Self-Guided Dirt Bike City Tour

You will start the tour in our offices, conveniently located in the fashionable "La Carolina" neighborhood, near many hotels, cafés,shops. and galleries  We will outfit you with the bike of your choice equipped with a Garmin GPS with a pre-programmed route.  We will give you a briefing on the driving styles and rules of the road in Quito, both written and unwritten.  

The first part of the tour will take you to the colonial center of Quito, which was the world's first UNESCO world heritage site.  You will get to ride around the traffic of the old town, able to see much more of the city in less time than any bus or taxi.  You will see the Plaza Grande, Presidential Palace, San Francisco Plaza, Church of the Merced and the beautiful Calle Ronda.  Then you wil lhead up the cobblestone road to the winged Madonna that overlooks the city called "el Panecillo" and you will get some great views of the colonial city below.

Then you will ride to the "Cerro Unguï" Park - a beautiful park on a steep hill that overlooks the city.  Then head out on the road behind the park that takes you through some breathtaking country landscapes - with no suburban sprawl and just pastures and farms, you won't believe you were just in Quito a few minutes ago.  You'll continue a few miles on this beautiful back road and then pass through the small town of Lloa and then begin climbing the footholds of the Gua Gua Pichincha volcano.  The Gua Gua peak is the highest peak of the Pichincha volcano at 15,696 feet/.  Beware! This is an active volcano.  It last erupted in 1999, covering Quito with a think layer of ash.  It could go off again at any time!

Your ride will take you close to the peak of the volcano, to an elevation of 15,000 feet, giving you incredible vistas of the surrounding country and the city far below.  Be sure to bring an extra layer of clothing because it can get chilly, especially if the sun goes behind the clouds.

The next stop will be in the middle of the world.   The Inti-ñan museum is situated directly on the Equator. Inti-ñan means "path of the sun" in Quechua, a native language of Ecuador. Take a tour of this magical site, a place that the indigenous peoples have revered for thousands of years. You will learn how the ancient people came to understand that this was the center of the world, centuries before "modern" geography or GPS devices. You can have a chance to play with gravity here and perform some experiments to learn about the Coriolis effect caused by the Earth's rotation. Directly on the red line of the equator you will see water go either clockwise or counter-clockwise down a drain, depending on which side of the equator you are on.  You will also get to know how the indigenous populations of Ecuador live and visit some typical indigenous homes. After the visit at the Inti-ñan museum, you will be officially out of the Quito metropolitan region and riding in the Northern Hemisphere.  Stop to view the beautiful Pululahua Crater Geobotanical reserve. This  crater was formed by a volcano that  erupted 2500 years ago.  

Then you will head back into the city and stop at the Guayasamin Museum which is one of Quito's best art museums.  Take some time to enjoy the exhibits of some of Quito's best contemporary artists.  Then y ou will head down a steep cobblestone path on the eastern cliffs of Quito, and into the bohemian village of Guapulo.  Here you will see a statue of Francisco de Orellana, who left Quito on foot towards the Amazon in search of the fountain of youth and cinnamon.  Guapulo was his first stop on his way out of the city. Guapulo is known for its great restaurants, bars and art galleries and for its magnificent church that overlooks the Cumbaya valley below.

You'll head back up the cobbletone switchbacks and return thebike to our shop, with a complete view of Quito that you can only get on a dirt bike!

This trip has an activity rating of 4/5 and is one of the most demanding tours we offer, meaning this tour will put you to the test physically; travelers should be in good health and comfortable riding for extended periods of time through adverse weather and at times unpredictable road conditions.  The unpaved sections are slightly challenging and are reserved for experienced riders. The itinerary suits a wide range of interests and abilities, with options for light and moderate activities . 

Weather and Temperatures
Weather and temperature ranges in Quito are generally the same year round. You can expect the chance of passing showers but rarely a full day of rain.  Chances for a full day of rain are more likely in April and early May. On this tour, temperatures will be between 40 and 80 degrees fahrenheit (4-27 celsius).  The extreme cold temperatures are only experienced at the high elevation points (refer to the elevation profiles on this page).  These low temperatures are brief.

Packing List and Preparation
Ecuador Freedom will provide you with detailed information to prepare for the ride, including a packing list and tutorial videos.