Quito, Ecuador - Complete City Guide

🌟 Overview

Perched at 2,850 meters [9,350 feet] above sea level, Quito is one of the world's highest capital cities and a hidden gem for digital nomads seeking an authentic South American experience without breaking the bank. This UNESCO World Heritage city perfectly blends colonial charm with modern amenities, offering cobblestone streets lined with Spanish architecture alongside bustling business districts and vibrant cultural scenes.

What sets Quito apart is its incredible diversity - from the historic Old Town with its baroque churches and plazas to the modern Mariscal district buzzing with coworking spaces and international restaurants. The city serves as an excellent base for exploring Ecuador's incredible biodiversity, with the Amazon rainforest, Pacific coast, and Galápagos Islands all within reach.

Best for: Budget-conscious nomads, Spanish learners, nature lovers, photographers, and those seeking cultural immersion while maintaining good connectivity and infrastructure.

Key Highlights:

• Extremely affordable cost of living
• Rich cultural heritage and arts scene
• Excellent weather year-round [eternal spring]
• Growing startup ecosystem
• Gateway to Ecuador's natural wonders
• Friendly, welcoming locals
• Strong infrastructure for a developing country

Best Time to Visit: Year-round destination, but June-September offers the driest weather and clearest mountain views.

📍 Quick Facts

• Population: 2.8 million [metropolitan area]
• Language[s]: Spanish [primary], Kichwa, English in tourist areas
• Currency: US Dollar [USD] - no currency exchange needed for Americans!
• Time Zone: ECT [UTC-5, same as Eastern Standard Time]
• Climate: Subtropical highland climate, 15-25°C [59-77°F] year-round, two seasons: dry [June-September] and wet [October-May]

💰 Cost of Living

Accommodation [monthly]:

• Budget: $250-400 USD / €230-370 EUR / £200-320 GBP
• Mid-range: $400-700 USD / €370-650 EUR / £320-560 GBP
• Luxury: $700-1200 USD / €650-1110 EUR / £560-960 GBP

Food & Dining [monthly]:

• Budget: $150-250 USD / €140-230 EUR / £120-200 GBP
• Mid-range: $250-400 USD / €230-370 EUR / £200-320 GBP
• Upscale: $400-600 USD / €370-550 EUR / £320-480 GBP

Transportation: $30-50 USD / €28-46 EUR / £24-40 GBP

Entertainment: $100-200 USD / €92-185 EUR / £80-160 GBP

Coworking Space: $80-150 USD / €74-139 EUR / £64-120 GBP

Total Estimated Monthly Budget:

• Budget: $610-1050 USD / €564-971 EUR / £488-800 GBP
• Mid-range: $860-1500 USD / €796-1388 EUR / £688-1200 GBP
• Comfortable: $1330-2150 USD / €1230-1990 EUR / £1064-1720 GBP

🏢 Coworking Spaces

Impact Hub Quito

• Price: $120-180/month
• Location: La Carolina
• Features: 24/7 access, events, startup incubator, rooftop terrace

Coworking La Floresta

• Price: $80-120/month
• Location: La Floresta neighborhood
• Features: Creative community, art studios, garden workspace

Rayuela Coworking

• Price: $90-140/month
• Location: La Carolina
• Features: Modern facilities, networking events, meeting rooms

Workup

• Price: $100-160/month
• Location: República del Salvador
• Features: Tech-focused community, mentorship programs

Lemon Coworking

• Price: $85-130/month
• Location: Quito Tenis
• Features: Casual atmosphere, good coffee, flexible plans

CONECTA

• Price: $95-150/month
• Location: La Pradera
• Features: Business center vibes, professional networking

Selva Coworking

• Price: $75-110/month
• Location: La Floresta
• Features: Eco-friendly design, community garden, wellness focus

🏠 Best Neighborhoods for Digital Nomads

La Mariscal

• Vibe: Tourist hub with international restaurants, hostels, and nightlife
• Pros: Easy to meet other travelers, walkable, good restaurants, central location
• Cons: Can be noisy, touristy, some safety concerns at night
• Rent: $300-600/month for studios/1BR

La Floresta

• Vibe: Bohemian, artsy neighborhood with cafés, galleries, and young professionals
• Pros: Hip coffee shops, cultural scene, safer, good walkability, local character
• Cons: Limited nightlife, smaller expat community
• Rent: $350-700/month for studios/1BR

La Carolina

• Vibe: Modern business district with shopping malls, parks, and upscale dining
• Pros: Modern infrastructure, safe, good coworking spaces, Parque La Carolina nearby
• Cons: Less character, more expensive, can feel sterile
• Rent: $500-900/month for studios/1BR

Cumbayá

• Vibe: Upscale suburb with expat families, universities, and modern amenities
• Pros: Very safe, great restaurants, shopping, expat community, cleaner air
• Cons: Further from city center, need car/taxi, more expensive
• Rent: $600-1200/month for apartments

Zona Rosa

• Vibe: Trendy area with boutiques, restaurants, and young professional crowd
• Pros: Safe, walkable, good dining scene, close to business districts
• Cons: Limited budget options, can be crowded
• Rent: $400-750/month for studios/1BR

📶 Internet & Connectivity

• Average Speed: 25-50 Mbps download, 10-20 Mbps upload in city center
• Reliability: Good overall, occasional outages during heavy rains
• Best Providers: CNT [government], Claro, Movistar, Netlife [fiber - best option]
• Café WiFi: Most cafés offer free WiFi, speeds vary [5-25 Mbps typical]
• SIM Cards:
  • Claro: $15-30/month for 5-15GB
  • Movistar: $12-25/month for 3-10GB
  • CNT: $10-20/month for 2-8GB
  • Available at malls, phone stores, some convenience stores

Pro Tip: Netlife fiber is your best bet for home internet - around $25-45/month for 50-100 Mbps plans.

✈️ Visa Information

• Visa-Free Stay: 90 days for most Western nationalities [US, EU, Canada, Australia]
• Tourist Visa: Automatically granted on arrival, extendable once
• Digital Nomad Visa: Ecuador doesn't have a specific digital nomad visa yet
• Extension Options: Can extend tourist visa once for additional 90 days [$200+ fees]
• Requirements: Valid passport [6+ months], return ticket, proof of funds [$200+ recommended]

Visa Run Options: Popular to do border runs to Colombia [Ipiales] or Peru every 90 days. Many nomads also take this opportunity to explore neighboring countries.

Working Legally: Technically, tourist visas don't permit work, even remote work. Many nomads work on tourist visas without issues, but for complete legal compliance, consider temporary resident visa options.

🚇 Transportation

From Airport [UIO]:

• Taxi: $25-35 [45-60 minutes to city center]
• Uber: $15-25 [when available]
• Bus: $2 [1.5-2 hours, multiple transfers]
• Pre-arranged shuttle: $20-30

Public Transportation:

• Ecovía/Metrobús: $0.25 per ride, BRT system covering main routes
• Trolebus: $0.25 per ride, north-south electric trolley
• Regular buses: $0.25 per ride, extensive network but can be crowded
• Metro [new!]: $0.35 per ride, single line operational since 2023

Other Options:

• Uber: Limited availability, $3-8 for city trips
• Taxis: $2-6 for city trips, always negotiate or use meter
• BikeQuito: Public bike sharing, $25/year membership
• Walking: Many areas very walkable, but altitude affects stamina initially

🍜 Food & Dining

Local Cuisine Highlights:

• Ceviche: Fresh seafood "cooked" in citrus
• Locro de papa: Hearty potato soup with cheese and avocado
• Hornado: Slow-roasted pork, weekend specialty
• Empanadas de viento: Cheese-filled fried pastries
• Cuy: Guinea pig [adventurous eaters only!]

Typical Costs:

• Street food: $1-3
• Local restaurant [almuerzo]: $2-5
• Mid-range restaurant: $8-15
• Upscale dining: $20-40
• Coffee: $1-3
• Beer: $1-3

Best Food Areas:

• La Ronda: Traditional Ecuadorian in historic setting
• Zona Rosa: International cuisine and trendy spots
• La Floresta: Hip cafés and vegetarian options
• Mercado Central: Authentic local food halls

Dietary Options:

• Vegetarian/Vegan: Growing scene, especially in La Floresta and Mariscal
• Gluten-Free: Limited but improving, communicate clearly ["sin gluten"]
• International: Good variety - Italian, Asian, Middle Eastern available

🎯 Things to Do

Top Attractions:

• Historic Center walking tour [free!]
• Teleférico cable car to Cruz Loma [$8.50]
• Basílica del Voto Nacional with tower climb [$2]
• Mitad del Mundo [Equator monument] day trip
• Casa del Alabado pre-Columbian art museum [$6]

Free Activities:

• Parque La Carolina weekend activities
• Historic center exploration
• El Panecillo virgin statue viewpoint
• Parque Metropolitano hiking
• Free museum days [often Sundays]

Day Trips:

• Otavalo indigenous market [2 hours north]
• Mindo cloud forest and zip-lining [2 hours west]
• Cotopaxi National Park volcano viewing [1.5 hours south]
• Papallacta hot springs [1.5 hours east]
• Baños adventure sports town [3 hours south]

Social Activities:

• Salsa dancing classes and social nights
• Spanish conversation exchanges
• Hiking groups [check Nomad Connect for meetups!]
• Cooking classes featuring Ecuadorian cuisine
• Art gallery walks in La Floresta

🏥 Healthcare

• Quality: Good private healthcare, basic public system
• Insurance: Highly recommended - international or local plans available
• Top Hospitals:
  • Hospital Metropolitano [private, excellent]
  • Hospital de los Valles [Cumbayá, modern]
  • Clínica Pichincha [private, central]
• Pharmacies: Fybeca and SanaSana chains everywhere, many medications available without prescription
• Costs:
  • Doctor consultation: $30-80
  • Dental cleaning: $25-40
  • Basic health insurance: $50-100/month

Important: Altitude can affect some people initially. Stay hydrated and take it easy first few days.

🛡️ Safety

• Overall Rating: Moderate - typical precautions needed for Latin American capital
• Areas to Avoid:
  • South Quito neighborhoods after dark
  • Mariscal late at night [especially solo]
  • Empty streets in Historic Center after sunset
  • Bus stations and crowded markets [pickpocket risk]

Common Scams:

• Fake police asking for document checks
• Distraction theft [spilled sauce, asking for directions]
• Taxi overcharging tourists
• ATM skimming devices

Emergency Numbers:

• Police: 101
• Fire: 102
• Medical: 911
• Tourist Police: [02] 254-3983

Safety Tips:

• Don't flash expensive electronics/jewelry
• Use registered taxis or Uber when possible
• Keep copies of passport/documents separate
• Be aware of altitude effects on alcohol tolerance
• Trust your instincts about situations and areas

👥 Community & Networking

Quito has a growing but still intimate expat and digital nomad community of around 800-1,200 people, creating a welcoming environment where it's easy to make meaningful connections. The scene is particularly strong among entrepreneurs, remote workers, and Spanish learners who appreciate the city's affordability and cultural richness.

Nomad Connect Community: Join Nomad Connect to tap into Quito's vibrant digital nomad network! The platform is essential for finding regular meetups, coworking events, weekend hiking groups, and social gatherings. Many nomads organize group trips to places like Baños or Galápagos through Nomad Connect, making it the go-to resource for building your social circle and finding travel companions.

Local Meetups & Events:

• Weekly Spanish-English language exchanges at various cafés
• Monthly entrepreneur meetups in coworking spaces
• Regular hiking and outdoor adventure groups
• Salsa dancing social nights [great for meeting locals and expats]
• Cultural events and art gallery openings in La Floresta

Coworking Communities:

• Impact Hub hosts regular networking events and startup pitches
• Most coworking spaces organize social hours and skill-sharing sessions
• Cross-coworking space events help you meet people from different locations

How to Meet Other Nomads:

• Join the Nomad Connect community immediately upon arrival
• Attend coworking space events and social hours
• Participate in Spanish language exchanges
• Join weekend hiking groups organized through Nomad Connect
• Attend cultural events and volunteer opportunities

The community is known for being helpful and welcoming to newcomers, with established nomads often mentoring recent arrivals on everything from apartment hunting to the best salsa classes.

📱 Essential Apps

Transportation:

• Mi Transporte [official public transport routes]
• Uber [limited availability]
• Easy Taxi [local taxi app]

Food Delivery:

• Uber Eats
• Rappi [most popular, delivers everything]
• Glovo
• PedidosYa

Banking/Payment:

• Banco Pichincha app
• PayPhone [local mobile payments]
• Wise [international transfers]

Language Learning:

• SpanishPod101
• HelloTalk [language exchange]
• Duolingo

Local Services:

• Waze [navigation - essential!]
• WhatsApp [primary communication]
• Airbnb
• TripAdvisor

💡 Pro Tips

1. Altitude Adjustment: Take your first 3-4 days easy. Drink lots of water, avoid excessive alcohol, and don't overexert yourself until you adjust to the 9,350ft elevation.

2. Dollar Advantage: Ecuador uses USD, but they often don't have change for large bills. Always carry small denominations [$1, $5, $10 bills] and coins are especially valuable.

3. Sunday Planning: Many restaurants and shops close on Sundays, especially in residential areas. Stock up on groceries Saturday or know which areas stay active [Mariscal, malls].

4. Taxi Negotiations: Always agree on taxi fare before getting in, or insist on using the meter ["la tarifa, por favor"]. Airport taxis especially will try to overcharge.

5. Weather Layering: Pack for all seasons in one day!