Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Guápulo is a beautiful colonial neighborhood that slides dramatically down the cobble-
stone Camino de Orellana and ends at a bridge in the Tumbaco Valley which takes drivers
to the affluent suburbs. Guápulo's main draw is its romantic village vibe established by
breathtaking mountain views, stucco dwellings terracing sharp cliffs and a central 15th
century church that contrasts greatly with the harshness of Quito's metropolis.
Like a charming retreat hidden in the city's center, Guápulo can be accessed by taxi or by
walking downhill from Hotel Quito on Gonzalez Suarez Avenue which has the
Mirador
de Guápulo
at its back. The overlook has a park and benches right at the mouth of the val-
ley's cliff face, affording a remarkable view of the city unfolding within it, a few churches
and a bridge accentuating the landscape. From the Mirador there are stairs that descend in-
to the heart of Guápulo (getting back up this way is exhausting) where graffiti murals de-
picting indigenous life follow you down the twisting Orellana interrupted by art bars,
cafés, handicraft shops and a tattoo studio.
Guápulo, Quito
