Quito with Kids — Family Travel Guide
Quito: Defy gravity at the equator, ride cable cars to volcano peaks, and explore historic wonders.
Explore 121 parent-verified places and 33 honest skips for families visiting Quito. Browse Nature, Garden, District, Market, Farm, Landmark, and more. Age-specific recommendations for toddlers through teens (ages 2–14), with modular day plans and tips from real families.
Quito with Kids — Key Facts
- Kid-friendly places verified: 121
- Great for ages 0–5: 68 spots
- Great for ages 6–10: 113 spots
- Great for ages 11–14: 107 spots
- Things to skip flagged: 33
- Typical visit per stop: ≈2.2h
- Average "wow" score: 3.6/5
- Strongest categories: Food, Museum, Nature
Quito with Kids — Common Questions
- Is Quito good for toddlers and preschoolers?
- Kidworthy verifies 68 kid-spots in Quito suited to ages 0–5, including Hacienda El Porvenir (Cotopaxi) and Mindo Cloud Forest (Pueblo de Mindo). It also flags 33 things to skip with young kids.
- What age kids is Quito best for?
- Quito works across ages: 68 verified spots suit ages 0–5, 113 suit ages 6–10, and 107 suit ages 11–14.
- What should you skip in Quito with kids?
- Plaza Foch (Plaza Quinde) — Known as the heart of Quito's nightlife, this plaza is a magnet for aggressive touts and loud bars that are entirely unsuitable for children after dark. In total Kidworthy flags 33 things to skip in Quito.
- Is Quito easy to visit with kids?
- Across 121 verified places, Quito averages an effort score of 1.9/4 (1 = just show up, 4 = heavy planning), with typical visits of ≈2.2h per stop.
Top Things to Do in Quito with Kids
- Hacienda El Porvenir (Cotopaxi) (farm) — A high-altitude working ranch at the foot of Cotopaxi Volcano where kids can swap screens for llama trekking and horseba
- Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús (temple) — Known as the 'Gold Church,' this Jesuit masterpiece is draped in seven tons of 24-karat gold leaf, creating a visual imp
- Mindo Cloud Forest (Pueblo de Mindo) (nature) — A lush, high-altitude jungle town two hours from Quito that serves as an outdoor playground for families. From hands-on
- Cotopaxi National Park (Parque Nacional Cotopaxi) (nature) — A high-altitude volcanic wonderland where families can spot wild horses and llamas against the backdrop of one of the wo
- Mashpi Lodge (Mashpi Cloud Forest Reserve) (nature) — A luxury, glass-walled eco-lodge hidden in a 3,000-acre private cloud forest reserve that feels like a high-tech treehou
- Reserva Ecológica Antisana (park) — A high-altitude wilderness where families can spot Andean condors, wild horses, and deer against the backdrop of a massi
- Termas de Papallacta (nature) — A high-altitude volcanic hot spring resort nestled in the Andes, offering a range of geothermal pools from steaming soak
- Jardín Botánico de Quito (garden) — A lush, well-maintained escape inside Parque La Carolina featuring world-class orchid houses and a walk-through butterfl
- Calle La Ronda (district) — A beautifully preserved pedestrian-only colonial street where history comes alive through hands-on artisan workshops. Pa
- Otavalo Market (Mercado de Otavalo / Plaza de Ponchos) (market) — South America's largest indigenous market is a sensory explosion of vibrant textiles, handmade crafts, and Andean cultur
- Plaza Grande (Plaza de la Independencia) (landmark) — The vibrant heart of Quito's Old Town, this historic square is a masterclass in people-watching, surrounded by the Presi
- Tarabita de Mindo (Cable Car to Waterfalls) (nature) — An exhilarating open-air cable car ride that whisks families across a deep canyon into the heart of the Mindo cloud fore
- Parque Zoológico y Jardín Botánico de Quito (Guayllabamba) (zoo) — A rescue-focused zoo located in the warmer Guayllabamba valley, featuring native Ecuadorian species like Andean bears, c
- Cascada de Peguche (park) — A stunning 18-meter sacred waterfall nestled in an Andean eucalyptus forest, offering an easy, high-reward hike that fee
- Pim's Panecillo (food) — Perched atop El Panecillo hill, this restaurant offers arguably the best panoramic views of Quito's historic center and
- Capilla del Hombre (Fundación Guayasamín) (museum) — A powerful, architecturally stunning museum dedicated to the work of Oswaldo Guayasamín, Ecuador's most famous artist. W
- Reserva Yanacocha (nature) — A high-altitude cloud forest sanctuary where kids can stand inches away from dozens of iridescent hummingbird species at
- Parque de las Cuadras (park) — A sprawling 24-hectare ecological oasis in South Quito that feels more like a nature reserve than a city park, featuring
- Quito Street Food Tour (with Local Guide) (tour) — A guided culinary adventure through Quito's vibrant markets and historic streets, sampling 8-10 traditional staples like
- Ilaló (Senderos del Volcán Ilaló) (nature) — An extinct volcano offering a rewarding hike with panoramic views of the Andes and the Tumbaco valley. It's a rugged, na
What to Skip in Quito with Kids
- Plaza Foch (Plaza Quinde)
- Teleferico Quito summit trail to Rucu Pichincha
- Museo Numismático del Banco Central del Ecuador
- Plaza Foch
- Museo de la Ciudad
- Calle Reina Victoria (nightlife strip)
- Museo de Cera de Quito
- Guayasamin Museum (Capilla del Hombre)
- Museo de Arte Colonial (Casa de la Cultura - Museo de Arte Colonial)
- Ecuagenera Orchid Garden (Gualaceo)
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