View From the Top - EL Teleferico
Imagine gazing out at a city from the top of a mountain where the air is thin, the weather is unpredictable, but the views are breathtaking allowing you to embrace the awe and beauty of nature. Few can cross this off their bucket list, but for travelers going to Ecuador they can enjoy this experience by taking a trip on the highest sky rail in all of South America, called El Teleferico. The sky rail, which cost about $8.50 a person, climbs from a decent of 2,950 meters to an elevation of 4,050 meters allowing travelers to reach the summit of Cruz Loma in 10 minutes via a cable car. On a clear day, tourists can take in amazing panoramic views of Quito, Ecuador as well as the various peaks of the Andes mountain chain such as Cayambe, Antisana, Cotopaxi, Pasochoa, Ruminahui and the list goes on and on. Besides the spectacular views, for nature explorers or extreme hikers, you can take various routes to climb Volcano Pichincha, which is adjacent to Cruz Lomo. If hiking is not your thing, you can go mountain biking or horseback riding if you desire.
At the top of the summit, besides various adventure activities there are some small stores and cafes where you can enjoy a cup of coffee while looking out at the beautiful landscape of Ecuador. One thing to note because of the altitude, your body may take some time adjusting to the elevation, so we encourage travelers to drink lots of water and if needed, take some Tylenol as you may experience light headedness once you are at the top. We also encourage tourists to make sure they dress in layers with access to a light rain coat or poncho as the weather at the summit can be very unpredictable.
At the bottom of El Teleferico, travelers can enjoy a one of kind amusement park called Vulqano Park,
which is one of the highest amusements parks in the world. The park is free to enter but in order to play games or enjoy the rides you must buy a rechargeable card at the box office. In addition, they have slowly been expanding the base of the Teleferico to open mini stores, a cinema, and restaurants where tourists can enjoy food, entertainment and shopping.
For travelers looking to embrace the beauty of nature while having the options for food and entertainment, El Teleferico is a “must do” when traveling to Ecuador. You will not regret taking the opportunity to view Quito from the top, especially since Quito is the second official highest capital city in the world.
If the Teleferico is on your list of “to do’s” while in Ecuador, then for convenience stay with us at Los Andes Ecuador. Los Andes is a private 3 story Spanish colonial home in the heart of Old Town, Quito with private apartment style suites and rooms. We are located about 10 minutes, in a taxi ride, to El Teleferico. We pride ourselves in giving our guests an amazing experience so you can enjoy the beauty of Ecuador. If you are considering taking a trip to Ecuador, make sure to make Los Andes Ecuador is your preferred lodging.
"Since the first day we here we felt immediately at home. Carlos was waiting for us and was very supportive and friendly considering our past journey in other towns of Ecuador. The place is amazing. homey and very secure. The room has everything we needed."
---Luis and Haidy
