churches, with 10 side altars and a high altar plated with gold. The high central nave and the delicacy of its Arab-inspired plasterwork give the church a sumptuous, almost sinfully rich appearance. Indeed, almost half a ton of gold was poured into the ceilings, walls, pulpits, and altars during its 160 years of construction (1605–1765). At the center of the main altar is a statue of the Quiteña saint Mariana de Jesús; her remains are entombed at the foot of the altar. Guided tours in Spanish or English are included in your admission price. If you see nothing else in Quito, don't miss this.
     Construction on this marvelously gilded Jesuit church began in 1605 but wasn't completed for another 160 years; the main altarpiece alone took 20 years (former president Gabriel García Moreno is buried here). The made-in-the-USA organ is circa 1889. Check out the chiaroscuro-style series of paintings called the 16 Prophets by Nicolás Javier de Goríbar and the large canvas Hell and Final Judgement from 1879 – it's still a mystery what happened to the original, painted by Hermano Hernando de la Cruz in 1620. Quiteños proudly call it the most beautiful church in the country, and it’s easy to see why.

 

3:00  5 min walk to Basilica and Convent of San Francisco  Click to read about San Francisco Complex

El San Francisco is a Catholic basilica that stands in the middle of the historic center of Quito, in front of the square of the same name. It is the oldest and most significant religious site in Ecuador. The structure is the largest architectural complex within the historic centers of all of South America, and for this reason it was known as "El Escorial of the New World". Begun in 1537, San Francisco is considered a jewel of continental architecture for its mixture of different styles combined throughout more than 150 years of construction. San Francisco is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "City of Quito". The vast complex includes 13 cloisters, three churches, a plaza, more than 3,500 works of religious art, and a library holding thousands of books and historic documents. As the Convent friars brewed what is now considered IPA beer, we will enjoy a unique section of the museum dedicated to their very important work!  Click to read about a recent Ecuador scientific beer discovery