One of the last activities in Ecuador was to take the cable car in Quito. The Teleférico (or TelefériQo) leads you up to gorgeous Cruz Loma lookout point and the trailhead to the Pichincha Volcano. It is too bad we did this so late on our month-long stay in Quito, as I would have returned. It is one of my favorite places we visited while being in Quito, Ecuador.
If you’re seeking breathtaking views and a little hiking very close to the city, the Teleférico cable car in Quito is an absolute must-add to your itinerary. Keep reading to find out all the details on how to get there and the activities you can do when you arrive.
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Getting To The Cable Car In Quito
The Teleférico in Quito is located near the heart of the city. It is an easy Uber or taxi ride to the base. It is possible to reach the base by public transportation, but depending on where you are coming from in Quito, it might take awhile.
When we looked it up on Google maps, it told us that it would be over an hour to arrive by bus. Whereas, by car it took 15 minutes. It was a no brainer to us to just book an Uber. Ubers are quite inexpensive in Quito.
When you are ready to leave, we found that it was difficult to get an Uber to come up the hill to get us. There are a couple of options. You can either take a bus down to a busier area of Quito, and order an Uber from there or you can wait till a taxi brings someone up and then snag it when the people get out. This is what we did and it worked out very well.
In addition you can also drive. Parking costs $2.50.
Tickets And Pricing Of The Cable Car in Quito
You can purchase your tickets for the Quito cable car right before you get on. There is no need to buy them in advance.
The cable car in Quito is open at different times depending on the day of the week. Mondays to Thursdays you can go up between 10am and 6pm. Friday the cable car is open from 8am to 6pm and the weekends it runs from 8am to 7pm.
For visitors the cost is $9 for adults and $7 for children. Kids 18 months and under are free.
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Tips For Taking The Quito Cable Car
One of our first activities we did when we were in Quito was to take a walking tour of the historic center. Our guide was a Quito local who has lived there his whole life. Jorge was amazing and we learned so much from him. So much in fact, that we partnered with him to write our local travel guide to Quito. Check it out. He gives us so many tips from his years of experience living in the city.
Ultimate Quito Ecuador Travel Guide for A Memorable Family Vacation
In addition to the those tips, he also gave us some advice before we took the cable car in Quito. Here’s the valuable insight he gave us.
- Bring warm clothes! The higher you get the thinner the air is and the colder it will feel. We wore our hats, gloves and coats and brought some more layers in a backpack just in case. By the top, I was also wearing my scarf!
- Go first thing in the morning for the best chance of clear skies. We took one of the first few cable cars, and we are glad that we did. By the afternoon the skies were starting to cloud up and the view was disappearing.
- Bring cash for the taxi ride back into Quito. Taxis shouldn’t cost more than $10 dollars, but will depend on where you are going.
- Don’t miss out on the cafe at the top. The views are spectacular and you can get a good coffee and a sweet or savory treat.
What To Expect At The Top Of The Teleférico In Quito
The cable car takes you on an impressive journey to the Cruz Loma viewpoint. The panoramic vistas are breathtaking. As you ascend higher and higher, the vibrant landscape of Quito unfolds before your eyes. It is truly spectacular.
At the top of the Teleférico, cable car in Quito, there are many ways to take in the stunning 360-degree views of Quito and its surroundings.
There are trails right at the top that lead you to various viewing areas. We found adirondack chairs for lounging, swings for a little fun, a cafe with huge windows where you can warm up and still enjoy the view.
It is the perfect spot to capture those instagram-worthy photographs. Some of these attractions a bit cheesy and awkward like the cloud bridge outside of the cafe.
The swings are touristy too, but we sure enjoyed them! To get to the swings you need to walk up the trail a little ways. When you get off the cable car, there is a map of the attractions in the area. It is easy to find your way around.
The swings are free to enjoy. The cloud bridge, on the other hand, has an extra cost, but it is only $1 dollar per person.
There are quite a few things you can do at the top of the cable car in Quito.
Activities you can do at the top:
- horseback riding
- Cruz Loma Café
- paragliding
- extreme cycling down the mountain
- rock climbing
- camping
- Jeep tours to waterfalls
- hiking
After taking those beautiful photos of the view, we started out hiking on the trail that leads to the summit of Rucu Pichincha Volcano. The trail is very well marked at the beginning, and if you reach the top, you’ll find yourself at an elevation of 15,696 feet (4784 meters)!
Our walking tour guide Jorge told us that the trail disappears near the top and you have to find your own path. Fortunately, there were plenty of people heading to the top, so your chances of getting lost are low.
It was a beautiful hike, and we would love to come back someday and finish it. Unluckily for us it was looking like it was about to rain and our children were tired and grumpy, so we turned around about halfway.
Before heading back down the cable car in Quito we grabbed a quick bite to eat and a coffee at the Cruz Loma Café. It is a perfect spot to just relax and take it all in. I had a delicious empanada and the kids (and Mike 😁) had donuts.
If you are interested in learning more about any of the other activities we didn’t do during our visit, check out the Teleférico website.
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Bonus Amusement Park At The Base Of The Cable Car Quito
As we rode down, we noticed an amusement park near the base. The kids really wanted to go, so we made a day of it. VolQano Park doesn’t have that many rides, but it was a perfect little adrenaline rush for our kids. It wasn’t very expensive and the card we purchased seemed to last forever.
If you’re a nature enthusiast, love to take panoramic photos, or simply seeking a unique perspective of Quito, the cable car in Quito will give you an unforgettable adventure above the clouds.
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