After 3 months of living and working in Quito I am now off to see more of this fascinating country. Within these three months I have seen a lot of the Ecuadorian highlands! Whether tours with Gulliver to Quilotoa, Cotopaxi, Otavalo or weekend trips with the other interns to Banos, Mindo or Cuenca; it’s been a great adventure filled with fun and many, many laughter. 

written by Monika M

Quilotoa is just a beautiful place and the Cotopaxi bike tour was thrilling and literally breathtaking regarding the altitude of 5000m. Otavalo’s market is worth going to a couple of times..because even though all of them seem to sell almost the same things, they are not..it’s fun to see what they are selling and how they are trying to sell their goods! The market’s colors are amazing..so colourful!




"Banos de Agua Santa" was a great adventure as well..simply the way there was worth being called “an adventure”. Two taxi rides, one bus ride and a minivan ride in the middle of the night where none of us was sure where it was taking us exactly. Mountain biking down the road of the waterfalls and a 3-hour hike along the many trails in the mountains surrounding Banos were part of our trip.

Mindo was not less exciting. A lot of nature to be explored and a fun canopy adventure with the 25 meter “Tarzan” free fall jump as great finish. Great chocolate and beautiful butterflies!






Cuenca is a beautiful colonial city in the southern highlands. Many old churches, museums and little market towns all around Cuenca! Great!
Living in Quito is as well excitement enough! The city is beautiful, especially the historic center. It feels like being in Spain! The Mariscal is the nightlife center of Quito and is fun throughout the week and throughout the night! Riding the bus is as well, let’s say..a cultural experience. In the morning and in the afternoon there is almost no bus that actually has space to fit more people..but it doesn’t seem to matter to the Quitenos. If there is no space, well, then they (and I accustomed to this manner as well) will just make space…with the arms, elbows, the forward facing backpack, a woman’s purse or with the words “permiso” or “siguan por favor”…a bus can therefore never be crowded enough! It seems like the Quitenos love it even more the more people are inside the bus and the hotter and the stinkier it gets! ;-)



Food in Quito is as well great! There are various options..from typical Ecuadorian food to burgers, bakeries or hot dog stands. Some European stomachs may like it, some won’t! But all in all – there is everything you wish for and many, many things to be tried out! 




I had a great time in Quito and with Gulliver and its employees – a fun, entertaining and instructive time!