The outside is this place was cool with all of its statues and replicas of ancient Andean art. Once inside on a tour, it becomes a marketing presentation for essential oils and minerals. Since we didn't speak a lot of Spanish, the tour became a bit slow during the demonstrations and meditations. The audience was then expected to buy some of the goods before continuing. Then the tour finished with a gallery of artwork, which was good art and interesting. But this is not, by any means, an ancient site, ruin, or even museum of ancient culture. It's a modern marketing tool for new age products, which is fine, if that's what you're looking for. The surroundings are worth a visit.

This place is kind of ridiculous. The staff make you wear some beads and then try to convince you that you are physically stronger when you wear them. They do this by pushing on you with much less force when you wear the beads. (Coincidentally, the beads are also for sale.) The museum also has some ultra low resolution prints of an artist's paintings hanging on the wall.

It's definitely not a museum. We had to pay 6$ (!!) for the entry only to enter a sale store in very nice and exciting exterior and interior. Inside we were shown a two nice experiments then the rushed sales tour started. I really liked the explanation about essential oils, but for this I don't go into a 'museum'. The 2. and 3. floor are art galleries, here again for sale as well. Outside a room to buy some other stuff (coca tea, marijuana oil,...) In total I was disappointed. This is definitely not a historical site, it is made to look like it, not more. A look from the outside of the building is enough.

Very interesting museum that is a work of art itself, feels like entering an ancient temple. Admission is $4 for locals, $6 for gringos. Parking is $1 (shared parking lot with volcano hiking and several gift shops). It was definitely a bit of a money-making enterprise. Don't take the demonstrations too seriously, it's a sales pitch, but still fun. Cristobal Ortega Maila was an extremely prolific and talented artist who worked with many kinds of media, from painting in different styles to sculpture to architecture, much of it rooted in ancient local cultures and traditions, and it is all showcased here. But more than just the art, there is also a presentation (in Spanish) that begins at the top of the tower, describing ancient natural herbal medicine (with samples!), then moving downstairs to explore the design of the building (like many ancient temples would have been) as a way to keep track of the movements of the sun throughout the year, and also of course to pay homage to the sun god Init. The presentation ended in the gift shop with a relaxing aromatherapy session with musical instruments to simulate the sounds of Nature while breathing different scents. All the products demonstrated were available for sale.

Totally worth the visit, I recommend this place. The meditation chamber is an awesome treat. They sell really affordable bracelet's, charms and souvenir's. The tea offered is an energizing potion. I really enjoyed my time there. This is a great opportunity, place for taking pictures. The art work is incredibly breathtaking. Stop by and get a feel of an ancient time in a modern world.

It was interesting and fun. The crystals I bought from the shop inside are so charged. It's awesome kinda wish I would have grabbed more of them

The place is deteriorated and has almost no content at all, except the view which is not big deal. The inner part is all about selling you thing. It is not worth the $6.00 I payed.

Loved this hidden gem of a place. We just ran into it and were grateful for it. The artist was there, painted for us and drank tea with us. He was so humble and nice. The store inside has a lot of great items, and his art is amazing. He paints only with his hands. Would visit again.

Beautiful church. Literally took my breath away. The only thing I didn’t understand is why the staff was saying pictures were not allowed… maybe it was due to a language barrier but inside the church we were told to put our cameras away and on the top you were allowed to take pictures. A little confusing.

I was so happy to learn that the Catholic Church solved the problem of poverty in Ecuador before spending an insane amount of money and time building this church. Just kidding! The Catholic Church prefers buildings over feeding people. That being said, this is a truly magnificent monument to the Catholic Church’s misplaced priorities all over the world.

It is as magnificent as previous reviews have stated and a must see in Quito. Once you pay the admission fee, tours in Spanish and English are free. I requested a tour in English and had a wonderful tour with a young guide named Alex. I was the only person on the tour! Alex explained not only the aspects, art and symbolism inside the Church, but also the historical events and contexts surrounding them. His English was excellent.

Whoa. Hard to find the words to capture the stunning ornate details and devine vibe from this church. Have been to quite a few around the world, this one tops anything that I’ve entered. Was blown away.

Nice to see how and know how the catholics would convince the indigenous to convert...

You pay $5 just to enter. Half the church is cut off from access with pews stacked as barricades. A security guard prowls menacingly looking for people taking innocent photographs. The staff is vaguely hostile and unwelcoming. Overall a very non-spiritual experience. But it is exactly what one should expect from Jesuits - they are not humble men of God.

This amazing church is widely regarded as the finest church in Quito and one of the most ornate religious buildings in Ecuador. The large central nave is decorated almost completely with gold leaf, gilded plaster, and wooden carvings, above which are two green and gold domes in the vaulted ceiling.

We had a lovely time up there, the cable car ride was enjoyable offering some great views on the way up. Unfortunately at 4100m I was feeling the altitude a bit so didn't feel hiking all the way to the peak would be a good idea. Only walked up to the first tip and back but that was enough to appreciate the beautiful nature and take in the spectacular views.

Seamless ticketing and boarding experience, the staff keep the lines moving at a good pace. The cable car was clean and felt safe. The views were awesome in all directions, looking up to the mountain and down to the city, passed lots of animals and various vegetation along the way which added to the experience. Unfortunately the time we went was a little cloudy, so we couldn't get the grand view from the last bit to the top. However it was good even passing through the clouds. Take a sweater as it gets a bit chilly.

This is definitely a must see if you visit Quito. Located just above the Avenida Occidental, you should definitely come here by car as the climb is very steep. Take the cable car to reach the top; alternatively you could also climb it but likely it'll take a couple of hours. The views from the top are impressive, it's better to visit during a sunny morning as the clouds start to lower in the afternoon. Unfortunately there are still many shops and restaurants closed and abandoned, only a few businesses remain open. Up on the top there's a trail that you can follow, those who are more adventurous can easily spend several hours hiking. Bring a thick jacket, hat and sunscreen.

This is definitely a must when you visit Quito, and the view at the top is breathtaking - literally! When you get to the top, you're averaging about 13,000 ft high, or about 4,000 meters, so if you're not used to super high elevations, you may struggle to catch your breath so make sure to take it slow. The cable car ride itself was fun and lasted a couple of minutes each way. At the top, there's also a cute little chapel. We wandered and admired the area for about an hour and felt that that was acceptable, though some may want to hike around which will of course need more time. If you get hungry or thirsty there are a few concession stands.

This was the other place we visited in Quito and was well worth our time. If you enjoy grand vistas and beautiful mountain top views, you have to check this place out. They transport you up the mountain via a gondola, and once on top, it's just one gorgeous view after another. There is room to hike around the mountain top and get multiple different perspectives on the city of Quito below, along with all the other surrounding mountains. They have a little coffee shop on the top with a great view. You can also take a guided horse back ride down the mountain if you like. This is a must do if you're in Quito.

Amazing views of the city. There is plenty of hiking once you get to the top. They offer a day pass so you can take the aerial cable car to the top and ride your bike down as many times as you want.

Excellent gondola ride that takes you to 4100m altitude that opens best views of the city from top of Andes mountains. 1-4 hour trail hike is very strenuous, especially when going up. I was stopping every 50m on the way us to gasp for air!! Undoubtedly unforgettable moments!!

What an experience. If you are afraid of heights, this will tackle that fear. You're about to ride up 12k feet in a see-through cable car. It's so amazing also it's well maintained. Don't miss this when visiting. The view is stunning. Also, once you get to the top, there is a reward. If you can hike up the additional 2000 feet, you will get to swing at 14,000 feet, highest point in South America. If you have any breathing issues or have had asthma, bring an inhaler or get one for about $3 in a drug store before this. The air is thin, and it's a hike. Also, go in the morning as the clouds and fog will not be as bad. If this helped you in any way, please mark as helpful and follow me for more reviews around the 🌎

Popular tourist attraction to get a great view of the city and the mountains with some hiking. if you can get there on a day without clouds, you'll get some good photos. $9 entrance fee for adults . Can be a little busy at some times of the day and the weather can change quickly, so your view is dependent on that. Make sure your phone is charged. There are charging ports and outlets at the cafe.

Interesting place with a lot of information (in English too). There was a small group of indigenous huts, that held family, farming, and hunting tools. Plenty of shops and restaurants (the food was a bit on the high side). You could walk up the inside of the tower and read, and look at large photos, of the heritage of Ecuador. The entrance fee was $5 ($2.50 for seniors 65 and older). Worth the drive.

This was one of the two places we visited in Quito, so not able to compare it with much else in Quito. It was a good stop, several nice restaurants/eateries along with souvenir shopping, and don't forget the ice cream. We visited the equator monument, which had some interesting history inside, and we walked to the top. Overall, I thought the area was done well, and it looked like they do more here than just shopping as they were setting up a stage for some kind of performance. It's worth stopping at when you have the time.

I've been surprised by the variety of activities around, there's a couple of museums, though I would prefer them to be bigger. The middle of the world is quite a big monument, and you can walk to the top. Many restaurants, good coffee, and a lot of handcrafts. It's worth visiting. The entrance is just $5.

A super fun place to check out and stand on the equator. Full of fun little shops and things to see. They had restaurants and snacks and live performances when we were there. Also a nice little museum about the monument and Ecuador as a whole. Would definitely recommend as a perfect tourist destination

$5 adult entrance. This is the most popular tourist destination in Ecuador. Expect it to be pretty busy on the weekends especially. Technically on Google maps the equator 0 latitude is slightly north of this painted line and monument, but you can say that you were in the North and South hemisphere at the same time. They will stamp your passport once you enter the monument. There are plenty of souvenir shops around. Take your time and taking the photos of the surrounding areas.

Went on a bus tour here and we learned a lot about magnetism on the zeroth latitude. I really like the history tour on an ancient Amazon tribal custom of shrunken heads and how chocolate is made. Highly recommended for any visitor of any age.

Even though the monument is not quite on the equator line (240m off), it is still a beautiful and interesting place to visit. There are some small museums (various themes such as cocoa) and the view from the monument is great.

I went here in late July 22, and it was fairly busy. Great outdoor location. I was expecting to find just a monument so I was surprised to see all the fauna and shops within. Entrance is $5pp adult and half for 12 and under. So worth every penny. Enjoy!

It was so beautiful! The views of the Equator and the monument are breathtaking along with the volcanos that surround the area. The food was so good there. You can walk around to different shops or stop at the coffee shop and have a dessert. It was really good! This is a must see for anyone visiting Ecuador!

So much larger than anticipated. Once you get it, there's lots of little shops with reasonable prices and lots of options for food. All the attractions are free inside including the planetarium and tower on the equator

The museum offers visitors a unique opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the indigenous peoples of Ecuador, as well as the science behind the Equator line. I found the exhibits to be engaging and informative, with plenty of interactive displays and hands-on activities. One of the highlights of my visit was standing on the Equator line itself. It was a surreal experience to be standing in two hemispheres at the same time and to see the various scientific demonstrations that proved we were indeed at the Equator. The staff at the museum were friendly and knowledgeable, and were happy to answer any questions I had. They provided a guided tour of the museum, which added to the overall experience. In addition to the exhibits, the museum also has a beautiful outdoor garden area with various sculptures and traditional dwellings that showcase the culture and history of the indigenous peoples of Ecuador. Overall, my experience at the Intiñan Site Museum was fantastic. It was a great way to learn about the science and culture behind the Equator line, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Quito. Whether you're a history buff, a science enthusiast, or just looking for a unique experience, this museum is definitely worth a visit.

This is the best attraction if you are visiting the equator in Ecuador. You not only get a guide to learn about the history and culture, but there are interactive experiments along the way. For only a $5 entrance fee this is a great way to not only learn but also experience the unique aspects of being in this part of the world.

The museum was interesting and included a required tour guide for $4 that spoke great English. Fun to stand on the equator even though the tricks they show with water draining in different directions and egg balancing are deceptive. But it's all for fun, not science, right? I originally thought the center of the world had something to do with the longitude and latitude both being zero, but it is just Equator's way to puff a bit. Don't visit the memorial for $5, you'll get the same benefit staying outside the fence and taking photos of you and it.

Our entire family (2 adults, teen and tween) enjoyed the Equator Museum. The exhibits were interactive and fun. And, we saw much more than just Equator related exhibits. The museum addressed the 4 key areas of Ecuador. We tried raw cacao fruit in the Chocolate House, saw how natives lived in the Amazon (including the history of the shrunken head) and even got to try our luck balancing ourselves and an egg on the actual Equator! It was such fun and very educational. An experience we won't forget. Bring small bills for souvenirs such as delicious chocolate and handmade crafts/clothing (USD $3-50). Also, the sun is intense at the Equator. Dress appropriately, wear a hat and lots of sunscreen.

Very fun and informative place to tour! The water drain experiment, egg balancing, self-balancing in both hemispheres, accurate sundials, great indigenous education and information, and fun interaction with other tourists. Found this museum to be more engaging for the whole family than the middle of the world park. It does cost $5 to enter.

This is an interactive museum of different parts of Ecuador, all in one place. There are guided tours in English or Spanish. If you are coming from abroad, make sure to bring your passport with you, they will stamp it with a latitude 0 logo for you. Don’t forget to try out the creamiest ice creams there “Coqueiros”

There are some opinions on the web that the equator line in this museum is fake (and my own GPS was showing that it’s slightly off). Some people argue that equator experiments are simple tricks - the Coriolis force is not strong enough… regardless of all of that the museum is an excellent place to visit. Our guide was superb and my kids were super engaged all the time. We had fun and learned something new, even if some of it is made up for demonstration purposes ;)

The guide is included in the tickets that you pay. It’s really nice because the guide explains with hard arguments of tho work the middle of the world. You make a lot of experiments and it’s a funny way to learn about it. They also give you a certificate that you been there.

Hands down, one of the finest restaurants in which I have had the pleasure to eat a meal. From the moment the doorman opened up the taxi door for my girlfriend, until the moment the maitre d’ asked if he could call us a taxi to return, the service was impeccable. And that was just the service. The food, or maybe I should call it ambrosia, was absolutely delicious. Every dish we ate, was more fantastic than the previous. These guys and the restaurant as a whole are the real deal. You could not have a finer meal anywhere else in Quito. Of this I am sure. Do yourselves a favor and book a reservation at this restaurant and enjoy. You will not be disappointed! And don’t forget to check out the wine tower…..yes, I said wine tower. Thanks everyone for a delicious and excellent experience. This is how a top notch restaurant operates.

I had my New Year's Eve dinner here last night. It was fabulous. I ordered their "Zazu Experience" and I was not disappointed. My favorite dish was definitely their guinea pig, and least was their duck which was a tad chewy. I still gave Zazu a 5-star rating as the service was impeccable. My server Viviana was super polite and friendly. I'll return to try their a la carte menu when I visit Quito next.

We came here for dinner to round out our Ecuador trip- I opted for the 7 course tasting menu which was well portioned and well constructed. My favorite dish was the short rib, which was mouth-meltingly tender. Shu ordered the wine pairing which he didn’t think much of, and the reason for four stars was because they messed up our receipt twice.

We had an amazing dining experience at Zazu. The service was impeccable, the food was outstanding, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting, not too noisy or too quiet. The egg was my favorite dish of the night. The egg yolk was perfectly cooked and the veal jus was rich and flavorful. The explosion of flavors in the mouth was truly amazing. I would highly recommend and will definitely return to Zazu for a special occasion or a casual meal with friends. Chef Wilson Alpala has created something truly special. I hope this helps!

Our experience was almost perfect. The food was delicious! I kept thinking “why doesn’t this place have a Michelin Star.”

Truly fine dining - Michelin-star grade. Attentive service, great balance of flavors. We enjoyed the Experience and I particularly appreciated the tuna tartar and the oxtail. Priced as high-end fine dining in Europe or US.

The Zazu Experience tasting menu is excellent. Dishes are exceptionally creative and beautifully presented. The foie gras crème brûlée is amazing. Would be nice if they had a cocktail menu to match the creativity of the cuisine.

Highly recommend this place. Very quiet and subdued ambiance. The food does the talking.we ordered only appetizers. That was fantastic.great food. Highly recommended

Lovely Ecuadorian food that could be less pricey. Presentation of food and the restaurant was beautiful and the chef came out to speak personally to each table towards the end of the night. Entrees were particularly delicious. I had a chicken empanada. Cuy was delicious but sides were average. While our waitress was very kind and spoke very good English (as our Spanish was limited), she did not check on our meals or offer side plates). My friend had a very filling vegetarian soup. Desserts were nice. Cocktails were strong and tasty.

The sweet potato and pumpkin vegetarian entree is delicious! Also there is a gluten free sweet potato cake that is out of this world. It was a great way to end the meal. This place gets packed (We went around dinner time on a Sunday) – reservation highly if not definitely necessary.

The best meal we’ve had in Quito. Sea bass was prepared perfectly. A lovely family with wonderful service and hospitality. Don’t miss out on this place!

This restaurant was very good. We had a variety of appetizers and entrees. The service was great; everyone was very nice.

Incredible food and drinks. Very helpful and friendly staff. Creative flavor combinations, with much variety. The Pisco Sour was off the charts, Amaretto orange juice was equal!

My friend and I were looking to eat Peruvian food and we found this restaurant near our hotel. We had ceviche and fish with 2 salads as side. Both so delicious. We loved it all. Loved the ambiance and the presentation of the food. This is a great choice if you’re looking for a delicious meal in a nice restaurant (we didn’t expect it to be that nice so we were underdressed).

We had a wonderful dinner here, every dish was spectacular. We particularly loved the fish ceviche-the sauce was superb, the sea bass also done perfectly with a delicious sauce, and the guinea pig- tender and flavorful. All of the potato, corn and plantain menu items were extremely well executed as well. The potato soup was one of my favorites! We had some delicious cocktails and the desserts were amazing. The service was awesome from our server Noelia, and the chef came out to ask us about our experience. Happy to support this family business! This was a fine dining experience at less than typical fine dining prices. It's not Mc Donald's so your food will take a little while to come out- a great chance to enjoy good company over a drink.

Wow! I had zero expectations when I found it this restaurant was on the 3rd floor of the mall, but wow. The best service I’ve had, Felipe was incredible. He asked if we had any allergies before the meal started. Food was exceptional, and I’m a foodie from Dallas, Texas. I’m so impressed and full.

Winston gave us an excellent service, he offered us amazing recommendations, the food was beyond excellent. I highly recommend this place.

Best pasta i ever tasted. I actually came back to this place and order the exact same meal. It's from heaven. Service is also flawless! Thanks Winston

It was on Trip Advisor for top gluten free recommendations. That was our first mistake. Trip Advisor is notoriously deceiving for gluten free recommendations in my experience traveling. My celiac partner requested a gluten free meal, they pointed her to the salad but after some discussion with the manager, he said the kitchen can do the risotto GF. Well my partner is experiencing all the normal pain a person who has celiac experiences when they accidentally ingest gluten. The upside is the food was delicious. My dieta de pollo was rocking my socks off until my partner started to swell like a puffy empanda.

Was disappointed, I guess I had higher expectations from the revues I read... The typical soup was really tasty but the 2 main courses (pork meat) not so great, they were tasty enough but the meat was very tough, not tender at all. Service was good and people were nice. Location in the Mariscal area which is usually a safe area to go also during the night.

Definitely a 4 star restaurant. It's good. Nice concept. 3rd floor walk up. Staff is really attentive. Wines are little pricey. Lowest $30 to $50's. I had the goat. It was so so. Everyone else in the group liked what they had. I am a restaurant owner New York city. My expectations are little higher than my family.

Wonderful Ecuadorian cuisine restaurant. We luckily made reservations at 6:30 because the place filled up by 8:00pm. Many fish choices on the menu plus several chicken. Everyone's food was tasty. The staff also helped us get taxis back to our hotel. Highly recommend!

This was my last dinner in Ecuador on a visit in March 2022. I like the concept of the restaurant with the dishes being from different regions. I think it’s expensive and I’m not sure if locals go here. The food is good, well, at least the dish that I ordered which was the seco de chivo.

Positives: -great for tourists and large groups, especially those with dietary requirements - good location for nightlife and social area - open and busy on a Sunday -staff are friendly, great and speak English -strong WiFi Negatives- We ate here twice, once after having just arrived in quito as part of a large tour group, and once on a Sunday as we couldn't find anywhere else open. Both occasions what we ordered was VERY overcooked. The meat is so tough! However that being said, some of the other food that came out looked good (not sure how that was cooked) Prices are decent and they are able to easily bill separately for larger groups.

Great first meal in Ecuador. Friendly, attentive service. Pumpkin soup with shrimp felt perfect for a slightly chilly day. The meat sampler was so much food but a great taste of a variety of flavors. When we left the entire restaurant team sat down for lunch and it looked like such a happy family!

2/13/23Came back after 18 months and the food was excellent!! Great place. They will also call a taxi to get you back to your hotel, which is wonderful service. Many thanks for a wonderful and delicious experience! 7/2021 Amazing service and fantastic food. Such friendly and helpful service. The presentation of the food was so beautiful but also very delicious. We ate every bite. If you are looking for an amazing meal in a wonderful atmosphere, you need to come here. Absolutely amazing!

Best food I’ve had in Ecuador and it’s not even close!! This dish is from the coast (on the left) to the Andes (on the right). Incredible authentic food.

Fancy restaurant with tasting menu inspired by the seasons and local products. The menu is seasonal and mixes ingredients and tastes with very good balance and audacity. We loved our experience, including the wine tasting. They give you a passport for the experience where are listed the main ingredients for each dish and take a final Polaroid as a memory of the dinner.

This place is an absolute must-experience in La Floresta. I was blown away by the care, detail, and personalized attention to the meal’s experience. The set menu tells a beautiful story, each dish is carefully made, timed, and planned for the best way to explore the cuisine of Ecuador. The menu rotates, each season will bring new dishes and flavors. The host was incredibly attentive to my dietary needs and found the perfect beverage pairing to go with the meal. The atmosphere is so calm, well-curated to allow you to feel present in the space for the set menu. All in all, absolutely worth the time and effort to make a reservation and enjoy this remarkable experience!

An amazing tour of the Andean cuisine, just like the restaurant advertises. Very interesting flavours you won't encounter jus anywhere. Also loved the little 'passport', making the courses a little more interactive. My only remark for this $95 experience would be the mediocre drink pairing. Only half of the courses were paired and frankly just two were actually well-paired. A tad underwhelming. But overall a great experience and would definitely return if I had the chance.

Lovely concept - they will bring you for a virtual foody tour of Ecuador inspired by traditional seasons and expertly explain everything. Portion sizes vary between servings. They will also leave you a "passport" with a list of ingredients used, a space for your notes and finally a Polaroid photo of you to keep as a memory. Optionally, you can ask for drink pairings and chocolate tasting. Recommend!

We had an amazing meal with superb service. We paired with beverages. All the flavor profiles were creative and delicious. We savored every bite. Wonderful setting and staff. Loved this. Highly recommend!!!!!

Amazing! It rivalled Michelin star restaurants in the quality of the food, service and ambiance. The dishes were incredibly unique with great balance and harmony. It was by far the best restaurant I have been to in South America.

Excellent 8 course tasting menu with 8 paired liquors, as well as the chocolate/coffee tasting menu. Staff was pleasant and very efficient, but slightly robotic in their presentations (which I'm sure get old after dealing with the exact same menu for 3 straight months). Noisy, but mainly due to two tables of 7 Americans (14 total)(all in the same group) noisily toasting over and over again and were fairly intoxicated. The wine pairings were spot on, though wasn't sure why we were poured the same sparkling wine on two courses and one course no drink was offered. Well worth the food and experience.

Cozy, beautiful decorated, great service and a nice way to taste experiences from around Ecuador. Exclusive 20 seat with attentive friendly service.